A Week in the Horn 5.7.2019
News in Brief
The Executive Council of the African Union meets in Niamey
State Minister Markos makes a working visit to Germany
The African Mediation on Sudan makes progress
South Sudan President Salva Kiir on a state visit to Kenya
Ethiopia and Kenya: 55 years of strategic partnership
The first Ethio-Kenya Business Forum held in Nairobi
Ethiopia at the Coordinators’ meeting on follow-up actions for the FOCAC Summit…
…and takes part in the First China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo
News in Brief
Africa and the African Union
The 35th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union was held in Niamey, the capital of Niger, this week on Thursday and Friday (July 4-5). The opening ceremony was presided over by Mr Sameh Shoukry, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Chairperson of the Executive Council. The Ethiopian delegation to the session was led by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gedu Andargachew. (See article)
A meeting of the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government at their 55th Ordinary Session on Saturday (June 29) agreed to adopt a single currency, the ECO, for the sub-region. They approved a road map towards the currency’s issuance in January 2020. Countries adopting it will have to comply with a number convergence criteria including a budget deficit of no more than 3%; average annual inflation of less than 10% and a goal of reducing this to 5%; and gross reserves to finance at least three months of imports. ECOWAS, which has a combined population of 385 million comprises Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.
Ethiopia
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gedu Andargachew led the Ethiopian delegation to the 35th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union which was held in Niamey, the capital of Niger, this week. (See article)
Dr. Markos Tekle, State Minister of Foreign Affairs, paid a working visit to Germany last week (June 22-26) during which he held talks with State Secretary Antje Leendertse of the German Federal Foreign Office and Dr. Jan Hecker, Foreign Policy Adviser to the German Chancellor Angela Merkel as well as members of the Africa Association of German Business (Afrika-Verein) and the German Institute for International and Security Affairs. Dr. Markos also visited the Free State of Bavaria. (See article)
The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Coordinators’ Meeting on the Implementation of Follow-Up Actions of the Beijing Summit of FOCAC convened in Beijing last week (June 24-25), to discuss and reach a roadmap on implementation of the decisions of the Summit, held in September last year. The Ethiopian delegation was led by Ambassador Mahlet Hailu, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (See article)
An Ethiopian government and business delegation took part in the First China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE) held last week (June 27-29), at Changsha city in Hunan Province, China. The Ethiopia delegation included Ambassador Misganu Arega, State Minister of Trade and Industry, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Dewano Kedir, and Commissioner of the Ethiopian Investment Commission, Mr. Abebe Abebayehu. (See article)
The 17th Korea Import Goods Fair, organized by the Korean Importers Association and sponsored by the Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, was held in Seoul last week (June 27-29). It gave the opportunity of manufacturers and suppliers the opportunity to show brands and products to Korean importers. Ethiopia participated with an impressive pavilion promoting exports including coffee, pulses, oil seeds, spices, flowers, liquors, and leather products, as well as featuring the coffee ceremony. Embassy officials also held one-to-one meetings with Korean companies and discussed ways to import these products
Kenya
President Kenyatta welcomed South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir for a two-day state visit to Kenya at the beginning of the week. They held talks on bilateral issues, and agreed to set up a joint border commission as well as signed several MoUs. Kenya’s Foreign Affairs chief administrative secretary, Ababu Namwamba, said the visit would lay the foundation for future bilateral engagements between the two countries. (See article)
Ethiopia and Kenya celebrated 55 years of diplomatic relations last week on June 26. Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Kenya, Ambassador Meles Alem noted their respective economic opportunities had helped achieve impressive growth rates and a number of infrastructure projects were actualized during the last decade. LAPSSET, he said, would significantly improve connectivity, contribute to regional infrastructure development and boost bilateral trade. He underlined the recent efforts to deepen cross-border integration of the two separate economies, and the increased links of banks and markets. (See article)
The first Ethiopia-Kenya Business Forum was held in Nairobi on Thursday last week (June 27), attracting more than 70 companies and over 700 people from both countries to showcase products, network and exchange experiences. (See article)
Somalia
President Mohamed Abdullahi met with Ethiopia’s Minister of Finance, Ahmed Shide, on Sunday (June 30) in Mogadishu. Mr. Ahmed delivered a message of greeting from Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed.
Qatar Airways’ first flight from Doha to Mogadishu landed at Aden Abdulle International Airport in Mogadishu on Monday (July 1) to join a growing list of foreign airlines operating flights in Somalia.
South Sudan
The Reconstituted Joint and Monitoring Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) in collaboration with inter-faith leaders in South Sudan convened a three-day workshop this week in Juba. It was primarily aimed to update religious leaders on the peace deal and progress made in implementation. It also highlighted the roles faith leaders could play. The RJMEC Chief of Staff, Ambassador Berhanu Kebede said the religious leaders enjoyed a high moral ground and acceptance, enabling them to shape attitudes and opinions. He urged them to “continue to be a light in the lives of the millions of South Sudanese who are looking to you for guidance and information on the peace process.” He also urged them to say no to those bent on undermining the peace process by engaging in hate propaganda and inciting violence.
Sudan
Ethiopia Special Envoy Ambassador Mahamoud Dirir and AU Commission Special Envoy Professor Hacen El Lebatt, the African Mediation, said on Tuesday (July 2) they had invited the Transitional Military Council and the Forces for Freedom and Change to join the negotiating table for direct talks on the leadership of the Sovereign Council. At a joint press conference, they said they had received “positive” responses from the two sides to their proposal to form a 15-member Council with seven from each side and an additional individual agreed by both. The Mediation welcomed this positive position of the parties. (See article)
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The Executive Council of the African Union meets in Niamey
The 35th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union was held in Niamey, the capital of Niger this week on Thursday and Friday (July 4-5). The opening ceremony was presided over by Mr Sameh Shoukry, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Chairperson of the Executive Council. It was also addressed by Niger’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, African Integration and Nigeriens Abroad, Mr Kalla Ankourao. The Ethiopian delegation to the session was led by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gedu Andargachew.
The Executive Council considered and adopted the African Union’s budget for 2020 and the legal instruments pertaining to the African Union Development Agency (formerly known as NEPAD), as well as reviewed the proposed new organizational structure of the AU Commission which is to be finalised by February 2020. It also elected four board members of the African Union Advisory Board on Corruption (AUABC) and discussed the scale of contributions to the AU Peace Fund. The Chairperson of the AU Commission announced that $120 million out of the expected $400 million for the Peace Fund has so far been received, and he expressed the Commission’s appreciation to member states for their contributions.
The Council reviewed the preparations and the Agenda for the 1st mid-year Coordination Meeting between the African Union and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs). The mid-year Coordination Meeting replaces the previous mid-year AU summit and will be held on Monday (July 8). It also prepared the draft agenda and decisions for the 12th Extraordinary Assembly that will launch the AfCFTA. The meeting of the 12th Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union on the African Continental Free Trade Area is to be held at the weekend on Sunday (July 7).
Speaking at the official opening ceremony of the 35th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council in Niamey, African Union Commission Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat, hailed the upcoming launch of the African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA as a “remarkable” and “historic” achievement. It follows the coming into force of the trade area on May 30, after the deposit of the required minimum of 22 ratifications by AU member states. The number of states which have now deposited instruments of ratification is now 25. With this month’s launch of the operational phase, traders across Africa will be able to make use of preferential trading arrangements offered by the AfCFTA. The Assembly of Heads of
State and Government on Sunday will decide on the location of the secretariat of the AfCFTA which will have the principal function of implementing the agreement. Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Ghana, Madagascar and Senegal have submitted bids to host the secretariat.
The Executive Council also reviewed the preparations for the 1st mid-year coordination meeting between the African Union and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs). In line with the Institutional Reforms agenda which recommended the rationalisation of the number of meetings held by the AU, a decision was made to have one summit per year, and a coordination meeting mid-year, instead of the previous two summits per year, in order to ensure the efficient implementation of AU summit outcomes and decisions. As this will be the first such meeting, discussions will centre on the drafting of the rules of procedure, drafting proposals on the division of labour between the AU, RECs and member states, and revision of the protocol on relations between the AU and the RECs
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State Minister Markos makes a working visit to Germany
Dr. Markos Tekle, State Minister of Foreign Affairs, paid a working visit to Germany last week (June 22-26) during which he held talks with State Secretary Antje Leendertse of the German Federal Foreign Office and Dr. Jan Hecker, Foreign Policy Adviser to the German Chancellor Angela Merkel as well as members of the Africa Association of German Business (Afrika-Verein) and the German Institute for International and Security Affairs. Dr. Markos also visited the Free State of Bavaria.
In his talks with State Secretary Leendertse, State Minister Dr. Markos, detailed the dynamic reforms taking place in Ethiopia and explained the current efforts being undertaken by Ethiopia in dealing with emerging peace and security situations in the Horn of Africa and beyond. He noted the efforts of Ethiopia, the region and of the African Union to facilitate the Sudan peace process, emphasizing that this was of paramount importance in finding African solutions to African problems. Dr. Markos took the opportunity to update State Secretary Leendertse on the recent foiled coup attempt in the Amhara Region and reassured her that normalcy had been restored both to the region and to the country at large. State Secretary Leendertse expressed her condolences to the people and Government of Ethiopia on the loss of life and underscored Germany’s readiness to support Ethiopia in its reform efforts.
During their meeting, the two State Ministers signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the establishment of an Ethiopia-German Joint Commission to further bolster bilateral relations. The Joint Commission envisages establishing regular consultation mechanisms to follow up cooperation projects and provide for robust cooperation in economic, social and political spheres of interest. In his talks with Dr. Markos, Dr. Jan Hecker, Foreign Policy Adviser to the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, noted that the agreement for a new Joint Commission between Ethiopia and Germany was one of the deliverables agreed during Prime Minister Dr. Abiy’s earlier visit to Germany and his talks with Chancellor Merkel. Dr. Hecker stressed that such a platform of cooperation would enable Germany to lift its already existing good relations with Ethiopia to a higher level.
Dr. Markos’ program also included a roundtable discussion with the Africa Association of German Business (Afrika-Verein), a nationwide, cross-industry foreign trade association of German companies and institutions. Members have particular interests in economic cooperation with African states. During their discussion, Dr. Markos briefed members of the business community on Ethiopia’s ongoing reform efforts including the steps being taken to improve the investment climate and ease of doing business in Ethiopia. The State Minister also briefed the members of German Institute for International and Security Affairs, on Ethiopia’s political, economic and social reform programs, and explained Ethiopia’s regional role in the Horn of Africa. They reached understanding on ways to cooperate over capacity building in diplomacy and foreign relations and other issues.
For the last leg of his visit to Germany, Dr. Markos visited the Free State of Bavaria where he held talks with the Head of the State Chancellery, the Minister of State for Federal and European Affairs of Bavaria Dr. Florien Hermann. Dr. Hermann, who recalled and welcomed the excellent reception given to Dr. Markus Soder, Minister President of Bavaria, on his visit to Ethiopia in April, said Ethiopia was a role model for a new kind of partnership for Bavaria in Africa. He noted the decision by Bavaria to open an office in Addis Ababa which, he said, would be a great boost to develop Bavarian investment and trade with Ethiopia. He said this would also help to further enhance people-to-people relations as well as business. Dr. Markos appreciated the new initiative and a Bavarian presence in Ethiopia. It was, he said, a testament to the growing relationship between Ethiopia and Germany. He said it provided a great opportunity for Ethiopia’s growing numbers of small and medium sized companies to learn from the vast technical and business know-how of the State of Bavaria; and he reiterated the importance of enhancing cooperation in technical and vocational training.
Ethiopia and Germany, of course, have enjoyed a longstanding history of diplomatic relations going back to the beginning of the 20th century; and Germany remains one of the most important development and trade partners for Ethiopia. Cooperation has focused on three priority areas as the main features of bilateral development cooperation.: education, especially vocational training and higher education; food security and agriculture; and conservation and sustainable use of natural resources and biodiversity.
Ethiopia and Germany also cooperate on global peace and security issues, especially the security situation in the Horn of Africa in particular and the African continent in general. Germany’s support for the building of the African Peace and Security Commission at the African Union in Addis Ababa has underlined its unwavering commitment.
Relations between Germany and Ethiopia have traditionally been good and have been fostered by a number of reciprocal high-level visits. Emperor Haile Selassie visited Germany in 1954, President Girma Wolde-Giorgis went in 2008, Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn in December 2014 and Prime Minister Dr. Abiy last year. Five Federal German Presidents have visited Ethiopia: Heinrich Lübke in 1964, Roman Herzog in 1996, Horst Köhler in 2004, Joachim Gauck in 2013 and Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, this year. Chancellor Angela Merkel travelled to Ethiopia in 2007 and again in October 2016; and Foreign Minister, Heiko Maas, visited Ethiopia on his first visit to Africa last year.
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The African Mediation on Sudan makes progress
Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed and AU Commission Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat, congratulated the African Mediation on Sudan on the progress being achieved on Sudan in a joint statement on Tuesday this week (July 2). The African Mediation is composed of their respective Special Envoys, Ambassador Mahamoud Dirir and Professor Hacen El Lebat. The
Prime Minister and the Chairperson congratulated them on their excellent work, despite the difficult circumstances, to reconcile the positions of the parties and facilitate a Political Agreement to implement a democratic transition in The Sudan. They welcomed the significant progress made in the negotiations between the Sudanese parties in conformity with the guidance given by the African Union Peace and Security Council on June 6 by the Extra-Ordinary Meeting of the IGAD Council of Ministers on June 19.
The Prime Minister and the AU Commission Chairperson also thanked the Sudanese people and all the national political and social actors for their positive interaction with the African mediation undertaken collectively by their respective Special Envoys. They strongly encouraged the national actors in Sudan to redouble their efforts to overcome their differences in a spirit of understanding and mutual concessions and to speed up the conclusion of the Political Agreement which, they stressed, was well within their reach, and to seize the opportune time and critical moment without any delay. They commended international partners for their constructive support of the African mediation process and called upon partners to reinforce their support during this critical juncture of the negotiation process in The Sudan. They re-emphasised the need for a Sudanese-owned process, free from external interference and fully respective of the sovereignty and the will of Sudanese people.
The African Mediation said that its draft had taken account of its continuous deliberations with the Parties, the Transitional Military Council and the Forces for Freedom and Change, and various other Sudanese circles. It noted that the Parties had positively responded and the African Mediation had seriously considered their positive inputs, generally incorporating them into the document. The Mediation, which wished the meeting every success in realizing the aspirations of the Sudanese People, appealed to all the National Stakeholders to observe “the highest level of responsibility and refrain from any escalation in the form of speeches or deeds,” which might negatively affect the conducive climate to reach an agreement between the parties.
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South Sudan President Salva Kiir on a state visit to Kenya
President Salva Kiir made a two-day state visit to Kenya at the beginning of the week, meeting President Kenyatta for bilateral talks on matters of mutual benefit on Monday (July 1). The two presidents witnessed the signing of several MoUs including the Agreed Minutes of the Inaugural Session of the Kenya-South Sudan Joint Commission of Cooperation and MoUs for Political Consultations and a Joint Commission for Cooperation. Kenya’s Foreign Affairs chief administrative secretary, Ababu Namwamba, said the visit would lay the foundation for future bilateral engagements between the two countries.
During their talks, the two leaders also agreed to deepen trade ties with a number of measures including a Kenya Trade Expo in Juba in November this year. President Kenyatta said this would “reignite our trade and commerce cooperation and send a very powerful signal that indeed South Sudan is open for business” He added there was a huge trade potential between the two countries. Kenya has also agreed to allocate land for a dry port for South Sudan in the Naivasha Special Economic Zone as well as for a logistics hub near the Port of Lamu on the coast. President Kenyatta assured President Kiir that Kenya is working toward the completion of the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia-Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor project to link both countries. The President said the first berth of the Port of Lamu would be ready in August while berths 2 and 3 are expected to be completed within the year 2020. The two Presidents also agreed to set up a joint border commission to manage their common border, and President Kenyatta announced they had begun efforts “to conduct amicable resolution of border disputes”. He added that a ministerial team had concluded a Memorandum of Understanding on delimitation and demarcation.
President Kenyatta, who also took the opportunity to announce the appointment of Kenya’s former vice president, Kalonzo Musyoka as a Special Envoy for Peace in South Sudan, called on South Sudanese leaders to take advantage of the current situation in the country for economic and social development gains. President Kiir, who described Kenya as is a key partner in South Sudan’s development, said his visit had been “a great opportunity that enabled us to explore comprehensive bilateral cooperation and take concrete measures that will enhance bilateral relations in different fields”. He said South Sudan remained grateful to the Government of Kenya.”
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Ethiopia and Kenya: 55 years of strategic partnership
Ethiopia and Kenya have just celebrated 55 years of diplomatic relations. June 26 marked the anniversary of a relationship that actually began even earlier when Emperor Haile Selassie first met Jomo Kenyatta, in the late 1930s. Emperor Haile Selassie was in exile, driven out by the Italian invasion of 1936; the future Kenyan President was studying at Quaker College. As Ethiopia’s current Ambassador to Kenya, Ambassador Meles Alem noted, the friendship they established encouraged a binary view of their countries, and helped them forge a symbiotic partnership which culminated in the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The close relationship was underlined by the physical location of the Ethiopian embassy in Nairobi.
Ethiopia offered full support to Kenya’s independence struggle; and post-independence, their respective economic opportunities have helped achieve some impressive growth rates. Ambassador Meles said some of opportunities had hatched, some were still incubating, and some were yet to come. But at whatever stage, and whether unilateral or bilateral, they stood to benefit both countries as a whole. In fact, a number of infrastructure projects were being actualized during the last decade. He noted the LAPSSET project whose foundation stone had been laid by the leaders of Kenya, Ethiopia and South Sudan in Lamu in 2012. When complete, this would significantly improve connectivity, contribute to regional infrastructure development and boost bilateral trade. This, indeed, had been welcomed at continental level. In 2015, the AU endorsed the project under the AU’s Presidential Infrastructure Championship Initiative, emphasizing it as a project critical to the continent’s regional integration aspirations. The Ambassador also underlined the recent efforts to deepen cross-border integration of the two separate economies, and the increased links of banks and markets; Ethiopian Airlines hopes to add Mombasa to its Kenyan destinations.
Ethiopia and Kenya face similar challenges, he pointed out, including poverty and food insecurity. Kenya’s Big Four agenda was close to Ethiopia’s development strategy. Such challenges did not recognise state boundaries and any assessment of these threats suggested the value of enhancing and developing common strategies and continuing efforts to strengthen partnerships to find solutions to resolve the challenges of poverty or hunger. Ethiopia’s foreign policy, Ambassador Meles said, places specific emphasis on countries in the region. Ethiopia believes prosperity and stability among neighbours offers stability to Ethiopia, and Ethiopia and Kenya complement each other: “As we celebrate 55 years of strategic partnership, this is the beginning of more to come. We are not rivals. Maybe the only thing we compete each other on is athletics.”
Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Chief Administrative Secretary, Ababu Namwamba, speaking on the occasion, also indicated there was a lot he would like to see done. Kenya and Ethiopia had signed an agreement for preferential access aimed at fostering economic co-operation in 2012, for example. This placed specific emphasis on trade, investment, infrastructure, food security and sustainable livelihoods. The two countries had established a Joint Ministerial Commission to drive bilateral ties. Over thirty agreements and MoUs, covering security, defence and trade, movement of people, transport, and culture had been signed, but, said Mr Namwamba, bilateral trade remained regrettably low. Problems included non-tariff barriers, long bureaucratic procedures, bans and sanctions, and foreign currency regulations.
In his concluding remarks, Ambassador Meles said the economic dividends between Kenyans and Ethiopians were still insignificant “but commemoration of 55 years is an affirmation of the commitment to further deepen our traditional ties and above all make our economic and business ties stronger”. Ethiopia and Kenya complement each other, he said, adding: “Looking forward, we should keep evolving, innovating and refining our partnership. Together, we will contribute to the betterment of both our countries.”
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The first Ethiopia-Kenya Business Forum held in Nairobi
The first Ethiopia-Kenya Business Forum was held in Nairobi on Thursday last week (June 27) to provide a platform for the exchange of ideas and experiences, build business-to-business partnerships between investors, manufacturers, exporters and importers, facilitate networking between government officials and business people and discuss business opportunities in Ethiopia. The Forum was opened by Ambassador Meles Alem, Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Kenya, who detailed the business opportunities available in Ethiopia. Highlighting the excellent diplomatic relations, he affirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to replicate this in the economic sector, explaining Ethiopia’s ongoing reforms and the demographic and geographic dividends it offered and the incentives available for foreign investors.
Kenya’s Director for Economic Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Jonson Weru, thanked the Embassy for organizing the Forum and urged Kenyan companies to benefit from the opportunities available. He said the Kenyan Ministry, Kenya’s Embassy in Addis Ababa, and Ethiopia’s Embassy in Nairobi were all set, as never before, to provide any necessary support to businesses.
The Forum attracted more than 70 companies and over 700 people from both countries to showcase products, network and exchange experiences. Representatives from Ethiopia included members of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and of Trade, the Ethiopian Investment Commission, from Tourism Ethiopia, the Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations as well as of private companies, including the Leather Corporation, Horizon Addis Tyre Manufacturing, Kangaroo Shoes and Nib Industrial. From Kenya were members of the Foreign Ministry, the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Private Sector Alliance and the Kenyan Investment Authority as well as entrepreneurs, investors, manufacturers and traders, from both public and private companies.
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Ethiopia at the Coordinators’ meeting on follow-up actions for the FOCAC Summit…
The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Coordinators’ Meeting on the Implementation of Follow-Up Actions of the Beijing Summit of FOCAC convened in Beijing last week (June 24-25), to discuss and reach a roadmap on implementation of the decisions of the Summit, held in September last year. The Beijing Summit of FOCAC 2018 produced two outcome documents, the Beijing Declaration-Toward an Even Stronger China-Africa Community with a Shared Future and the Beijing Action Plan 2018-21. Coordinators from China, 53 African Countries and the African Union Commission attended. President Xi Jinping, in a message given by State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, emphasized the success of the FOCAC Beijing Summit, “a milestone in the history of China-Africa relations [where] Chinese and African leaders unanimously decided to push forward the dovetail of joint construction of the Belt and Road and AU Agenda 2063, as well as development strategies of African countries, together build a China-Africa community with a shared future that features joint responsibility, win-win cooperation, happiness for all, common cultural prosperity, common security, and harmonious co-existence, and jointly implement the eight major initiatives of China-Africa cooperation, which charted a new blueprint for China-Africa relations on a higher level.”
The meeting was co-chaired by Chen Xiaodong, Assistant Foreign Minister of China and Oumar Demba Ba, Foreign Minister of Senegal; China and Senegal are co-chairs of FOCAC. President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, a special guest of honour, also addressed the meeting. The Ethiopian delegation was led by Ambassador Mahlet Hailu, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who underlined the great significance of the FOCAC platform to address Africa’s socio-economic agenda on the basis of principles of mutual benefit, equality and respect. Ambassador Mahlet underlined Ethiopia’s satisfaction with the implementation of previous FOCAC summits and ministerial conferences. She said China was fulfilling its commitments to support Africa’s transformation. With more than two years to go for the complete realization of the Beijing Action Plan (20180-2021), she said Ethiopia would like to emphasize certain areas. These included the need to highlight cooperation in areas of industrialization, especially in development of industrial parks; infrastructure with a focus on regional interconnections including railway, roads, energy and telecommunication; agriculture with a focus on cooperation in livestock and fishery, supporting provision of technological inputs, improved seeds and modern techniques for farmers located near agro-industrial parks, to increase productivity and create strong supply chain to the parks; and poverty alleviation in general.
Last week’s meeting discussed the progress and achievements since the inception of FOCAC in 2000 and ways to further strengthen cooperation to provide the benefits from the last FOCAC Summit effectively and efficiently. The discussion mainly focused on practical action plans to implement the eight major initiatives and the $60 billion pledged by President Xi to further deepen and elevate China-Africa Cooperation and build an even stronger community with a shared future. African delegates held dialogue with executives of Chinese financial institutions on mechanisms of financing and implementing the initiatives in the areas of infrastructure development, industry partnering, trade and investment, green development, capacity building, health, people-to-people, and peace and security. In conclusion, participants agreed on the implementation of follow-up actions Summit and adopted a Joint Statement as an outcome document.
…and takes part in the First China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo
An Ethiopian government and business delegation took part in the First China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE) held last week (June 27-29), at Changsha city in Hunan Province, China. The Trade Expo aimed at furthering economic and trade exchanges and cooperation between Africa and China through the Trade Facilitation Initiative under the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). The Expo was co-sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce of China and the Hunan Provincial People’s Government, and will be held every two years, with Hunan Province designated as its permanent venue. CAETE adopted the theme “Win-Win Cooperation for a Closer China Africa Economic and Trade Partnership”. The Expo represents a new mechanism for China-Africa cooperation under the framework of FOCAC, providing a new platform for implementing the FOCAC initiatives.
The Expo offered Ethiopia the opportunity to showcase its major export products, investment opportunities and tourism destinations to more than 10,000 Chinese enterprises and visitors. The Ethiopian pavilion was also visited by Chinese Vice Premier, Hu Chunhua and other dignitaries. China has been the largest trading partner of Ethiopia, and the value of exports and imports between the two countries reached US $ 5.6 billion in 2018. This Expo offered the chance to open up many additional trade opportunities for Ethiopia to enhance its export spectrum to one of the biggest markets in the world.
The Ethiopian delegation, led by Ambassador Misganu Arega, State Minister of Trade and Industry, included Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Dewano Kedir, the Commissioner of the Ethiopian Investment Commission, Mr. Abebe Abebayehu and members of other government bodies and the private sector attended the Expo. Commenting on the significance of the Expo to Ethiopia, Ethiopia’s Ambassador to China, Ambassador Teshome Toga said that “this platform unfolds a new prospect and vitality for attracting Chinese investors to explore the investment opportunities in Ethiopia.”
This trade Expo differs from previously held promotion events in two aspects; the promotion of replicable models of China-Africa cooperation and the creation of a perpetual online expo. Furthermore, a permanent exhibition and sales venue for African products has been founded in the Hunan Gaoqiao Grand Market so that more African products can find their way to China.
This Expo was first announced by President Xi Jinping at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation held in September 2018, when he also announced eight major initiatives to boost China-Africa cooperation, backed by US $ 60 billion of financial support. China has been the largest trade partner of Africa for 10 years in a row. President Jinping, in a congratulatory letter to the CAETE, said that “China is willing to uphold the rules of the multilateral trading system and will further widen market access, optimize the business environment and pursue trade, investment and liberalization”. He also said that “more effort is needed to promote China-Africa trade cooperation to new level, increase imports of high quality African goods and services and vigorously expand investment cooperation and infrastructure connectivity.”
An Ethiopia-China Business Forum was also held in Changsha on the margins of the China Africa Trade Expo with the attendance of around 200 companies interested in investing in Ethiopia. Ambassador Teshome Toga opened the Forum, underlining the strong bilateral relations between Ethiopia and China, and noting the need to further broaden and expand Chinese investment in Ethiopia. Investment Commissioner Abebe presented the various opportunities that exist in Ethiopia as well as underlining the steps underway to reform the business environment. The State Minister of Trade and Industry and Permanent Secretary Ambassador Dewano also attended the event and answered questions. They also held bilateral discussions with anchor companies in priority sectors. The Business Forum was organized by the Ethiopian Embassy in Beijing in coordination with the Ethiopian Consulate General in Guangzhou and is part of a series of events aimed at promoting Ethiopia as a sustainable and attractive investment destination.
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