Ethiopia-Qatar relations move onto a new bilateral level

Last week, Prime Minister Hailemariam led a high-level Ethiopian delegation to the UN Climate Change Conference (COP18) in Doha. The Prime Minister took the opportunity to hold bilateral talks with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, on the sidelines of the Conference. The two leaders discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries. Prime Minister Hailemariam also met with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, the Heir Apparent, and held separate talks with the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor al-Thani. Sheikh Tamim commended Ethiopia’s interest in the ongoing COP18 and effort to contribute to its success by sending a high-ranking delegation headed by the Prime Minister. Prime Minister Hailemariam also met with Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor al-Thani to discuss bilateral relations, ways to enhance these and follow up agreements and memoranda of understanding, as well as cooperation on regional peace and security in the Horn of Africa and global issues.

Ato Sufian Ahmed, Minister of Finance and Economic Development also paid a working visit to the Qatar between December 1st and 5th, holding talks with Qatar’s Minister of Finance and Economy, Yusif Husayn, on bilateral and related matters, focusing on pending issues of bilateral cooperation, specifically in the areas of labor relations, avoidance of double taxation, bilateral investment promotion and protection, an air service agreement, agriculture and mining possibilities. Ato Sufian noted that the government of Ethiopia was preparing agricultural land for large scale farming for Qatari investors. He said the detailed study of the areas would be finalized at the end of this month and then be submitted to the Qatari side. The Qatar Finance and Economy Minister assured Minster Sufian that Qatar was ready to invest in Ethiopia. He noted that the Hassad Food company was preparing to take up investment opportunities in coffee, rice, livestock and cut flowers development.

Following detailed discussions between the Ethiopian delegation and Qatar officials the two ministers signed an Agreement on Employment of Ethiopian Manpower in the State of Qatar and a Memorandum of Understanding on Mining, in the presence of Prime Minister Hailemariam and Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Sheikh Hamad Bin Jasim Bin Jabir Al Thani. In addition to these agreements, the ministers also agreed to further discuss and finalize issues related to air services, investments and agriculture.

Last month, of course, Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al Thani, headed a high-level delegation which included Dr. Khalid bin Mohamed Al-Attiya, State Minister at the Foreign Ministry, on a two day visit to Ethiopia. During the visit, the Qatari Prime Minister held rounds of talks with Prime Minister Hailemariam, and signed several agreements dealing with bilateral cooperation in the fields of diplomacy, trade and
investment. The two countries also agreed to establish a joint high-level ministerial committee.

At a joint press conference, Sheikh Hamad said that his visit was a result of his meeting in February with Meles Zenawi, the late prime minister of Ethiopia, in London. He said Ethiopia was an important country for Qatar and that Qatar sought to promote cooperation and economic ties with it in many areas. He referred to Ethiopia and Qatar’s long experience in promoting international peace and security and stressed Qatar’s interest in achieving a lasting peace in the region with the help of the excellent relationship that Qatar enjoys with the regional countries. Sheik Hamad noted Qatar’s strong belief that peace is only possible through development, adding that Qatar considered Ethiopia as a model state in the field of development. Prime Minister Hailemariam praised the growing ties between Ethiopia and Qatar and expressed appreciation for its role, describing their meeting as a qualitative leap in bilateral relations. He said the formation of a higher ministerial committee would push the cooperation to the highest level. The Prime Minister noted that Ethiopia offered wide investment opportunities to investors of Qatar and spoke of the possibility of future cooperation between the two countries in the areas of economics, labour relations, tourism and agriculture.

The visit was a significant development in Ethiopian-Arab Gulf relations in general and Qatar-Ethiopian relations in particular, and according to Qatari sources the visit has launched a new phase in Qatar relations with the countries of the Horn of Africa.

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* Originally published on A Week in the Horn – Dec. 14, 2012 issue, titled “Ethiopia-Qatar relations move onto a new bilateral level”. Items from A Week in the Horn are re-published here with a permission to do so.

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