Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz arrived in Addis Ababa today for an official visit to Ethiopia.

Upon his arrival at Bole Airport, Chancellor Kurz was welcomed by Foreign Minister Workneh Gebeyehu and other senior government officials, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

During his stay, the Chancellor will discuss with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on bilateral and multilateral issues.

Prime Minister Abiy and Chancellor Kurz had met in October 2018, on the sidelines of the G20 Summit held in Berlin, Germany.

On this occasion, the two leaders agreed to expand the relations between Ethiopia and Austria.

About 15,000 migrants have benefited from a project launched three years ago to rehabilitate and reintegrate returnees in Ethiopia.

This was revealed at a consultative forum organized yesterday in Ethiopia by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, in partnership with the European Union (EU) and the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Aida Awel, Chief Technical Adviser on Labour migration for the ILO Country Office for Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan, and South Sudan briefed participants about the project.

The project that was launched in 2015 with five million Euros has benefited 15,000 returnee Ethiopian migrants in Amhara, Oromia and Tigray regional states, she said.

They were provided with life skills and vocational skills training programs in the areas of their interest as well as based on the demands of the local market, the advisor said.

The project also facilitated returnees’ access to finance through linkage with microfinance institutions, she said.

The project was launched through funding from the EU following the repatriation of Ethiopian migrant workers from Saudi Arabia in 2013.

The first Africa-China business forum kicked off here on Monday as Ethiopian and Chinese businesses aspire to create a partnership in various sectors.

The China-Africa business forum, which is underway in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa from Dec. 3 to 5 with a theme of “China-Ethiopia Industrial Capacity Cooperation Exposition,” also hosts various other side events, including the a high-level business expo, industrial capacity cooperation forum, investment promotion conference, and visit to some of Ethiopia’s industrial parks.

Some 46 Chinese companies are currently showcasing their products and services at the first edition of the high-level Africa-China business forum.

Speaking at the opening session of the forum on Monday, Melaku Ezezew, President of the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations (ECCSA), emphasized the strong business and investment ties between Ethiopia and China, both at government as well as business level.

Ezezew also noted that the business forum and the expo would help companies to forge “strong working partnership.”

The event, which is scheduled to be held on an annual basis in the future, is co-hosted by ECCSA and the China International Exhibition Center (CIEC).

According to Deputy Manager of CIEC, Liu Jian, the visiting high-level Chinese companies have planned to utilize the opportunity to create a business partnership and joint venture with Ethiopian and other African businesses.

The expo, sponsored by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade in partnership with the China-Africa Development Fund, will serve as a platform in creating linkage among African and Chinese business people, Liu said.

The event is aimed at deepening the comprehensive partnership of Ethiopia and China to encourage the operation of industry and commerce of the two countries, according to ECCSA.

The European Union has upped its support for Ethiopia in the area of justice and the rule of law, announcing a support package on November 29.

The 10 million euro support was announced after a meeting between Ambassador of the EU to Ethiopia, Johan Borgstam, and Ethiopia’s Chief Justice, Meaza Ashenafi.

CJ Ashenafi expressed appreciation to the EU for what she said was “its continued partnership and support to ensure the rule of law in Ethiopia.”

She stressed that the two parties had also held fruitful discussions on areas of importance and of mutual interest. Ashenafi since taking office as Ethiopia’s first female CJ has stressed the need to reform the judiciary.

“This is an honour and a distinct privilege. This kind of offer does not come every day, and this is a new chapter in our country as we go through a transformation.

“It will be a privilege if I am able to contribute to the independence of our judiciary… [and] the government is ready to ensure that I get all the support I need to build an independent judiciary,” she said.

“I am so happy that the glass ceiling is shattered and my daughters can dream of becoming anyone they want to be in Ethiopia,” she told the BBC.

Under the less than a year old administration of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Ethiopia currently has its first woman president in career diplomat Sahle-Work Zewde.

A powerful peace minister in the person of Muferiat Kamil – Ethiopia’s first woman speaker of parliament, its first defense minister, Aisha Mohammed and eight other woman holding cabinet portfolios.

Its current twenty-seat cabinet is occupied by ten women. The government has received wide commendation internationally over its steps at empowering women to hold top leadership positions in the governance structure.

On 29 November 2018, the Embassy of Ethiopia in Brussels interviewed Mrs. Ana Gomes, Member of the European Parliament, about the sweeping reforms currently taking place in the country.

 

Tibor P. Nagy, U.S. Assistant Secretary, arrived in Ethiopia yesterday for an official visit.

State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Markos Takele, greeted Mr. Tibor upon arrival at Bole International Airport.

During his stay in Ethiopia, he is expected to hold discussions with senior government officials, including the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

In addition to Ethiopia, he will travel to Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, and Germany.

The Assistant Secretary will focus on promoting stronger trade and commercial ties between the US and Africa, harnessing the potential of Africa’s youth, advancing peace and security through partnerships, and underscoring the United States’ enduring commitment to the people and nations of Africa.

In all stops, Assistant Secretary Nagy will conduct bilateral meetings with government officials.

Furthermore, Ethiopia’s Minister of Defense Aisha Mohammed met this morning with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Tibor Nagy and General Thomas D. Waldhauser, Commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM).

They discussed opportunities for security cooperation between the United States and Ethiopia. He will also participate in the United States-African Union High-Level Dialogue in Addis Ababa.

Mr. Nagy underscored that the Horn of Africa is now the Hope for Africa during a meeting with Minister of Foreign affairs, Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu.

On the occasion, Secretary Nagy thanked Ethiopia for its leading role in ensuring peace and stability in the Horn of Africa region.

Minister Workneh briefed Assistant Secretary Nagy on the ongoing sweeping democratic and economic reforms in Ethiopia.

The Minister expressed his country’s keenness to strengthen the trade and investment ties with the US in a bid to maximize the mutual benefits of the peoples of the two countries.

Dr. Workneh noted the support the US has been extending to Ethiopia’s endeavors in areas of education, health and power generation schemes, and emphasized on the importance of working more closely in supporting the ongoing efforts dedicated at institutional building.

Assistant Secretary Nagy noted Ethiopia’s significant role for the winds of change in the sub-region and described Ethiopia as exemplary to the rest of Africa .

He commended the ongoing reforms in the country, adding that the Government of the United States highly appreciates the fact that the relationship between Ethiopia and Eritrea have evolved from mistrust to cooperation. In this regard, Assistant Secretary Nagy expressed his government’s continued commitment to support Ethiopia’s efforts of promoting regional peace and stability.

In a related development, a U.S. delegation led by Nagy held a discussion with Ethiopia’s Minister of Peace Mrs. Meferiat Kamil.

On the occasion, Muferiat briefed the delegation about her ministry.

She said the Ministry of Peace was established with a view to ensuring rule of law and building a peaceful country.

“We want to learn from the United States, a country that has a rich experience in peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and respect of human rights,” she noted.

Tibor Nagy for his part said the ongoing reform in Ethiopia could be a model for other African countries.
“We came here to work together and show our solidarity,” he said.

The two sides also discussed how to cooperate in peacebuilding, ensuring rule of law as well as human resource development, among others.

On the occasion of the 52nd session of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly that started this morning in Cotonou (Benin), Tagesse Chafo, Speaker of the House of Peoples’ Representatives (HPR), updated his African and European partners on the current situation in Ethiopia.

A fresh air of reform has been blowing in Ethiopia since Dr. Abyi Ahmed came to power in April this year. Recently, additional initiatives were taken to empower women and create a more accommodative political system in Ethiopia.

As part of implementing Goal 5 (Gender equality) of our collective Sustainable Development Goals (SDG),  Ethiopia has established a gender-balanced cabinet for the first time in history, placing the country in one of the highest places in gender parity in the world.  Ethiopia has also elected women as President and head of the federal supreme court.

As part of creating a more accommodative political system in the country, a Ministry of Peace was established to coordinate and oversee activities on nurturing national consensus. Furthermore, a former leader of an opposition party, Ms. Birtukan Mideksa was named to head the Ethiopian National Electoral Board.

As Ethiopia is preparing to hold National and local elections in 2020, discussions between the ruling and the opposition parties are underway. We hope that those multifaceted reform efforts will help to ensure not only Ethiopia’s strive to create a more prosperous society, but also to contribute for the implementation of the third pillar of our joint document “towards the ACP we want.”

In a separate speech, Tagesse Chafo advocated for a strong parliamentary dimension in the post-2020 landscape. The structural problems of the ACP Assembly have to be improved in order to have a strong and reformed ACP Assembly.

Ethiopia will hold its first population census in more than a decade. PM Abiy, meeting Tuesday with the leaders of about 80 political parties, said the government is working on amending the election law before the 2020 vote. He also appointed new officials, including two national security advisers.

The census’ advisory council will have 20 members, including nine ministers and officials from all nine of Ethiopia regional states. Ethiopia, Africa’s second-most populous nation, was reconfigured a quarter century ago as a federation to give autonomy to its more than 80 ethnic groups.

Ethiopia’s last census was in 2007, and the constitution requires one every ten years.

The House of People’s Representatives (HPR) approved unanimously the draft bill prepared to assign members of the Population and Housing Census Commission yesterday.

Here is the list of new members of the Commission:

1. Muferiat Kamil- Minister of Peace

2. Ahmed Shide – Minister of Finance

3. Umer Hassen – Minister of Agriculture

4. Mrs. Dagmawit Mogess- Minister of Transport

5. Dr. Amir Aman –Minister of Health

6. Dr. Fitsum Assefa – Minister of Planning and Development Commission

7. Shimeles Abdisa – Chief of Staff at the Prime Minister’s Office with the rank of Minister

8. Jantirar Abay- Minister of Urban Development and Construction

9. Mrs. Yalem Tsegay – Minister of Women, Youth and Children Affairs

10. Temesgen Burka –Democratic System Building Coordination Center at the Prime Minister’s Office with the rank of Minister.

11. Mrs. Keria Ibrahim- Speaker of the House of Federation (HoF)

12. Dr. Abrham Tekeste- Deputy Chief Administrator of Tigray Regional State

13. Lakew Ayalew – Deputy Chief Administrator of Amhara Regional State

14. Mrs. Teyba Hussien – Deputy Chief Administrator of Oromia Regional State

15. Adem Farah – Deputy Chief Administrator of Somali Regional State

16. Ordin Bedri- Chief Administrator of Harari Regional State

17. Elias Shikur – Deputy Chief Administrator of SNNP Regional State

18. Abdela Mohammed Muhammed- Deputy Mayor of Dire Dawa city administration

19. Abera Bayeta- Deputy Chief Administrator of Benishangul Gumuz Regional State

20. Tankuay Jocken- Deputy Chief Administrator of Gambella Regional State.

In a related development, the House referred to the relevant standing committee the draft bill prepared to reform the Defense Force after making amendments on more than 28 articles.

Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa has overtaken Dubai as the leading gateway to Sub-Saharan Africa using at least one measure, according to analyst ForwardKeys.

Addis Ababa Bole International Airport has grown its volume of international transfer passengers to the region for five years in a row (2013-17) to achieve that position. The airport is currently being upgraded with a new terminal at the cost of US$345 million, ForwardKeys noted.

The findings were released by ForwardKeys during a presentation by Vice-President, Insights Olivier Ponti at the World Travel and Tourism Council’s Africa Leaders Forum in Stellenbosch, South Africa.

Ponti highlighted Ethiopia’s “extraordinary rise” as both a destination and a transfer hub for long-haul travel to Sub-Saharan Africa.

He said at least some of Ethiopia’s increase in international flight bookings could be attributed to “new-found confidence in the wake of reforms carried out by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed since he took office in April.” These include signing a peace deal with Eritrea in July, a new e-visa policy introduced in June, which allows all international visitors to apply for a visa online, and a promise to open Ethiopia’s markets to private investment.

International bookings for Ethiopia for the period from this November to January next year are ahead by more than 40% on the same period in 2017, ForwardKeys said. Bookings are well ahead of all other destinations in Sub-Saharan Africa.

While visitors to Ethiopia and the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa are coming from across the globe, Europe dominates as a source market, according to the analyst’s findings, having grown by +4% since the start of the year. ForwardKeys said growth in visitors from Asia Pacific was “sluggish,” increasing just +1% since the beginning of the year.

Ponti said the relaxing of visa regimes for international travelers represented one of the major opportunities for destinations in the region. The Chinese market is particularly important as it is now the strongest in the world by numbers of people and by expenditure. According to ForwardKeys data, liberalized visa policies have had a transformative effect on Chinese tourism to Morocco and Tunisia in recent years, dramatically lifting visitor numbers.

“Sub-Saharan Africa is a market of opportunity. Across the region, carriers are increasing seat capacity on international flights by +6% on average; that is an encouraging sign,” said Ponti.

“If more governments follow the go-ahead example set by Ethiopia, including reducing conflict and taking advantage of the benefits that can flow from more relaxed visa policies, I would expect to see a healthy growth in tourism in 2019.”

Source: ©The Moodie Davitt Report

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has begun a discussion with 81 opposition political party leaders registered in Ethiopia and parties that have recently returned home from exile.

The discussion reportedly focused on the ongoing sweeping reform and democratization process in the country.

Together, they will discuss the electoral reforms required to be addressed in order to make the forthcoming national election democratic, free and fair.

Last week, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s administration secured parliamentary approval to appoint Birtukan Mideksa, who used to be an opposition leader, as the new election board chairperson. She is the first election board official not affiliated with the ruling coalition, directly or indirectly.