Ethiopia to work with Argentina to expand trade, investment

Addis Ababa, March 18, 2021 (FBC) –  Ethiopia will work with Argentina to expand trade and investment opportunities, said Dr. Negeri Lencho, Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Peace at the House of Peoples Representatives.

He made the remarks while receiving a delegation led by Argentine Ambassador to Ethiopia Gustavo Teodoro Grippo at his office.

“Ethiopia will strengthen cooperation with Argentina in trade, investment, science, technology, sports, tourism and the arts,” he told the ambassador.

He said Ethiopia is registering rapid economic growth despite various internal and external challenges. Ethiopia will take the experience of renewable energy from Argentina to further develop the green sector and to make the growth sustainable.

The bilateral relations between the two countries are not limited to investment and trade .He said media and communication tools will be used to focus on the countries agricultural and cultural sectors.

Explaining the law enforcement action in Tigray State, Honorable Negeri told the ambassador that the federal government has opened the door to reconciliation and peace for the TPLF, but the government has been forced to take legal action against TPLF for rejecting the government’s proposal and attacking the federal troops.

However, internal forces are collaborating with foreign forces to spread unfounded allegations that the federal government has committed human rights abuses in the Tigray region. He added that Ethiopia will not tolerate needless interference from any country.

Ambassador Gustavo Teodoro Grippo, for his part, said Argentina is interested in working with Ethiopia on investment, trade, education, agriculture and renewable energy. He said Argentine investors had come to Ethiopia ten days ago to expand their investment.

He said they have consulted with the Ethiopian government to increase the number of Ethiopian airline flights to Argentina in order to make the business sector more efficient and they were promised to fly three days a week.

He added his country supports the federal government’s law enforcement in the Tigray region and that Argentina has sided with Ethiopia during the UN Security Council’s deliberations on Tigray regional state.

Ambassador Gustavo said his country will provide humanitarian assistance to those affected by the law enforcement campaign, according to Communication Office of HPR.

“The Archbishop of Rome, Pope Francis, expressed his special appreciation to Ethiopia and Ethiopians and told me he would be coming to visit Ethiopia soon,” said Ambassador Gustavo.

Honorable Negeri Lencho thanked Argentina for its support of Ethiopia during the UN Security Council’s deliberations on Tigray.