ETHIOPIA TODAY

Newsletter of the Embassy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in Canada

Vol. III No.9 December 2016

The Embassy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in Ottawa is located at

1501 - 2 75 Slater Street, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1P 5H9. Tel: 613 565 6637 Fax: 613 565 9175

e-mail: info@ethioembassycanada.org , Website: www.ethioembassycanada.org 1

Nation Celebrates Inauguration of Gibe

III Hydropower Project

Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn

inaugurated the third dam in the series of cascading

hydroelectric projects in the Gibe-Omo basin, the

Gilgel Gibe III dam, on December 17/2016. The

Gilgel Gibe III dam (1870MW) is the third in a

series of dams, which include the existing Gibe I

(184MW) and Gibe II (420MW) dams. Two further

dams, Gibe IV (1472 MW) and Gibe V (560 MW),

are also planned. The whole series of projects is a

demonstration of Ethiopia's firm commitment to

become a regional hub for green energy.

The Gilgel Gibe III dam, which is the third largest

hydroelectric plant in Africa, will increase the

country's total installed capacity to 4,260MW. It is

243meters high, and has an installed generation

capacity of 1870 Mega Watts. It is a roller-

compacted concrete dam with 10 turbines, each

with a generation capacity of 187MW; several

started generating power last year. It is located

450km. from Addis Ababa in the South Nations

Nationalities and Peoples Regional State. The

Salini Impregilo Group, an Italian construction

company, conducted the civil works, while the

Chinese-based Dongfang Electric Corporation

(DEC) carried out the mechanical and electrical

work. The construction cost of the project, was 1.5

billion Euros. The Ethiopian government covered

forty percent of the total cost of the construction

while the balance was covered by a loan, secured

from the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China.

At the inauguration ceremony, Prime Minister

Hailemariam told over two thousand guests

including senior government officials,

Ambassadors, and representatives of the Salini

Impregilo Group, that the occasion marks the

country’s commitment to renewable energy.The

Prime Minister noted that the dam would

significantly increase the supply of renewable

power in the country and also enhance regional

integration through development of power

infrastructure. About half of the power produced by

Gilgel Gibe III will be used in Ethiopia; the other

half will be exported to Kenya (500 MW), Sudan

(200 MW) and Djibouti (200 MW). Kenya has

signed a Memorandum of Understanding to

purchase electricity from the dam and the World

Bank approved financing for a transmission line to

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Kenya in July 2012. Underlining the government's

focus on the development of green energy sources,

Prime Minister Hailemariam noted Ethiopia's total

determination to realize its aim to reach middle-

income status and become a renewable energy hub

for Eastern Africa.

Engineer Azeb Asnake, the Chief Executive

Officer of Ethiopian Electric Power, emphasized

that Gilgel Gibe III would almost double the

country's current hydropower supply and would

have a significant impact in furthering its

development efforts. Engineer Azeb added that the

project would play a pivotal role in coping with the

nation's increasing demand for power, a demand

growing by over 30% a year. Following the

inauguration, the Ethiopian Investment

Commission Commissioner, Fistum Arega, said

this renewable power project would accelerate the

expansion of large scale manufacturing industries

in Ethiopia. It provided additional power to address

the country's growing demand. He noted that the

cost of electricity in countries such as Vietnam,

Cambodia, and Bangladesh, which compete with

Ethiopia in the textile sector, is four times higher

than in Ethiopia. This, he said, created an

additional opportunity for the country to offer

available and reliable power for investors.

During the inauguration, the Chinese Ambassador

to Ethiopia, Ambassador La Yifan, congratulated

the country on the completion of the Gilgel Gibe

III dam. This, he said, would strongly assist in

raising the flow of Foreign Direct Investment to the

country and significantly ensure increased access

to power for citizens, as well as promising an

industrial transformation in the country. Praising

the government's political determination to realize

the project, he called the dam "yet another

landmark achievement in this country".

In fact, in response to the series of unfounded

claims, Ethiopia responded by providing copies of

reports both from its own and Kenya and a

delegation composed of Water, Environment and

National Heritage representatives, and of a joint

mission by the World Heritage Committee and the

International Union for Conservation of Nature,

which visited the area. Accordingly, the World

Heritage Committee unanimously acknowledged

that neither the Gilgel Gibe III Dam, nor the sugar

projects impacted on the Outstanding Universal

Value of the World Heritage Site of Lake Turkana.

Best Wishes for the Holiday Season & a Happy New Year

Foreign Minister Dr. Workneh Meets the

EU’s Claudia Wiedey

Foreign Minister, Dr. Workneh Gebeyheu met with

Ms. Claudia Wiedey, Head of the European

External Action Service (EEAS) for the Horn of

Africa, East Africa and Indian Ocean this week.

The meeting, on December 14 focused on the

importance of strengthening the longstanding

partnership between Ethiopia and the European

Union that has covered broad-spectrum issues and

raising them to a higher level. Ms. Wiedey also

noted that as the EU was following the current

situation in Ethiopia closely, it would welcome

reforms being made by the government regarding

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addressing the problems related to unrest in some

parts of Oromia and Amhara Regional States.

Recalling the strategic engagement signed between

the EU and Ethiopia this year, Ms.

Wiedey noted the agreement gave further impetus

to the relations that the two sides had encouraged

over many years. Prime Minister Hailemariam

Desalegn and Jean-Claude Junker, European

Commission President, signed an Ethio-EU

strategic engagement document in Brussels on

June, 2016. The Strategic Engagement Agreement

aims at structuring the reinforced cooperation

between the two partners. The Strategic

Engagement focuses on six sectoral dialogues:

regional peace and security; countering terrorism

and violent radicalization; migration; social and

economic development, investment and trade;

governance and human rights; and climate change

and environmental cooperation.

Dr. Workneh said that the most important element

was the “Focus on the partnership that we have

built over the years.” He mentioned Ethiopia’s

commitment towards establishing a continuous

dialogue for enhanced cooperation on migration

and mobility, adding that Ethiopia, as the chair of

the next EU-Horn of Africa Migration Route

Initiative meeting, would closely work on efforts to

create a framework for policy and dialogue as well

as for sharing knowledge and experience to

strengthen cooperation. The EU-Horn of Africa

Migration Route Initiative, also known as the

“Khartoum Process‟, aims to tackle trafficking and

smuggling of migrants between the Horn of Africa

and Europe.

Ethiopia, UAE Conclude Investment

Promotion, Protection Agreement

Ethiopia and UAE have concluded the reciprocal

promotion and investment protection agreement, in

which its negotiation took over five months.

Investment officials from both countries signed the

agreement which encourages investments and

provides protection for investors in Abu Dhabi,

during a high-level Ethiopian delegation visit to the

country.

The concluded agreement will encourage UAE

investors to engage in various sectors in Ethiopia

without fear, said Fitsum Arega, Director General

of Ethiopian Investment Commission.

Even though protection of investments is already

guaranteed through the investment law, Ethiopia

signs bilateral agreements with countries to

encourage investors, as they consider such

agreements basic to make investments, Fitsum

said.

As UAE investors are interested in investing in the

hospitality industry, agriculture and agri-food

areas; the conclusion of this agreement will

accelerate the engagement of investors in these

areas, he added.

The agreement will also help to promote

investment based on the principles of sustainable

development and mutual benefit as well as

intensify the economic cooperation between the

two countries.

Prior to the signing of the agreement, Prime

Minister Hailemariam Desalegn and Shiek

Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince

of Abu Dhabi had discussions on ways of

enhancing bilateral ties between the two countries

and broaden cooperation areas.

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The two sides discussed on the need to boost

cooperation in investment, trade and tourism so as

to further strengthen the bilateral relation based on

mutual benefit.

It is expected that the agreement will encourage

and attract more UAE companies to engage in

Ethiopia, as it will provide significant incentives

and privileges for foreign investment.

As an instrument to encourage investors, Ethiopia

has been signing similar agreements with a number

of countries.

Concluding such agreements with countries is part

of Ethiopia’s efforts to attract more foreign direct

investment, hoping to improve its export and

creation of more employment as well as sharing of

knowledge and technology.

The double digit economic growth the country has

witnessed over the past decade and over, driven by

huge public investment on projects makes the

country one of the top emerging economies.

This successive economic growth coupled with the

conducive investment atmosphere and potential;

enables the east African nation catch the attention

of many companies, which led to the increased FDI

inflow.

It is this fact that led countries to insist on reaching

binding agreements with Ethiopia that gives

protection to their investors.

This desire of the countries has led to the signing

of bilateral agreements. Ethiopia has investment

protection agreements with 28 countries, Fitsum

said.

Business and EconomyEthiopia Maintains Status as Investment

Hub

Ethiopia has maintained its status as an investment

hub as several foreign companies are showing

increased interest to invest in the country.

Representatives of several foreign companies

participating in the 4th Addis International

Agriculture, Agricultural Machineries, Food, and

Food Technology and Packaging Fair said they will

look for potential investment fields in Ethiopia as

well as introduce their products to the Ethiopian

market.

“Ethiopia is a growing market for us, that is why

we came to take part in this exhibition as an

opportunity to promote our products to potential

customers,” said Bernard Duchatel, Managing

Director of Alpes Industry Services International

Ltd in an exclusive interview with ENA.

The French company which specializes in supply

and manufacturing of processing equipments and

services for beverage and dairy industries is

planning to introduce its products in Ethiopian and

Kenyan markets.

The director added that his company intends to

establish its branch in Ethiopia to engage in supply

of spare parts and equipment to get more customers

for its products.

Volker Heidtmann, Area Sales Manager for a

German company, Hellman Poultry Equipment,

also said: "compared to local markets in Germany,

the market in Ethiopia is by far better and we would

try to do business here."

“First we would look for distributers who will do

our business in Ethiopia because the market is

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really huge and I see really good chance for good

business for the producers,” he added.

Goerge Mwasaru, Marketing Manager for Kenya

based company, Kericho Gold Tea, on his part said

his company focuses on value added tea from

Kenya and market it around the world including

Ethiopia.

“Ethiopia is very interesting for us as a company,

because we believe that there is a lot of untapped

potential that we could tap into,” Mwasaru said.

Regarding investing in Ethiopia, he said, “if we

manage to increase the quantity of our tea, yes, we

would consider investing in Ethiopia.”

"The market is very good, the business community

is very supportive and really we are excited to be

here," he stated.

Among the participating companies in the fair

include those from Turkey, Germany, USA,

France, Tunisia, Kenya, Sweden, and Finland.

Premier Urges for Engagement of

Japanese Investors in Dev’t of Industrial

Parks

Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn called on

Japanese government to encourage investors to

engage in Ethiopia especially in the development

of industrial parks.

The Premier made the remark while conferring

with Special Envoy to Japanese Prime Minister,

Ambassador Yoshifumi Okamura on December

22nd 2016 on bilateral and regional issues.

Despite Japan’s contribution to Ethiopia in

building capacity of industries through kaizen

philosophy, and human resource development,

Hailemariam said its involvement in the industrial

sector is weak.

Hailemariam said that encouraging Japanese

investors to engage in the industrial sector is an

important step for Japanese investors to benefit

from the fast-economic growth of the country.

The Premier has also promised to support Japanese

investors who wish to invest in the sector,

according to a high-level official who attended the

meeting.

Happy with the results gained so far through

kaizen, the Japanese government will continue to

support Ethiopia for a better achievement,

Ambassador Yoshifumi Okamura told reporters

following the discussions.

He said the two countries have agreed to work

closely in the UN Security Council to end the crisis

in South Sudan.

Ethiopia and Japan have enjoyed strong bilateral

relation since 1930s until the second Italo-

Ethiopian War, when Japan back its Axis ally,

Italy.

Diplomatic ties between the two countries were re-

established in 1955, and three years later they

established embassies in each other’s capital.

Until the 1974 Ethiopian revolution, ties between

the two countries was strong and Japanese

investors played a major role in the Ethiopian

textile industry.

After the fall of the military regime in Ethiopia in

1991, Japanese investment and foreign aid was

restored to Ethiopia followed by a visit by high

level officials from both countries.

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Ethio-Turkey Relations Move on a

“Steep, Upward Trajectory”

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Workineh

Gebeyehu met with Minister of Economy of the

Republic of Turkey, Mr. Nihat Zeybekci on

December 28, 2016 on the sidelines of the 7th

Ethio-Turkey Joint Economic Forum held in

Addis Ababa. The ministers discussed on ways to

further expedite the bilateral economic ties

between the two countries. The two sides

underlined that the bilateral cooperation is moving

in a steep, upward trajectory.

Foreign Minister noted Turkish investment which

is worth 2 billion has created employment

opportunities for thousands of Ethiopians, adding

that the bilateral trade has increased from only 27

million USD in 2000 to 450 million USD just

recently.

He said, "We duly value our sisterly relation which

is strategic not only in the economic sphere but also

in various other frontires." "Turkey is part of our

development journey," the Minister added

He further said the Awash - Kombolcha - Hara

Gebeya railway project which is being built by a

Turkish company lays the platform to move

forward the bilateral relations to posterity.

The Turkish Minister of Economy, Mr. Nihat

Zeybekci said, "Turkish investors are employing

Ethiopians and helping increase the country's

export as well as develop its economy".

Expressing his country's stance to bridge the gaps

in the Ethio-Turkey trade balance, the Minister

said, "With more investment, we intend to inhance

Ethiopia's production capacity and advance the

country's market share globally."

The two sides also signed series of MoUs and

agreements which among others include

cooperation in small and medium-scale

manufacturing industry, cooperation in the mining

sector, particularly in hydro carbon resources as

well as standardization of the bilateral business

ties.

Tourism and Culture

Embassy Colorfully Celebrated the 11th

Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Day in

Ottawa, Toronto

Ethiopians and Ethio-Canadians residing in Ottawa

and Toronto colourfully celebrated the 11th Nations,

Nationalities and People’s Day in Ottawa and Toronto

on December 17 and 18, 2016 respectively.

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In a speech delivered on the occasion, H. E. Birtukan

Ayano, Ambassador Extraordinary and

Plenipotentiary of the Federal Democratic Republic of

Ethiopia to Canada, noted that this year’s celebration

was held under the theme: “Our Constitution for Our

Democratic Unity and Renaissance!” She said that

Ethiopian constitution granted the nations,

nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia their political

right to self administration and to equitable share of

economic and social benefits. H.E. called upon the

members of the Ethiopian community to contribute

their part towards Ethiopia’s renaissance.

Representatives of different nations and nationalities

have expressed their support and have vowed to

contribute towards the effort to create a middle-

income country by 2025.

Hailemariam Urges for Restitution of

Looted Heritages

Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn urged the

international community to help out in the restitution

of Ethiopia’s heritages looted during previous foreign

invasions.

The Prime Minister, who was in Abu Dhabi to attend

the conference on cultural heritages from December 2-

3,2016, said the process for the restoration of the stolen

treasures has been slow.

As a country of diverse cultural heritages, Ethiopia has

been subject to heritage plundering and looting both in

time of foreign invasions as well as trafficking, he said.

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Ethiopia has been a victim of cultural heritage

plundering and looting due to foreign aggressions,

trafficking and smuggling, which resulted in loss of

many ancient valuable manuscripts, religious objects,

archeological remains, among others in the past.

The manuscripts that were illegally taken out of the

country include books on religion, medicine,

astronomy, calendar, philosophy, law and

administration.

The 1868 British expedition and the 1935 Italian

invasion are among the times that led to the looting of

Ethiopia’s heritages.

Over 3,500 Ethiopian manuscripts are believed to be

found in many European countries and the U.S,

Hailemariam said, adding that looting and trafficking

of heritages is a problem for most of the developing

countries.

More serious than looting and trafficking of heritages,

according to the Premier, is the deliberate destruction

of heritages, which is part of the de-culturalization

process used by terrorist groups has become a danger.

Being home to diverse cultural heritages, Ethiopia is

deeply concerned with this deliberate destruction of

heritages, intended to de-culturalize the world,

Hailemariam said.

By destructing cultural heritages, groups such as ISIS

and AL-Qaeda forced communities to abandon their

culture, and customs with the deliberate destruction of

ancient heritages in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.

strengthening cooperation to end atrocities on

heritages.

The conference adopted the Abu Dhabi Declaration in

support of UNESCO’s global mandate to protect

cultural heritage during armed conflicts.

The mandate will define practical and sustainable

means to safeguard cultural resources, as well as create

a network of safe havens for threatened heritage.

Giant Ethiopian Athlete Dies

The celebrated Ethiopian Olympic hero Mirutse Yifter

passed away on 22 of December 2016 (ENA).

Ethiopian Athletics Federation Head, Bilign Meqoya

said the athlete had been receiving treatment in

Canada.

Mirutse won his first bronze in 10,000 meters at the

Munich Olympics in 1972.

After 8 years, Mirutse dazzled the world by winning

gold medals in both 10,000 and 5,000 meters at the

1980 Moscow Olympics.

In 1973, he won gold in 10,000 meters and bronze in

5,000 at the All Africa Games in Lagos, Nigeria.

In 1977 and 1979, the athlete snatched gold medals in

10,000 and 5,000 meters at the World Championship.

The athlete nicknamed by the international media as

“the gear shifter” had a collection of 7 gold, one silver

and one bronze medals he earned from international

and continental competitions.

The Embassy of the Federal Democratic Republic of

Ethiopia to Canada expresses its deepest condolences

on the death of the Legendary Athlete Miruts Yifter.

Our heartfelt sympathy goes to his Family members,

to all Ethiopians and to his Fans.