Addis Ababa, 17 February 2015 (WIC) – Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn said Ethiopia will realize the target set to end harmful traditional practices including female genital mutilation (FGM) before 2025, the deadline set to meet the goal. While discussing with visiting Danish Crown Princess Mary Elizabeth Donaldson yesterday, Hailemariam said Ethiopia has been working to meet the target to end FGM and child marriage by 2025 FGM and harmful traditional practices are “significantly” dropping in the country following concerted efforts exerted during the past years, he added. Girls and women are victims of harmful traditional practices in every part of the country because of the attitude of societies towards these practices. Since increasing knowledge of societies is important to change this reality, the government will continue its efforts to raise their awareness, Hailemariam said.

Crown Princess Donaldson for her part appreciated implementation of relevant instruments such as strategy, legal frameworks and bills that help to fight these practices in Ethiopia. Appreciating the efforts exerted to make the society part of the solution, she said this could be exemplary to other countries.

Ethiopia has managed to halve the rate for FGM and Child marriage between 2000 and 2013. FGM rate has decreased to 23 percent in 2013 from 52 percent in 2000, while child marriage reduced to 8 percent from 32 percent. The country will realize the target to end these practices by 2025, if it continues with the current pace, said Haileleul Seyoum, Women and Youth Mobilization and Participation Director at the Ministry of Women, Children and Youth. The government’s commitment and efforts being exerted to make the society part of the solution by raising awareness, and improved cooperation with partners contributed for the success gained in the area, according to Haileleul.

Addis Ababa, 12 February 2015 (WIC) – Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Tedros Adhanom met a delegation led by Jose Ramos-Horta, former President of East Timor, Nobel Laureate, and Chairman of the UN’s High-Level Independent Panel on Peacekeeping Operations, on Tuesday (February 10).

The two parties reviewed African and global peacekeeping operations, discussing mechanisms to strengthen the partnership between the African Union and the United Nations in peacekeeping.They also shared details of Ethiopia’s very considerable experience of successful peacekeeping operations, and considered mechanisms to enhance future operations.

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Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn met with President of Djibouti, Ismail Omar Guelleh on Saturday 07 February 2015 in Djibouti. Prime Minister Hailemariam went to Djibouti to attend the first Ethiopia –Djibouti High Level joint commission meeting aimed at bolstering the bilateral relation of the two countries particularly by expediting the economic integration. Prime Minister Hailemariam was accompanied by Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Ato Sofian Ahmed, Minister of Transport, Ato Workineh Gebeyehu, Minister of Water, Irrigation and Energy, Ato Alemayehu Tegenu and State Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Berhane Gebre-Christos and senior government officials. They held the discussions with President Omar Guelleh at the presidential palace.

Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn praised the warm welcome extended to him and his delegation. He said he is “delighted to come to Djibouti and especially on such occasion- to further lift and cement the all rounded, multidimensional, relationship between our two countries.” He further noted that the High Level Commission will offer another opportunity for deepening and expanding the scope of the cooperation on regional, continental and global issues. Speaking on the growing developmental efforts of the two countries, he said, Ethiopia and Djibouti are “surfing in the same boat.”

The Premier praised the Government of Djibouti for its role in the efforts made at solving regional challenges. He particularly hailed the Government of Djibouti for “the very important role it has been playing to bring peace and stability to Somalia and to the South Sudan within the IGAD framework.” He further explained that Ethiopia is ready to redouble its effort to help the south Sudanese political actors reach a negotiated peaceful settlement. He also expressed that the support to Somali brothers and sisters would continue in their effort to bring sustainable peace and stability.
Prime Minister Hailemariam praised the Joint Ministerial Commission for its accomplishments since its establishment and for its role in enhancing the political, military and economic relations between the two countries. He underlined the importance of strengthening people to people relations between the two countries. He also underlined the need to explore other potential areas of cooperation to expedite the process of full economic integration not only between the two countries but also in realizing the vision of IGAD in integrating the sub-region.

President Ismail Omar Guelleh for his part expressed that “this visit of Prime Minister Hailemariam to Djibouti marks a milestone in the relationship between the two countries.” He said “Djibouti and Ethiopia are strong, strategic partners” adding that the peoples of the two countries share the same values, culture and economic vision. President Omar Guelleh said “Our successes as economically, politically and socially rich nations are dependent on each other and we will use this visit to continue to identify ways to integrate and to grow our economies to create prosperity and security in East Africa.”

Source: MFA

Prime Minister Hailemariam and President El-Sisi held discussions on the sidelines of the 24th AU Summit. On the occasion, President El-Sisi noted that Egypt recognizes Ethiopia’s sovereign right to utilize the Nile Waters. The two side’s discussions focused on ways to further promote the bilateral cooperation of the two countries. According to Ato Getachew Reda, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister, the two leaders held productive discussions in promoting trade, investment, education and other areas of cooperation between the two countries. Prime Minister Hailemariam underlined Ethiopia’s commitment to expand trade ties and learn from the experience of Egypt in promotion of trade and investment. According to Ato Getachew Reda, Prime Minister Hailemariam noted that Ethiopia understands Egypt’s interest in the utilization of the Nile Waters stressing that the development of Ethiopia is undertaking centers on the principle of mutual benefit and based on accepted norms of international water law. Ato Getachew also noted that President El-Sisi expressed his belief that Ethiopia’s development of the Nile Waters takes in to consideration of Egypt. The two sides also agreed on the need to work closely in correcting the wrong messages spread by some Egyptian politicians and journalists with regard to the utilization of the Nile Waters. The two leaders had met in Malabo and New York in 2014 and agreed on promoting dialogue to narrow differences with regard to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam which in turn resulted in the resumption of the tri-partite technical teams between Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt.

Addis Ababa, 3 February 2015 (WIC) – Ethiopia has been showing strong engagement in agriculture and infrastructure development, the issues incorporated in Africa’s Agenda 2063, AU Commissioners said.The commissioners stated that the country is showing good progress in the two sectors included in the agenda.

Rural Development and Agriculture Commissioner, Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, said in order to eradicate poverty, the continent has prepared a comprehensive agricultural development program that would help it eradicate famine and reduce poverty. Ethiopia is among the few countries that met the goals of the program by allocating 10 percent of its budget, exceeding the 6 percent proposed for agricultural growth in the agenda, she added. According to the commissioner, Ethiopia has also shown good performance in agricultural research technologies, marketing network, and extension.

Infrastructure and Energy Commissioner, Dr. El Ham M.A Ibrahim, said on his part the country has been undertaking encouraging work by creating comprehensive infrastructural network in the continent. Its decision to make use of the support the commission has been extending to countries developing renewable energy shows the attention it has given to the sector, according to the commissioner. Its activities to realize the integration of the continent in infrastructure development through railway and the determination to implement the Yamasakoru declaration with respect to creating free flight routes to continental airlines is admirable, Dr. El Ham M.A Ibrahim stated. (ENA)

Foreign Minister Dr. Tedros Adhanom met Mr. Bert Koenders, Foreign Minister of the Netherlands, on the margins of the 24th Assembly of the Heads of State and Government at the headquarters of the African Union today (January 31). The two sides exchanged views on bilateral and regional matters. Dr. Tedros underlined the need to encourage trade and investment and build on the growing Netherlands’ investments in Ethiopia especially in the area of floriculture and horticulture. Mr. Koenders said Ethiopia’s fast and equitable economic growth provided important lessons in balancing growth and equitable development. He said the Netherlands appreciated Ethiopia’s significant contributions to UN and AU peacekeeping missions and noted his country’s desire to work with Ethiopia and Africa in peacekeeping. They also discussed AMISOM’s contribution to Somalia and the Netherlands contribution in helping resolve the Mali crisis. Dr. Tedros highlighted Ethiopia’s firm commitment to support peace and security in the region, with the example of the role being played by Ethiopia forces in Abyei, in South Sudan and in Somalia. He noted that Ethiopia is hosting more than 600,000 refugees from neighboring countries making it one of the leading refugee-hosting countries in the world. Mr. Koenders hailed Ethiopia’s open door policy in hosting refugees and expressed the desire to work closely with Ethiopia. Dr. Tedros welcomed the growing bilateral relations between the two countries and thanked Netherland for its support to Ethiopia’s development efforts. He appreciated Netherlands interest in working with Ethiopia in issues of migration and refugees.

On 29 January 2015, Foreign Minister Dr. Tedros Adhanom held discussions with Dr. Nicholas Wescott, Managing Director of African Affairs of the European External Action Service, Alexander Rondos, Special Envoy of European Union to the Horn of Africa, and Ambassador Chantal Hebberecht, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Ethiopia. The focus was on the regional political and security situation and on ways to strengthen cooperation between Ethiopia and the European Union. Dr. Tedros emphasized that Ethiopia appreciated the EU’s support to Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa, one of the most vulnerable regions in the continent. He underlined the need to sustain this support to keep up the momentum of positive change. In regard to Somalia, Dr Tedros noted the remarkable progress made in consolidating fragile security situation with the removal of Al-Shabaab from a number of key strategic towns. He pointed out that, despite some hiccups, the building institutions and formation of regional states has shown encouraging progress. The Jubaland process, he said, is serving as a successful model for the South West Administration with indications that Central Somalia will follow suit. At the same time he stressed that the leadership of the Federal Government of Somalia needed to take practical steps to meet the goals of its Vision 2016. Dr. Tedros underlined that Ethiopia would continue supporting Somalia on the basis of the needs and priorities set by the Federal Government to realize a stable, secure and vibrant Somalia. Speaking on Eritrea, Dr. Tedros noted that the regime in Asmara remained determined to continue its policy of destabilizing the region. There had been no change in its behavior. He said: “Hosting rebels from neighboring countries, Eritrea has chosen the path of destruction rather than cooperation and mutual development”. He said it was imperative that the UN imposed sanctions to stop Asmara from disturbing the regional peace were fully implemented. Dr. Tedros also reiterated the urgent need to end the conflict in South Sudan and bring durable peace there. He said IGAD was continuing to work towards producing incremental changes, building on the agreed points of forming a national unity government in a manner that can provide a real solution. Mr. Wescott, noting Ethiopia’s important role in the regional peace and security efforts, also underlined the need for AMISOM to aggressively engage in removing the threat of Al-Shabaab altogether while accelerating the political process in Somalia. He said he shared the view that there was an urgent necessity to end the conflict in South Sudan he reaffirmed the European Union’s support to the IGAD-led mediation process. The EU delegation and Dr. Tedros also exchanged views regarding Ethiopia’s upcoming national election in May. Dr. Tedros explained that the pre-election process was on schedule and there had been impressive and substantial voter registration. He said the Government and the ruling party were taking all necessary measures to make sure that the election would be held in a manner that ensured widespread participation by the public and by all political parties.
Source: MFA

Addis Ababa, 28 January 2015 (WIC) – A new private equity firm based in Mauritius, Ascent Capital, is looking forward to financing local businesses including start-ups in Ethiopia.

The company on Friday officially opened its office in Addis Ababa in Abyssinia Mall near Bole Medhayialem Church. Lucas Kranck, managing partner, told Reporters that Ascent Capital has raised USD 50 million to be invested in Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia.

Kranck, one of the founders of Ascent, said his company is committed to invest 20 million dollars in Ethiopia over the next three years. The amount could be raised ten times in three years time.

The fund is based in Mauritius and has offices in Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya. The fund will invest in mid-size companies with a minimum revenue of USD two million.

“This could go as high as USD 10 million. We will have a ten-year lifetime to exist,” Kranck said. The fund’s life is ten years with a possible extension of two. The company hopes to repay the money to its investors within ten years’ time and exit from business.

“It is equity capital; it is not debt. We share the risk and the reward. We invest between USD 2-5 million per company. If everything goes well, which we hope it will, then we share the reward but if things do not go well we share the risk as well. And, of course, we target good dynamic Ethiopian entrepreneurs and there are many of them in this country,” Kranck said.

Michael Mebaselassie, principal and country director of Ascent Capital, said that the fast economic growth, political stability and huge population make Ethiopia attractive for investment. “Ethiopia has been registering a dramatic economic growth in the past years and there are attractive and promising companies to work with,” Michael said. (Reporter)