Addis Ababa, August 04, 2016(WIC) – Finland has expressed its keenness to strengthen its trade and investment ties with Ethiopia, according to the country’s Ambassador.
After farewell talks held with President Mulatu Teshome early today, Finnish Ambassador to Ethiopia Sirpa Maenpaa told journalists that Finland is interested to invest in Ethiopia’s priority areas owing to its rapid economic growth.
The ambassador added that for Finland, Ethiopia is one of the priority countries.
“Ethiopia has been growing and there has been increasing interest from Finnish firms for the economic growth in Africa including Ethiopia,” she said.
In order to bring Finnish investors to Ethiopia, consultation has been made with investors and a Finnish business delegation will come to Ethiopia in a year to undertake feasibility study for investment.
According to the Ambassador, such initiatives would further promote the trade and investment ties between two countries.
Finland’s engagement in Ethiopia also proved successful in areas of poverty alleviation in rural parts of the country.
Expansion of water and education facilities as well as land administration and agricultural development activities have been among the fruitful areas of cooperation which need to be consolidated in the future, Maenpaa said.
She appreciated the successful efforts of Ethiopia in stabilizing the Horn of Africa region.
Commending the role of the ambassador in strengthening cooperation between the two countries, President Mulatu Teshome on his part called for more Finnish investment to the country in the fields of trade and investment.
The ambassador’s tenure in Ethiopia saw many ministerial visits to Ethiopia including the visit of Finnish Prime Minister to Ethiopia.
Dr. Mulatu and Ambassador Maenpaa discussed on ways to further diversify the long-standing bilateral relationship between Ethiopia and Finland.