Source: FBC
Addis Ababa: July 14, 2015 (FBC) – FDRE President Mulatu Teshome met this morning the Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi at the National Palace.
The President expressed his happiness to welcome the Italian Prime Minister at the National Palace and noted that Ethiopia and Italia had a long standing historical and cultural relationship. President Mulatu underscored the need to boost these historical and cultural ties to strategic development partnership.
The President said Ethiopia is in a rapid economic transformation process where it is changing its troubled past and aiming at becoming a middle income country by 2025. He called for a more robust partnership with mutual benefits in trade and tourism.
The Italian company, Salini, is a good example, the President stated, and urged more Italian companies to join manufacturing, trade and tourism sectors in Ethiopia. President Mulatu called on major Italian companies to get involved in road, rail and electricity generation projects in the country.
The President took the opportunity to express his gratitude to the Government and People of Italia for their continued support and assistance to Ethiopia’s development endeavors.
The Italian Prime Minister on his part thanked the President for the warm welcome and said Italia is strongly interested in strengthening bilateral relations and assist in any way Ethiopia’s development. Renzi agreed with what President Mulatu said during their meeting and added that beyond business cooperation, Italy looks for closer ties in cultural and educational programs.
He stated that more than 100 Italian companies will hold a conference in September regarding business and investment opportunities in Ethiopia. The Premier also noted that a major exhibition is scheduled to take place in Milan in September highlighting investment opportunities in Ethiopia.
Prime Minister Renzi said the Italian Government has confidence in Ethiopia and will encourage major Italian companies to invest in the country. He added the Italian ExIm Bank and other financial institutions will provide support to Italian companies investing in Ethiopia. Renzi also said the Italian Government will assist Ethiopia in agreed development projects for the next 25 years.
Renzi expressed his desire to visit Gilgel Gibe Dam and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, during his official visit to the country, in support of Ethiopia’s developmental aspirations.
Prime Minister Matteo Renzi is the first sitting Italian Prime Minister to visit Ethiopia, it was learned.
Source: Office of the President
