Canadian PM concludes Ethiopia visit, departs for Senegal

Addis Ababa, February 10, 2020 (FBC) -Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has concluded his three-day official working visit to Ethiopia and departed to Senegal.

Trudeau is seen off at the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport by Ethiopia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Gedu Andargachew and other high-level officials.

During his stay in Ethiopia, Prime Minister Trudeau held bilateral talks with President Sahle-Work Zewde and Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed.

PM Trudeau and President Sahle-Work discussed opportunities to deepen trade and investment linkages, creating jobs and opportunities for people in Canada and Ethiopia.

The Prime Minister expressed Canada’s interest in entering into negotiations on a Foreign Investment Protection Agreement with Ethiopia.

During talks with Prime Minister Dr Abiy, Trudeau affirmed Canada’s steadfast support for Ethiopia’s ambitious reform agenda.

The two leaders exchanged views on shared priorities including economic growth, governance and democracy, climate change, and gender equality and women’s empowerment.

They also discussed ways to strengthen trade and investment.

The Prime Ministers’ agreed on the importance of creating economic opportunities for all, including through creative ways to support Ethiopia’s dynamic and entrepreneurial youth.

They also discussed ways of furthering economic prosperity by promoting cross industry collaboration to create jobs advanced through Ethiopia’s industrial policy and Canada’s innovation super clusters.

Prime Minister Trudeau acknowledged Prime Minister Dr Abiy’s leadership and contribution to regional peace and security.

The two leaders exchanged views on contemporary challenges to peace and security in Africa, further to Canada’s role as 2020 Chair of the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission.

They agreed to continue working together to advance the Women, Peace and Security agenda, which is transforming peace operations around the world.

The leaders spoke of Canada’s long-standing development assistance supporting Ethiopia’s reform agenda.

On environmental cooperation, the Leaders’ discussed their respective efforts to plant more trees as a means of addressing the adverse effects of climate change.

The two leaders spoke of the deep friendship between Canada and Ethiopia, founded upon close people-to-people ties, and discussed ways to further improve the flow of people between the two countries.