The second India-Ethiopia Foreign Office Consultations were held on 24 January 2012 in Addis Ababa to discuss the follow up of decisions taken at India Africa Forum Summit and at the bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. This was the first meeting after the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh’s visit to Addis Ababa in May 2011. The Indian delegation was led by Shri Gurjit Singh, Additional Secretary (East & Southern Africa), Ministry of External Affairs and Ethiopian delegation was led by Mr. Arega Hailu, Director General of the Asia and Oceania Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia.
- India and Ethiopia enjoy close and friendly bilateral relations which are diversified and have depth. There is greater understanding in bilateral matters and excellent cooperation in regional and international fora. India-Ethiopia engagement has developed through capacity building programmes, training and sharing of experience and has reached the threshold of high volume of bilateral trade and increased investment by Indian entrepreneurs in Ethiopia.
- The heads of the delegation hailed the existing warm and cordial relations between the two countries. They emphasized the significance of the second round of Foreign Office Consultations as another milestone of meaningful and growing cooperation between the two countries. Both sides also agreed to infuse the close political relationship with greater economic content.
- Both sides held extensive discussions on bilateral, multilateral and regional issues of common interest. Cooperation under the India Africa Forum Summit and Lines of Credit offered by the Government of India for Sugar Project and Ethiopia- Djibouti railway line were also discussed.
- During the discussions, both sides also reviewed implementation of decisions taken under India Africa forum Summit I & II including the establishment of four capacity building institutions in Ethiopia which include Vocational training Centre, IT Centre, Women Solar Engineering Vocational training centre, Farm Science Centre.
- It was also agreed to propose that the next Joint Commission meeting will be held in 2013.
Addis Ababa
January 24, 2012
