East Africa: Investment and Migration Center-Stage

Posted on :Monday , 2nd November 2015

Ethiopia is now ready to host a large number of investors from Germany and Europe.

Bilateral relations with emphasis on investment, creating jobs and migration issues in relation to the upcoming Valletta Summit took center-stage when FDRE President Dr. Mulatu Teshome hosted former German President Horst Köhler at the National Palace on Wednesday.

Dr. Mulatu told Köhler that Ethiopia is making structural shift towards industrialization that would help boost the country's productivity and export sector.

He added that the government has already identified priority industrial sectors and areas, and what Ethiopia expects from developed countries like Germany is not aid, but investment that would benefit all parties involved.

The President also said that the government is encouraging the private sector and especially working on making the mining sector a fuel to the country's industrial development, and called upon German investors to come and invest in this and other industrial sectors.

Dr. Mulatu stressed on the government's commitment to turning natural resources into wealth and development, and called upon German investors to get involved in the sector.

Köhler for his part said that the country's Second Growth and Transformation Plan is rightly structured in moving forward and creating jobs, and added that German business community has a growing interest to invest in Ethiopia and other African countries. Mentioning that Germany brings quality technical training and investment, he relayed his desire to provide technical training here and help produce youth equipped with technical know how.

Former German President Köhler, who is here to take part in Africa-German Investment Forum, noted that maintaining and strengthening the initiated economic development in Africa especially with regard to job creation is key to curb illegal migration.

He said German investors have to contribute their part in this regard as they have the capability and commitment to invest in the continent in order to create jobs in the manufacturing sector, through providing modern services and building creative industries.

President Mulatu said that creating jobs is crucial to fighting migration, and in this regard the government is turning its attention to industries that create jobs in large number, like manufacturing industry sector.

Furthermore, the former President stated on the need for better cooperation between Africa and Europe during the upcoming Valetta Migration Summit so that direct attention falls towards medium and long term cooperation and sustainable policy for migration. The very short term urgent crisis also matters, but the focus should be on having a common perspective on the issue between peoples of both continents, and in creating the belief within African youth that changing one's life could be realized living at home, he added.

Former President Köhler finally relayed his appreciation to Ethiopia in its handling of refugees, and said that it is to be taken as a model and added that European countries should stand by Ethiopia in this regard.

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