News in Brief
FM Gedu Andargachew Pays an Official Visit to Italy
A New Episode in South Sudan’s Peace Process…
… and the International Community Welcomes Formation of R-TGoNU
Embassy Holds a Business Forum in India
Africa and the African Union
The African Union (AU) held on Saturday (February 22) an emergency meeting of ministers of health in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa. The meeting was to agree on a continental strategy to strengthen preparedness response to the Coronavirus outbreak by member states. The African Union Commission has been engaging Member States to learn and assess their preparedness for the outbreak.
President of the European Commission, Ms. Ursula von der Leyen, arrived in Addis Ababa on Tuesday (February 25) for the 10th EU-African Union (AU) joint meeting. She was accompanied by 20 commissioners and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The meeting took place on Thursday and focused on key issues such as growth, employment, green transition, digital transition, peace, security and governance, as well as mobility and migration.
The African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) said last week on Friday it has trained 200 more Somali police officers, who will maintain law and order in Hirshabelle State in the central part of the country. Yuyi Mwala, AMISOM police coordinating officer for the state, said the police officers will soon graduate from Jowhar Police Academy as part of stabilization efforts in Somalia. “We have 200 recruits who will graduate soon. They are well-prepared, and we are thankful to the Hirshabelle State leadership and the police leadership for supporting AMISOM to achieve its mandate,” Mwala said in a statement issued in Mogadishu.
The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) has handed over a new police station to Somali forces to help boost security in Beletweyne, a central part of the country. Augustine Magnus Kailie, an AMISOM police commissioner, said the construction of the police station at the Ugas Khalif Airport, which was handed over to the Hirshabelle State police, was in fulfillment of the AMISOM mandate to bolster security at Ugas Khalif Airport and surrounding communities.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia said it would not participate in the Washington meeting which was scheduled to take place from February 27-28 in Washington, D.C. Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt have been holding negotiation on the filling and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in the presence of the World Bank and Secretary of the Treasury as observers. Ethiopia decided to skip the talks “because the country’s delegation hasn’t concluded its consultation with relevant stakeholders”, the Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy announced on its Facebook page on Wednesday (February 26). “The decision has been communicated with the US Treasury secretary.”
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia Gedu Andargachew has been in an official visit to Italy as of Tuesday (February 25). During his stay, Gedu has met and held talks with his Italian counterpart, Luigi Di Maio and leaders of various international organizations. (See article)
Chinese President Xi Jinping appreciated the help and support of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Ethiopia in the fight against the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in his phone calls with the leaders of the two countries separately on Tuesday (February 25). In his call with the Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, Xi appreciated the fact that Ethiopia has maintained normal contact and exchanges with China in accordance with World Health Organization recommendations. Abiy said he was pleased to learn from President Xi Jinping that China will be providing special care and support to Ethiopian students in China.
Italy’s Defence Minister Lorenzo Guerini said on Tuesday (February 25) that he would visit the site in Ethiopia of a 1937 massacre by Italian forces. “Italy assumes its responsibilities towards history, with all that that entails,” he said at the presentation of Paolo Borruso’s book on the Debre Libanos massacre, entitled Debre Libanos 1937, Italy’s Most Serious War Crime. Some 449 Coptic Ethiopians were killed by colonial forces between May 21 and 29 1937, according to official sources at the time, though the 1990s studies say the real tally was 1,500-2,000.
The change of government in Ethiopia, with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed at the helm, is encouraging refugees living all over the region to return home. In the past week, 76 Ethiopian refugees in Kenya and 128 in Tanzania returned home in response to what Ethiopia calls a citizen-focused diplomacy programme. The Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Nebiat Getachew said more than 120,000 Ethiopians had been brought home from more than 10 countries including Kenya and Tanzania over the past one year under a new initiative by Dr. Abiy Ahmed’s government.
Ethiopia will delay beyond a March deadline the award of two telecoms licences to multinational mobile companies, responding to requests from interested bidders, State Minister of Finance Eyob Tekalign Tolina said on Wednesday (February 26). “The timeline is probably too aggressive for most operators,” Eyob said in an interview in his office in the capital Addis Ababa. “They have requested the government should … allow them enough amount of time to prepare and compete.”
Ethiopian Embassy in Abu Dhabi on Monday (February 24) has begun registering Ethiopians living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) without legal documents. During his recent visit to UAE, Prime Minister DrAbiy Ahmed had reached an agreement with the UAE to legalize irregular migrants to obtain residence and work permits. The registration is aimed at implementing the agreement reached between the two sides, said the Ethiopian Consulate in Dubai. According to the Embassy, the registration will last until March 22, 2020.
The second Water Security and Sustainable Development conference kicked off in Ethiopia on Monday (February 24). Representatives from Ethiopia, UK, Colombia, India and Malaysia have attended the conference in Addis Ababa. The three-day event discussed issues that should be done to maintain water security and sustainable development. Participating countries showcased and shared their experiences at the conference. The first conference was held in Malaysia.
Ethiopia and Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development (KFED) have signed a 100 million loan agreement in Addis Ababa. The agreement was signed on Monday (February 24) by Ahmed Shide, Ethiopia’s Minister of Finance and Hussain Jasem Al Nowais, Chairman of KFED. Ahmed Shide said the loan will be used for the implementation of homegrown economic reforms, to encourage innovation and assist small and medium enterprises (SMEs), among others.
Embassy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in New Delhi, India in collaboration with the Federation of Madhya Pradesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, held a Business Forum on the potentials of Investment, Trade and Tourism in Ethiopia on February 25, 2020 in Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh. (See article)
Ethiopia recorded 157 million U.S. dollars in revenue from 41,837 Chinese tourists in 2019, an Ethiopian official said on Thursday. China is the third-largest source of tourists visiting Ethiopia, only after the United States and Britain. Ethiopian Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MoCT) Communications Affairs Director, Endegena Desalegn said, “Ethiopia earned 157 million U.S. dollars from Chinese tourists in 2019 who came to Ethiopia for a range of purposes including conferences, business trips and seeking leisure.”
Kenya
An Al-Shabaab militant last week on Thursday surrendered to authorities in Mandera county, northeastern prefecture (NEP) of Kenya. The terror operative surrenders a day after three people were killed in a bus attack claimed by Al-Shabaab. The terror operative identified as Salat Hajir Jimale, 23, surrendered to security authorities at Elwak town in Mandera South. The Initial report recorded at Elwak Police Station indicated that Jimale was summoned from Ashabito locality of Rhamu in Mandera North. He was held at the police station where he underwent interrogation. Police reports, Salat Hajir Jimale cooperated well with government officials and provided very critical information that could help in Kenya’s war on terrorism.
Somalia
Somalia’s president, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, has signed legislation that will allow ordinary Somalis to vote in parliamentary elections for the first time. The president signed the bill into law on Friday, two weeks after the upper house of parliament approved the bill. The lower house passed it in December. Previously, elections took place under the 4.5 system, in which elders from four major clans and smaller ones chose delegates to vote for leaders. Under the new system, Somalis will vote directly for parties, with parliamentary seats being allocated according to the final tallies. Members of parliament will then elect the president and prime minister. The prime minister must come from the majority party in parliament.
Somali military on Sunday (February 23) has begun a large operation in the Middle Shabelle region, just outside Mogadishu, in an attempt to drive out Al-Shabaab from small villages under its control. The troops erected few checkpoints near Bal’ad town, searching public vehicles travelling in the main road that links Mogadishu to Jowhar district. The operation comes a day after Bal’ad district authorities said two Al-Shabaab members were killed in an army raid targeting custom office allegedly belonging to the militants.
In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted an airstrike targeting an al-Shabaab compound in the vicinity of Saakow, Somalia, on Saturday (February 22). The US raid killed two militants, another was wounded, and an al-Shabaab compound was reduced as a result of this precision airstrike. “We currently assess no civilians were injured or killed as a result of this airstrike,” said AFRICOM in a statement released on Sunday.
South Sudan
Former South Sudanese rebel leader Riek Machar on Saturday (February 22) has been sworn in as first vice-president, sealing a peace deal aimed at ending six years of civil war. President Salva Kiir witnessed the moment at a ceremony at the State House in the capital, Juba. It is hoped that the new unity government will bring an end to the conflict that has killed about 400,000 people and displaced millions. Saturday’s ceremony took place just before the deadline for an agreement expired. The peace process in South Sudan has come to fruition demanding a lot of time and labor from stakeholders, regional and international organizations and the formation of R-TGoNU is just the begging of the peace process to address unresolved issues. (See article)
The holdout South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA) on Monday (February 24) called on the transitional national unity government to negotiate with them to achieve sustainable peace in the country. The call comes two days after the appointment of the first vice-president and the four vice-presidents as the first step in the formation of the transitional national unity government tasked with the implementation of the revitalized peace pact during the coming 36 months.
The formation of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity of South Sudan on Saturday (February 22) has drawn a lot of acclamation from various bodies in the world.” (See article)
South Sudanese collegial presidency on Wednesday (February 26) called for forgiveness and national reconciliation in the country and predicted a breakthrough in the talks without holdout groups. The revitalized presidency held its first meeting chaired by President Salva Kiir and with the participation of his First Vice-President Riek Machar and the four other vice-presidents: James WaniIgga, Taban Deng Gai, Hussein Abdelbagi Akol and Mama Rebecca de Mabior. “The President and all the Vice Presidents have forgiven each other and urged all the South Sudanese also to forgive them and pray for them so we embark on reconciliation, forgiveness and healing of our broken social fabric,” said the presidency at the end of the meeting.”The Government will do its utmost best to ensure they are supported to resettle in their home areas,” stressed the statement.
South Sudan needs about $119 million to meet the humanitarian needs of displaced persons (IDPs) and returnees, said the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Thursday (February 27). Aid agencies estimate that some 7.5 million South Sudanese are in dire need of humanitarian assistance. Some 1.5 million people remain displaced internally while a further 2.2 million are in neighbouring countries as a result of the over five-year civil war.
The Deputy Chairman of the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) Hussein Abdelbagi Akol Agany has been appointed Vice-President of the Republic on Sunday (February 23) and took the oath of office on the same day. Agany was appointed after the signing of a letter to President Kiir by five SSOA candidates demanding him to choose one the alliance leaders for vice-president. Lam Akol of the National Democratic Movement (NDM) refused to sign it. In a statement, the NDM said it was not a part of the decision reached by some SSOA leaders to refer the decision on the nomination for the vice-president to the president and that the action violates the revitalized peace agreement the alliance signed with the government over a year ago.
Sudan
The Sudanese government and Darfur armed groups said on Monday (February 24) that they agreed to allocate 20 percent of the jobs in the civil service to the western Sudan region. The negotiating teams from the transitional government and Darfur groups announced they reached a deal on the employment of Darfurians in the civil service which is part of the power-sharing in the peace talks. Mohamed Hassan al-Taishi told reporters in Juba that the two parties agreed to address the underrepresentation of Darfur people in the civil service.
Yasir Arman, the deputy head of the SPLM-N led by Malik Agar on Sunday (February 23) said that the peace negotiations between the Sudanese government and the armed movements are entering the crucial final stages. The transitional government and the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) are expected to reach a comprehensive peace within the upcoming, after extending the process for three weeks on 15 February. He stressed that the peace agreement will contribute to the dismantling of the former regime and allows the building of a new security sector with new military doctrine and will contribute to the reform of the economy and foreign relations.
Sudanese official sources revealed on Saturday (February 22) that Ali Kushayb, one of five Sudanese indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC), had fled to the Central African Republic after an agreement between the transitional government and the armed groups to hand them over to the war crimes tribunal. According to Darfur 24, Kushayb crossed the border to the CAR Africa, adding he and dozens of armed tribesmen travelled in two four-wheel vehicles, and cars loaded with fuel. The official expressed fears that the fugitive who is from the Al-Taisha tribe launch a new rebellion in Darfur. Kushayb is charged with war crimes against civilians in Darfur during 2003 and 2004. He is accused of ordering killings, rapes, and looting. An ICC arrest warrant was issued for him on April 27, 2007.
The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement led by Abdel Aziz al-Hilu (SPLM-N al-Hilu) and the Sudanese National Alliance (SNA) signed a joint political declaration calling for a secular state in Sudan. The Political Declaration signed in Juba on Tuesday (February 25) stressed on the need to agree on a national project establishing a modern state based on the nation’s shared values, and a social contract based on the consent of all components of the Sudanese people. “Sudan’s constitutional and legal structures should be established on the secularism and the separation of religion from the state,” said the declaration signed by SNA deputy leader Mohamed Farouq Salman and SPLM-N-al-Hilu Secretary-General Amar Amum.
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FM Gedu Andargachew Pays an Official Visit to Italy
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia Gedu Andargachew has been in an official visit to Italy as of Tuesday (February 25). During his stay, Gedu has met and held talks with his Italian counterpart, Luigi Di Maio and leaders of various international organizations.
During a meeting with Luigi Di Maio on Wednesday (February 26) Gedu emphasized Ethiopia’s commitment to further bolster the long-standing historical and people-to-people relationship between the two countries. Gedu expressed his belief that conducting such a dialogue at the level of Foreign Ministers would facilitate the opportunity to jointly review bilateral and multilateral alliances and to consult on ways to further strengthen the cooperation between Ethiopia and Italy. He urged the Italian Minister to support the implementation of bilateral and continental cooperation agreements signed on between the two countries during the visit of Dr. Abiy Ahmed in last October to Italy and the visits of Italy’s President and Prime Minister to Ethiopia.
Commending the relationship between the two countries in trade and investment, Gedu called on his Italian counterpart to further deepen relations through investing more in various sectors. The Minister also called on Luigi Di Maio to closely monitor the implementation of projects that are being undertaken through the Italian Development Cooperation in Ethiopia. The Ethiopian Minister also thanked Italy for its support to Ethiopia’s Homegrown Economic Reform and invited Italian companies to exploit the opportunity. Gedu has also briefed Luigi Di Maio about Ethiopia’s stances on the filling and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and the consultation that the Ethiopian Government is currently undertaking with stakeholders at home.
The Foreign Minister of Italy, Luigi Di Maio on his part noted the significance of Ethiopia’s socio-economic reform and expressed his country’s determination to support it. Engaging in economic opportunities in Ethiopia and helping youth entrepreneurship programs is a key step in preventing illegal immigration, Luigi Di Maio underscored. He also assured Gedu that Italy would provide capacity building support for the upcoming General elections in Ethiopia. Luigi Di Maio also hailed Ethiopia’s important role in bringing peace to the Horn of Africa. Zenebu Tadesse, the Ethiopian ambassador to Italy and delegation members of the two countries attended the discussion between the two ministers.
In the same vein, Gedu Andargachew held talks on Thursday (February 27) with the heads of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the United Nations World Food Programme – WFP, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome, Italy. The discussion focused on running projects in line with the objectives of Ethiopia’s ongoing economic reform and in expanding and strengthening development projects in Ethiopia.
In consulting with H.E. David Muldrow Beasley, Executive Director of WFP, Gedu urged the organization to continue providing its Humanitarian assistance to Ethiopia. The discussion with H.E. Qu Dongyu Director-General of FAO focused on cooperating to combat the latest desert locust attack in the region and ways to assist Ethiopia’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda. Meeting with the President of IFAD, H.E. Gilbert F. Houngbo, Gedu highlighted the importance of IFAD’s financial assistance to modernize agriculture in Ethiopia.
The heads of FAO, WFP, and IFAD applauded the reform in Ethiopia that is placing the country’s economy on solid footing. Gedu thanked them for their unwavering support to Ethiopia’s development.
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A New Episode in South Sudan’s Peace Process
Important milestones have been witnessed in the peace process in South Sudan recently. While agreements have been signed in Rome, with the help of the community of Sant’Egidio, between the government and the holdout group of SSOMA (South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance) on Cessation of Hostilities and on the mechanism to verify its implementation, the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU) is formed in Juba with the swearing-in of the Vice Presidents.
President Salva Kiir Mayardit oversaw the swearing-in ceremony of the First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar, Vice presidents Dr. James WaniIga, General Taban Deng Gai, and Mrs. Rebecca Nyandeng de Mabior on Saturday, February 22/2020 at the State House in Juba. According to the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) which was signed on the 12th of September 2018 in Addis Ababa, power is to be shared between the incumbent transitional government and other opposition forces, including the major opposition SPLM/A-IO. The fifth Vice President, Gen. Hussein Abdelbagi Akol Agany was sworn in on Sunday, February 23, 2020.
The determination of the number and boundaries of states in South Sudan and security arrangements were the two most important outstanding issues that hindered the formation of the Transitional Government. Due to these outstanding issues, the formation of the government was extended twice. IGAD and the C5 countries (with the Chairmanship of South Africa) have been mediating the parties on the number of states. The Incumbent government insisted to maintain the 32 states that still existed, while the main opposition, SPLM/A-IO held the position of ten states that South Sudan had before the introduction of 28 states by President Kiir in 2015, and later extended to 32 states. Alternatively, it advocated for 23 states plus Abyei Administrative Area.
After consultation with his constituencies in Juba following the 34th IGAD extraordinary summit in Addis on the sidelines of the AU summit, President Salva kiir decided to revert to the previous ten states and additional three administrative areas, namely Abyei, Ruweng and Greater Pibor Administrative Areas.
Even though SPLM/A-IO expressed concerns on the introduction of the new Administrative Areas, Dr. Riek Machar, the opposition leader, agreed to form the government following discussions with the President in Juba under the facilitation of the Deputy Head of the Supreme Council of Sudan, General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo. This bold decision by the President to revert to the ten states and the acceptance of Dr. Machar to come to Juba and accept temporary security cover by the government created an opportunity for the formation of the Transitional Government on the deadline, 22nd February 2020. Accordingly, the First V/President and the other four V/presidents took the oath of office.
President Salva kiir said during the ceremony: “My brother Dr. Riek Machar and I are now partners in peace. … We must forgive one another and reconcile. … I want to reiterate here and now that I have forgiven my brother Dr. Riek Machar, the 1st Vice President of the Republic and I also ask for his forgiveness.” He also invited the people of South Sudan to forgive one another and reconcile. President Kiir stated that the formation of the government was made possible due to the painful decisions and compromise made, and assured the South Sudanese, the region and the international community at large that South Sudan has reached ‘a point of no return’ in the pursuit for peace.
First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar on his part, thanked President kiir for his “courageous decision to revert the country to ten states” and expressed “… the commitment of SPLM/SPLA(IO) to work closely with peace partners and particularly, President kiir Mayardit to implement the agreement in letter and in spirit.” Both leaders expressed their gratitude to the IGAD and its member states, the C5 countries, the troika countries, and all who contributed to the peace process.
Notwithstanding this, the other pending issue of forming a unified army before the formation of the Transitional Government is not finalized. Currently, the security of the presidency is undertaken by the forces of the defunct transitional government. Tens of thousands of soldiers, policemen, fire brigade and wildlife officers, as well as national security personnel are in the cantonment and training sites awaiting training and deployment as unified forces. This important task is crucial for the sustained peace and security of the Republic of South Sudan and needs focus in the coming weeks.
Critical tasks of, inter alia, deciding on the allocation of regional governors, ministerial portfolios, state and local government posts and members and speakers of councils of states which are necessary for the full functioning of the Transitional Government are still being worked out between the parties to the Agreement (R-ARCSS). Cooperation and compromise among the parties are of paramount importance in this regard so that a full-fledged Transitional Government is in place as per the agreement.
With screening for the training and deployment of unified forces, quite a number of ex-combatants will be demobilized and reintegrated back to the society, which requires considerable financial and logistical support by the international community so that the Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) process is properly undertaken. Besides, when the Transitional Government is fully established and, the confidence of the people is restored, a great number of refugees and IDPs are expected to return to their homes. This in turn, apart from the huge humanitarian assistance already needed for the food insecure, necessitates more support for the would-be returnees to be re-integrated. Therefore, the international community is expected to redouble its assistance to the Government of South Sudan.
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The International Community Welcomes Formation of South Sudan’s R-TGoNU
Regional and international organizations and countries welcomed the formation of the Transitional Government in South Sudan and pointed out the need to tackle unsettled issues. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on the South Sudanese parties “to fully adhere to the letter and spirit of the Agreement”. The Troika Countries welcomed the formation of the National Unity Government in Juba calling on the parties to keep working with the spirit of compromise during the transitional period.
For its part, the regional group that brokered the revitalized peace agreement pinpointed to “the internal frictions and divisions in some of the Parties to the R-ARCSS” without naming them. In a statement, IGAD said that it recognizes [these divisions have] caused an unnecessary distraction in the Pre-Transitional Period and should not be allowed and disrupt the implementation of transitional tasks during the Transitional Period. “Therefore, it is high time that these Parties now overcome their internal differences and wrangles for the sake of peace,” further stated IGAD.
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki and the Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed also underscored that the people of South Sudan deserve peace and expressed their willingness to extend help to the Transitional Government in any way possible. Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed said, “The formation of the Transitional Government is an important milestone for the people of South Sudan and encouraging for Ethiopia to see the consensus built by all parties to the Revitalized Peace Agreement.” It is also “a source of great satisfaction to our regional organization, the IGAD,” Dr. Abiy added, commending the role of IGAD to bring lasting peace and stability in the country.
In the same vein, US Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft urged President Salva Kiir and FVP Riek Machar “to show the courage and fortitude needed at this moment to translate hope into a better future for South Sudan”. The European Union, also hailed the key step urging the peace signatories to work together to address the major challenges ahead, pointing out to the need to “mark progress on (the security) arrangements and other critical aspects of the peace agreement.”
The Chinese embassy in Juba said in a statement, “We trust that the relevant parties of South Sudan will resolve the remaining issues in the spirit of mutual trust and understanding, and start a new chapter in the history of South Sudan. Human Rights Watch associate Africa director Jehanne Henry urged the new government to set out a plan to end human rights violations particularly “reforming the national security service, freeing abducted civilians held by armed groups, and establishing a hybrid war crimes court in partnership with the African Union.”
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Embassy Holds a Business Forum in India
Embassy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in New Delhi, India in collaboration with the Federation of Madhya Pradesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, held a Business Forum on the potentials of Investment, Trade, and Tourism in Ethiopia on February 25, 2020 in Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh.
Ambassador Tizita Mulugeta, Ambassador of Ethiopia to India in her opening remarks thanked the Federation of Madhya Pradesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry and its President Shri Dr. Radha Sharan Goswami for organizing the forum and hosting her delegation in Bhopal.
She further remarked that the forum is a useful event to acquaint the business community of Madhya Pradesh with the opportunities and potentials of investing and doing business in Ethiopia. Ambassador Tizita stated that Ethiopia’s unique position gives it a competitive advantage since it is located at a crossroads between Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Besides the geographical advantage, the ambassador explained in detail, the endeavors the Government of Ethiopia making to create a favourable condition for international investors who are interested in investing in Ethiopia.
Ambassador Tizita added that the fact that there are more than five hundred Indian investors in Ethiopia shows that the overall environment of the country is favourable for Indian entrepreneurs and stated her strong belief that this, in turn, will attract more Madhya Pradesh investors to go and invest in Ethiopia.
The President of the Federation of Madhya Pradesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Shri Dr. Radha Sharan Goswami on his part thanked Ambassador Tizita Mulugeta for holding the forum in collaboration and explained the potentials of the Madhya Pradesh State as a source of investment and trade.
The President stated that in the Madhya Pradesh State, there are about 245 world-class pharmaceutical industries of which thirty of them are already engaged in exporting their products to Ethiopia. He further went on to explain the State has some of the country’s heavy industries like Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) a renowned electrical machinery manufacturer and Tata Leather, a subsidiary of Tata International Conglomerate and others.
Dr. Radha Sharan Goswami further elaborated that there are close to 300,000 Small Scale Industries (SSI) in the state which created more than one million jobs. He added that the experience can be shared with Ethiopia given the strong relationship both countries are enjoying.
A PowerPoint presentation was delivered to the participants of the forum about Ethiopia’s investment, trade, and tourism potentials. After the presentation a question and answer session followed in which Ambassador Tizita reacted to the questions raised by the participants of the forum.
At the end of the forum, a separate discussion was held with entrepreneurs who showed interest to explore the investment opportunities in Ethiopia.
