Addis Ababa, May 17, 2022 (FBC) – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Demeke Mekonnen has tabled a nine-months report highlighting activities undertaken by the Ministry in the economic, political and citizen-centered diplomacy sectors to the House of Peoples Representative.

Addressing the House, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Demeke Mekonnen said Ethiopia is working to enhance ties with neighboring countries in multifaceted areas of cooperation.

The cross-border infrastructure development sector is given a high priority by the government in order to ensure better economic integration with neighboring countries.

Demeke cited the Lamu Port of Kenya is playing a pivotal role in enhancing economic and trade partnership between Ethiopia and Kenya.

He further indicated that the The Ethiopia-Kenya Electricity Highway Project will go operational in upcoming July 2022 so that the connectivity between the two nations in power infrastructure will pave a way for further social and economic collaboration.

Kenya’s Lamu Port is instrumental to ensure social and economic benefits of peoples of the two countries.
Ethiopia and Djibouti are partnering in the transport and hydroelectric power areas and other areas of collaboration based on mutual interests.

Demeke reaffirmed commitment of Ethiopia to the implementation of the South Sudan peace agreement. The two are working in partnership based on the agreements they reached so far in several areas of collaboration.

He further said Ethiopia and Somalia are working to establish to establish a joint Ministerial Committee with a view to enhance partnership in the economic, political and diplomatic spheres.

Saying that the peoples of the two countries share many things in common, Demeke said Ethiopia is committed to further elevate its ties with Somalia.

The Ethiopia-Kenya Electricity Highway Project involved the construction of an electricity highway between Ethiopia and Kenya consisting of about 1,068 km of transmission line (about 437 km will be in Ethiopia and about 631 km in Kenya).