Addis Ababa, 13 June 2022 (TDI): Ethiopia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Demeke Mekonnen had a meeting with Luigi Di Maio, the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. The meeting happened on Monday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Foreign Minister of Italy, Luigi Di Maio arrived in Ethiopia on June 12 for a two-day visit. Minister Demeke Mekonnen, on behalf of the Ethiopian Government, welcomed Minister Luigi Di Maio at Bole International Airport when he arrived.
Moreover, during the Italian Minister’s visit to Ethiopia, the Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed Ali had a meeting with him.
The meeting focused on national issues and regional issues. Also, both sides emphasized mutual interest in bilateral cooperation.
Relations between Ethiopia and Italy
In 1952, the Ethiopian Embassy in Rome was established. At the same time, Ethiopia and Italy formally established diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level.
Moreover, Italy was one of the first European countries to start diplomatic relations with Ethiopia. Since the establishment of the bilateral relations, both sides have organized a series of high-level visits to strengthen the relationship.
From the perspective of economic ties, Ethiopia and Italy signed a bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement in 1994.
Later, in 1997, both sides signed an Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement. Furthermore, the value of Ethiopia’s export to Italy in 2017 was close to USD 61,319,180. Meanwhile, Italy’s export to Ethiopia in the same year was worth USD 645,175,663.2.
Currently, Ethiopia and Italy especially focus on improving cooperation in trade, economy, investment, and so on.
Also, during Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio’s visits to Ethiopia from June 12 to June 13 this year, he said, “Our prime goal is clear and simple; it is peace and stability which are instrumental for Ethiopia to start playing again a pivotal role in the world and over Africa”.
