Ethio-German joint ministerial commission meeting opens

Addis Ababa, January 28, 2020 (FBC) -Ethiopia and Germany today have launched a two-day expert level meeting in preparation for the first Joint Ministerial Commission.

Participants will deliberate on five areas of engagement that enhance Ethio-Germany bilateral relations-foreign and security affairs, economic cooperation and development, migration, social development cooperation and economic affairs, energy and climate change as well.

In opening the session, Ambassador Mahlet Hailu, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia praised the centennial long diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The establishment of the Joint Ministerial Commission is a clear demonstration of the historic friendship between the two countries, the Ambassador added.

She also expressed her hope that the Joint Ministerial Commission would encourage German private sector engagement in Ethiopia.

Taking the long standing relations between the two countries into consideration, Robert Dölger Director for Sub-Saharan Africa & Sahel at the German Federal Foreign Office, underlined that the two countries should expand their cooperation into high-yielding and mutually beneficial sectors.

The Director took the opportunity to appreciate Dr. Abiy Ahmed for being recipient of the 2019 Nobel Peace saying the prize was one of the testaments to what role Ethiopia has been playing in ensuring peace and stability in the region.

About 43 German and 35 Ethiopian experts have been attending the meeting. Germany and Ethiopia have maintained good diplomatic relations for 115 years now.