Africa-Press – Ethiopia. Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister Taye Atske Selassie and his Singaporean counterpart, Vivian Balakrishnan vowed to deepen ties between their two countries and enhance cooperation across various sectors.
In a significant diplomatic engagement, Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister, Taye Atske Selassie, held extensive discussions with Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, in Singapore.
The high-level talks focused on strengthening bilateral relations and addressing key international issues, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
This meeting was held concurrently with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s inaugural visit to Singapore, adding to the historical ties that date back to the 1960s when Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia and former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore conducted exchange visits, laying the foundation for our enduring relationship.
The bilateral meeting underscored the deepening ties between Ethiopia and Singapore, with both ministers expressing commitment to enhancing cooperation across various sectors.
The two sides further discussed key agenda items included trade, investment, transport and logistics, technological exchange, and sustainable development.
Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister Taye emphasized Singapore’s strategic position as a global financial hub and its advancements in smart development, the digital economy, and technological infrastructure.
He highlighted Ethiopia’s growing economy and the potential for increased Singaporean investment in sectors such as manufacturing, smart mobility, urban development, smart agriculture, green development, technical education and tourism services.
In response, Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan reiterated Singapore’s interest in expanding its economic footprint in Africa, particularly in Ethiopia.
He praised Ethiopia’s efforts in creating a conducive environment for foreign investors and expressed optimism about the future of Ethiopia-Singapore relations.
The discussions also covered international issues including multilateral cooperation. Both ministers agreed on the need for collaborative efforts to address global challenges and reaffirmed their countries’ commitment to working together within international frameworks.
The two foreign ministers signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the Establishment of Bilateral Consultations between their respective Ministries of Foreign Affairs.
This MOU aims to create more regular opportunities for the countries to exchange views on regional and global issues and explore new areas of cooperation.
Additionally, a Statement of Intent was signed regarding a future cooperation on the transport sector between Singapore’s Ministry of Transport and Ethiopia’s Ministry of Transport and Logistics.
This agreement is expected to enhance connectivity and facilitate mutual benefits in the transport sector, it was learned.
The Ethiopian Foreign Minister extended an invitation to Singaporean businesses to explore investment opportunities in Ethiopia and expressed hope for more high-level exchanges between the two nations.
Prime Minister Abiy’s official visit marks a significant step forward in Ethiopia-Singapore relations, paving the way for stronger economic and diplomatic ties. Both sides look forward to building on this momentum in the coming months, with further discussions planned to finalize additional MOUs and agreements.
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