Ethiopia and Australia need to capitalize on their 50 years diplomatic relation to strengthen economic ties, Australia’s Ambassador to Ethiopia said.
In an exclusive interview he gave to ENA, Ambassador Mark Sawers said the existing diplomatic relation between the two countries should expand to trade and investment.
Even if the diplomatic relation of the countries is over five decades, the trade relation between the countries is low, he added.
However efforts are underway to bring more Australian investors that engage in agriculture, mine and spice investment in Ethiopia, the ambassador pointed out.
Australia is ready to share its best experiences in mine extracting and agriculture, and provide training for stakeholders engaged in the sector, Ambassador Sawers stated.
The countries would also further strengthen their cooperation in areas of higher education, vocational education, health, and forestry among others, according to the ambassador.
Australian Scientific International Agricultural Research would closely work with Ethiopian Agricultural Research Institute in order to foster the county’s potential in the sector, he said.
Commenting on GTP-2 which will start in 2016, Ambassador Sawers stated that “GTP-2 is a commitment to building the private sector, and it therefore represents opportunity for us”.
The private sector is central to achieving national development objectives, the ambassador said, adding that his country is ready to attract more investors to Ethiopia in the GTP period.
On the other hand, Ambassador Sawers appreciated the role Ethiopia is playing in fighting terrorism and stabilizing the East African region in general.
Terrorism “needs cooperation and the (Australian) government is looking for a possibility of exchanging intelligence, experience and successful policy measure with different countries in order to curb terrorism in the continent,” he indicated.
The 50th anniversary of Australia’s diplomatic relations with Ethiopia will be marked next month.
[EthiopianNewsAgency]