The Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau concludes his visit to Ethiopia. The prime minister on a press release today said that his stay in Ethiopia was a success.
He additionally said that he had met with prime minister Abiy Ahmed. And From the discussion, he observed that the prime minister is working to transform Ethiopia into the next level. He and his country share the visions of the Nobel laureate. And Trudeau expressed the willingness of his country to work in cooperation with Ethiopia in the fields of capacity building and economy.
Canada is one of Ethiopia’s financial assistants providing $198.15 million in 2017-2018. The assistance generally focuses on women empowerment, food security, human rights and democracy, and resilience on climate change. Additionally, PM Trudeau said that Canada is ready to support the Electoral Board of Ethiopia as the country ‘strives to build a mature democracy.’
Moreover, ‘Ethiopia has a chance of having a high number of skilled workforce to be a center of trade and investment,’ said the Canadian prime minister. He also added that development is impossible without providing an equal working opportunity for all citizens. He appreciated prime minister Abiy for taking the lead by achieving gender equality in his cabinet.
When it comes to trade cooperation, PM, Trudeau reveals that the two countries have signed an agreement to have trade cooperation. This agreement will have an increase in the trade relationship between the two countries, which is relatively very small. According to the embassy of Canada to Ethiopia, “Two-way merchandise trade between Canada and Ethiopia totaled over $170 million in 2018.”
Additionally, the two countries are about to start negotiating on a Foreign Investment Protection Agreement, said the prime minister.
During his visit to Ethiopia, Justin Trudeau met with president Sahle-Work Zewde at the presidential palace having a working lunch. Besides that, he had a tour at Unity Park inside the prime minister’s residence.
He also took the opportunity of the 33rd session African Union meeting in Addis Ababa to meet with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Rwandan President Paul Kagame, Cape Verde Prime Minister José Ulisses Correia e Silva, and chair of the African Union Moussa Faki Mahamat.
According to the reports, Justin Trudeau signed investment agreements and $10 million to help empower African women as an offer to get African votes as Canada attempts to win the United Nations Security Council seat this year.
After concluding his three days official visit to Ethiopia prime minister, Trudeau traveled to Senegal.
