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Newsletter 8 |
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Ethiopia Desirous to Deepen Relations with St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Meles Zenawi says Ethiopia is desirous to deepen relations with St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the areas of culture, trade and education. After signing an agreement with the visiting St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister, Dr. Ralph E Gonzalves, Meles said the bilateral relations of the two countries is showing progress with in a short period of time. Prime Minister Gonzalves on his part said St. Vincent and the Grenadines would like to bolster cooperation in various sectors. Dr. Gonzalves offered scholarships for Ethiopian students and extended invitations for Prime Minister Meles to pay an official visit to St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The delegation led by Prime Minister Gonzalves has visited the National Museum and other historical sites. The Rastafarian Community in Shashemane was also one of the destinations for the high level delegation from St. Vincent and the Grenadines. A bill is in the pipeline to improve the livelihood of Rastafarians residing in Ethiopia. |
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Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has said that low-income and least developed countries such as Ethiopia would face a difficulty to achieve the MDGs, most particularly to defeat extreme poverty, without additional effort on the part of all stakeholders. The Prime Minister in his statement delivered at the High Level Plenary Meeting of the 60th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations on 15 September 2005 confirmed that most of the DGs are demonstrably achievable even for countries such as Ethiopia. Based on Ethiopia's experience, the Prime Minister demonstrated that low-income and least developed countries, with little doubt, could realize the MDGs with the optimum mobilization of domestic resources and the requisite support internationally, in conformity with commitments made. However, Meles emphasized, countries such as Ethiopia require effective international cooperation consistent with the commitment made in the Millennium Declaration at Monterrey to be able to go on track to achieve the MDGs. While it is obvious that the primary responsibility for achieving the MDGs belongs to the concerned countries, it is also the obligation of partners to make it possible for the low-income countries that have demonstrated the readiness to discharge their responsibilities, to overcome the poverty trap, Meles underscored. Prime Minister Meles finally reiterated Ethiopia's commitment to achieving the MDGs and to doing whatever is necessary to contribute to a successful reform of the United Nations. |
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Government Supports UN University for Peace State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr.Tekeda Alemu says the Federal Government of Ethiopia (FDRE) supports the United Nations Affiliated University for Peace (UPEACE). After a host agreement was signed to use the Addis Ababa University (AAU) for training for African Countries Tekeda said UPEACE would also benefit from the agreement, as Addis Ababa is the political Capital of Africa. Julia Martan-Lefevere, Director of UPEACE on the occasion said AAU has been the choice for Addis is the seat for AU, ECA and other UN agencies. The objective of UN Peace African program is to boost capacity of African countries through education. The UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan is Honorary President of UPEACE. |
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Ethio-China Relations Gaining Momentum The Embassy of the People's Republic of China says Ethio-Chinese bilateral relation is gaining momentum. The Embassy told MoFA Newsletter that diplomatic relations established 35 years ago are showing progress on the basis of mutual respect, equality and common gains. China and Ethiopia have made unremitting efforts to boost the development of friendly cooperation. China is working in tandem with Ethiopia in the fields of investment, technology, culture and education, among others. The People's Republic of China in the last three decades has already undertaken 13 highway, power stations, veterinary clinic and water supply projects in Ethiopia. The accumulated contractual value of Chinese contracted projects in Ethiopia has reached over one billion dollar by July 2001. Ethiopia's Export to China has reached 40 million dollars between January and July 2005 compared with nearly 14 million in 2004 owing to zero-tariff front for certain commodities. Some 26 Chinese companies with a total capital of 35.7 million dollar are engaged in the, engineering, medicine, catering and textile industries. Ethiopia sees a bright future in the cooperation between China and Africa. |
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Ethiopia Conducive to Foreign Direct Investment Ethiopia ranks second as a country favorable to foreign direct investment among Central and East African countries. This is according to the rating made by the 2005-2006 evaluation report of the Financial Time Business Magazine. The magazine that reviews the state of foreign direct investment of countries also rated the country as the most cost effective in terms of foreign direct investment in the whole region of Africa. Ethiopia could be selected as favorable to foreign direct vestment, the magazine explains, owing to its labor price, its investment track record, the cultural and natural heritage the country possesses, and infrastructural development, among others. |