ADDIS ABABA— Russian companies are investing in projects closely cooperating with many Ethiopian institutions via signing agreements for cooperation, training, and joint research, said expert.
Sputnik news agency and radio broadcaster held a roundtable discussion Moscow – Johannesburg – Cairo – Addis Ababa – Eldoret on the theme: “Russia – African Union: topical issues of cooperation”.
At the discussion, , Policy Studies Institute (PSI), Director General Prof. Beyene Petros highlighted that Russian companies are now investing in cooperation projects with Ethiopia in a wide range of areas. Many Ethiopian institutions have thus signed agreements with Russian organizations to develop cooperation, training and joint research.
He noted that Ethiopia and Russia have rich and diverse historical experience of interaction between the two countries, which allows them to maintain and develop economic and scientific-educational ties despite political changes in the world.
Sputnik Africa in Ethiopia Information Head Alexander Shchipin, said, “The Soviet Union supported African countries in their struggle for independence. And now we feel the support of African countries: they support Russia, and we really do appreciate it. We are aware that our goals are generally the same – to free the world from any form of neo-colonialism and to build a multipolar world, a world of equality.”
Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Asian and African Studies of Saint Petersburg State University Valens Maniragena also stressed the need to promote African languages and culture in Russia, including through the creation of specialized venues in Russian cities: “If there are not only Houses of Russian Culture in Addis Ababa, Bamako, Nairobi, South Africa… But if there is a permanent House of African Culture in Moscow, people will really be able to come and get to know African culture.”
The expert meeting was a continuation of the series of events “Russia’s Cooperation with Asia, Africa and Latin America – Challenges and Prospects”. The project is implemented in partnership with the Gorchakov Foundation and the Center for Assistance to Humanitarian and Educational Programs.
BY ESSEYE MENGISTE
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD WEDNESDAY 17 APRIL 2024
