The International Development Cooperation Minister of Norway, Mr. Dag-Inge Ulstein, made a four-day official visit to Ethiopia this week (February 4-7). During his visit, he had meetings with Foreign Minister, Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu and State Minister of Finance, Admassu Nebebe, as well as visiting Tigray State where Norway supports a number of development projects.
Dr. Workneh appreciated the coming of the Minister to Ethiopia as the country was undertaking a tremendous reform program in almost every sphere of national development. He noted that on the political level, the government had created a viable platform of consensus with the Diaspora, former armed groups, and opposition parties, and despite the challenges there was a total shift in political dynamism in Ethiopia. Ethiopia, he said, was achieving a continental model of peace and development.” Dr. Workneh recognized that the Ethiopia – Norway partnership nexus covered multiple areas of common interests ranging from peace and security, through climate change and migration, to education and increasingly sustainable development. He expressed his gratitude for the development assistance offered by the Government of Norway to Ethiopia and its interest in supporting Ethiopia in youth job creation, education and health. He noted this was very relevant to success of development efforts. He also welcomed the support of the Norwegian Government for security and stability of the Horn, especially in South Sudanese peace and stability process. Norway is one of the Troika, along with the UK and US.
Mr. Ulstein vowed his country would continue to support Ethiopia’s ongoing and comprehensive reform. He noted the long history of strengthening and widening their bilateral ties and underlined Norway’s interest to support Ethiopia in job creation, education and health and migration. He hoped the reform would succeed for sustainable economic development in Ethiopia. He commended Ethiopia for its role in working for peace and stability in the region and its diplomatic moves to craft the historic peace deal between Ethiopia and Eritrea, a deal which had ushered a new wind of hope for peace in the Horn. He stressed the significance of normalization of relations for the stability of the Horn of Africa, which he said was the necessary bedrock for better prospects, collective peace and prosperity.
Minister Ulstein held talks with State Minister of Finance Admassu Nebebe on the development projects supported by the Norwegian government. He visited development projects supported by the Norwegian government in Tigray region and had talks with Deputy President of Tigray, Dr. Debretsion Gebremichael on economic and other related issues. During his visit Mr. Ulstein also attended a seminar on “Protecting and securing quality education for children and women on the move: refugees, IDPs and returnees” organized by the African Union and met with the staff of UN Special Agencies in Addis Ababa and members of Norwegian NGOs in Ethiopia.
The Prime Minister of Norway will be in Ethiopia at the weekend during the AU Summit and she will meet with Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed as well as participate in the ‘’Africa Leadership Meeting-Investing in Health’’ as well as other meetings on the Summit side-lines.
