Ethiopia Is open for unity, business, progress and empowerment: NNPA

Addis Ababa, July 15, 2021 (FBC) – National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) in its website brings a story about the Grand Ethiopian Renaissace Dam (GERD) and investment opportunities in Ethiopia after contacting Ambassador Fitsum Arega.

“There is economic reform, vast investment opportunities in agriculture, manufacturing, and energy,” noted Ethiopia’s Ambassador to the U.S., Fitsum Arega, during a meeting with the Black Press at the Ethiopian Embassy in Washington, D.C. “Ethiopia is an ancient country that takes care of its tradition and culture. We have a useful population, and that is the force for transformation.”

“With archaeological findings that date back to around 980 BCE, Ethiopia sits along the easternmost peninsula in Africa. Not only does the culturally rich nation count as Africa’s oldest country, but some believe it’s the oldest in the world. With a population of 112 million – roughly 70 percent of whom are 30 and under – Ethiopia has never suffered under colonization” the story reads.

Moreover, unlike most others on the continent, Ethiopia has beaten back all attempts by would-be colonizers.
That and the many current reforms has Fitsum Arega, the Ethiopian Ambassador to the United States, beaming confidently with expectations about the future of his nation.

“There is economic reform, vast investment opportunities in agriculture, manufacturing, and energy,” Ambassador Arega told the Black Press during a meeting at the Ethiopian Embassy in Washington, D.C.
NNPA quoted Ambassador Fitsum as saying: “Ethiopia is an ancient country that takes care of its tradition and culture,” the remarked.

“We have a youthful population, and that is the force for transformation.” Ambassador Fitsum continued:
“We want to engage more in manufacturing which requires labor and skill. Ethiopia has vast opportunities for textile and apparel manufacturing along the value chain, and we have the capacity to expand cotton production; we have power that is all generated from green energy.”

“Winemaking is good because of our soil and because in the daytime it is hot and at nighttime, it is very cold. So that is good for fermentation, so as you see, we are coming up with so many opportunities.”
Ambassador Fitsum said Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who just won another five-year term after a landslide election victory, have made reform their mission.

“The election was the first of its kind in terms of free and fairness,” the Ambassador stated.
He said with the expansion of educational opportunities, Ethiopia is poised to launch a large skilled labor pool to meet the demands of a diversified economy. Among Ethiopia’s priorities are agriculture, manufacturing, energy, ICT, mining and tourism among others, the Ambassador noted.

“We have a home-grown economy reform program where we are enabling the private sector to play more of a role. In the past, the public sector played a big role.” Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Ambassador Fitsum noted that Ethiopia had invested heavily in infrastructure and built the fastest electric railway. over rugged terrain.
“We want to build on democracy,” Ambassador Fitsum declared, noting that everyone is proud that the African Union continues to headquarter in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.

The Ambassador, who twice met with NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., said the Black Press of America help must tell Ethiopia’s story of reform and prosperity. “I went to Congress to discuss the GERD issue, and one of the congressmen opened a New York Times, who complained about what we are doing,” Ambassador Arega demurred.

“We’ve been sending many Op-ed pieces, press releases and other statement to the mainstream press to ensure a balanced perspective, but so far most of the stories have been one-sided.”

Dr. Chavis announced, “I am so very pleased to state on-the-record that the Black Press of America via the NNPA is now in the process of establishing a strategic media partnership between the NNPA and the Ethiopian Press.

“Our two trade associations will work together henceforth on economic sustainability interests, international media relations in print, digital and social media, and on sponsoring mutual trade delegations between the United States and Ethiopia with specific focus on Black-owned businesses in America and in Ethiopia.

“This will be another answer to the centuries-long prayers of all people of African descent for global unity, progress and empowerment.”

Source:NNPA