Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali praised the leaders of both Djibouti and Ethiopia for their unremitting efforts to expand relations to new heights. He described the ties between Ethiopia and Djibouti as emblematic and said the relationship was so close that it was hard to express with mere phraseology. State Minister Hirut noted that trade fairs such as this one would create a further positive environment for regional as well as global cooperation. Mrs. Hirut praised Djibouti’s major recent achievements including the introduction of an International Free Trade Zone, to create a strategic base for global businesses to access African markets. The Zone is focusing on development of logistics, marine, construction, automotive and home electrical industries. Mrs. Hirut emphasized that this meant a lot for the development of Ethiopia as well as for Djibouti. As she underlined, the development of Djibouti was the development of Ethiopia and vice versa. The State Minister commended the efforts of both countries in preparing for such an event as “Ethiopian Day”, providing another jumping off point to further deepen and broaden people-to-people ties.
Ambassador Shamebo praised the organizers for proposing an “Ethiopian Day” to the Ethiopian Embassy in Djibouti. He emphasized that it served as an important venue to display “Ethiopia, Land of Origins”, and providing a unique flavour to the trade fair as well as showcasing the symbolic Ethio-Djibouti ties. He said: “an economic integration that hugely invests in the peoples of the two countries is guaranteed to pass the test of time; and this is exactly what our two countries are reaffirming here in this hall.” The Chairman of Djibouti’s Chamber of Commerce underlined the great importance Djibouti attached to the attendance of Ethiopia at the international Trade Fair which had attracted over three hundred exhibitors from around the world.
Participants at the fair on Ethiopia Day were able to sample Ethiopian cuisine. as the Embassy had encouraged Ethiopian Diaspora restaurant owners in Djibouti to participate. Coffee, of course, was provided for all those attending, and the cultural dance group from the Ethiopian National Theatre provided an impressive display as well as offering a traditional Ethiopian costume show. A variety of Ethiopian companies promoted their products and held business-to-business meetings to set up networking possibilities to find reliable partners and broaden market access.
