On Wednesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hosted Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who traveled to Ankara on an official visit.
In a press statement made by the Turkish presidency on August 17, it was stated that the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed, would pay an official visit to Turkey on August 18, upon the invitation of the Turkish President. In addition, it was stated that bilateral relations will be reviewed in all aspects and the steps that can be taken to improve cooperation will be discussed during the meetings to be held. In addition, it was emphasized that during the meetings, views would be exchanged on current regional and international developments.
The latest visit of Abiy Ahmed is of particular importance as 2021 marks the 125th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Turkey and Ethiopia.
Turkey-Ethiopia relations in recent years started to develop after the Opening to Africa Action Plan in 1998 and the declaration of the African Year in Turkey in 2005, which has gained significant momentum in recent years. The Project Coordination Office of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) was opened in Addis Ababa for the first time in Africa, and relations developed through mutual high-level visits in the following period. In addition, Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities provides educational scholarships to hundreds of Ethiopian students at undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels within the scope of the “Turkey Scholarships” program.
According to the Turkish foreign ministry, Turkey one of the three strategic partners of the Ethiopian state, along with China and India. Today, there are more than 200 Turkish companies operating in Ethiopia and their investment amount is $2 billion and also provides employment to 20,000 Ethiopians.
The trade volume between the two countries has been developing in parallel with the political and cultural relations that have developed in recent years. The total trade volume between Turkey and Ethiopia, which was approximately $27 million in 2000, has currently exceeded $400 million.
