Ethiopia Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed arrived in Brussels, the seat of the European Union, on Wednesday evening, where he was scheduled to hold meetings with top officials of the continental bloc.
On Thursday 24 January, during his first visit to the EU institutions, the Prime Minister met with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini, Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica, as well as Council President, Donald Tusk.
Ethiopia and European Union (EU) signed a € 130 million cooperation package following PM Abiy Ahmed’s meeting with Jean-Claude Juncker.
The three new programmes signed yesterday are part of theimplementation of the ‘Africa-Europe Alliance for Sustainable Investment and Jobs’, which aims to deepen the economic and trade relations between the two continents, to create sustainable jobs and growth. These financing agreements between the EU and Ethiopia support job creation (€50 million), sustainable energy (€35 million) and the establishment of agro-industrial parks in Ethiopia (€45 million)
During a lunch meeting with HR/VP Mogherini, PM Abiy appreciated the support of the Commission and shared the new outlook of Medemer (synergy) as the foundational philosophy for reforms in the country and Horn region integration.
He shared the priority areas for Ethiopia and effective ways of supporting the reforms, particularly in ensuring democratic elections and enabling a new democratic culture.
Mrs. Mogherini recalled the long-standing relationship between Ethiopia and the European Union and the future collaboration to come.
She affirmed that Europe had noticed the changes the Government has brought to the country and Horn region and committed the Union’s full technical and financial support.
Belgium was the third stop of an official tour that started on Monday in Rome, where PM Abiy met with his Italian counterpart and the president. He also had a meeting with the Pope and heads of other international agencies.
From Rome, he traveled to Davos, Switzerland, where he participated in the World Economic Forum, WEF. In his address, Abiy stressed the resolve of his administration to see through and consolidate wide-ranging reforms started since April 2018.
After pledging to make doing business in Ethiopia easier for everyone who wishes to invest in Ethiopia, he called on investors from all across the world to take advantage of the considerable investment and business potentials available in the country.
Abiy held several high-profile meetings on the sidelines of his participation at the WEF as he continually wooed investors to Africa’s second most populous nation.
