Abiy Ahmed heads for Paris & Berlin during first trip to Europe as leader.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who has gained a reputation as a man who has transformed the political landscape of the Horn of Africa nation since coming to power, is scheduled to arrive in Paris on Monday, October 29 for a one-day working visit, his first trip to Europe since he became Prime Minister. Abiy will hold meetings with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace.

Abiy is expected to arrive in the French capital on Monday morning after an overnight flight from Addis Ababa and hours before his meeting with Mr Macron. After landing in the morning, Abiy, who would be accompanied by four ministers, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Finance, Minister of Water and Energy and Minister of Innovation &Technology, would head to Élysée, according to reports. He will then speak at a joint press conference alongside the French president.

The invitation to visit France was extended to Abiy on July 13, when President Macron made a telephone call to congratulate him on peace initiative with Eritrea and many other reforms he has undertaken in the home front since he became Prime Minister on April, according to the French press.Macron would also use the occasion to discuss about his future trip to Ethiopia next spring.

Culture and heritage on the agenda

The visit would focus on cultural ties and investment and be an opportunity for France to promote its expertise in heritage conservation and restoration, according to Ethiopian Ambassador to France, Ali Sulaiman Mohammed.

The Ethiopian government intends to refurbish the Jubilee Palace of Haile Selassie I and transform it into museum and the French government has shown willingness to provide technical and financial assistance. Aby Ahmed will visit the Hotel de la Marine, a historic building on place de la Concorde currently under renovation. “Another issue of the discussions would be to facilitate ways for the French Development Agency to expand its activities in Ethiopia,” the Ambassador said. “As Ethiopia is in the process of undertaking serious trade reforms, liberalization and openness, it is good time for French companies to see possibilities of investment in the country,” the Ambassador said.

The Prime Minister will conclude his day in Paris with dinner with the president of the Movement of the Enterprises of France (MEDEF) before flying to Germany on Tuesday.

Ethiopia and France enjoy good diplomatic relations, Ethiopia’s former Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn made a working visit to France on April 18 and 19, 2013, also his first bilateral visit outside of the African continent and was welcomed by the then French President François Hollande.

G20 Africa conference

Prime Minister Abiy will then attend the G20 Africa conference in Berlin, a summit that would be attended by nine other African head of States and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The G20 Africa conference would discuss progress made with the G20 partnership with Africa and the compact with Africa (CwA) to promote private investment in Africa, including in infrastructure, it was said.

Prime Minister Abiy will address a huge gathering of Ethiopians at Commerzbank-Arena stadium in Frankfurt. According to Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Meles Alem over 20,000 Ethiopians will participate in the meeting.

Ethiopia and Germany also enjoy strong cooperation in development, investment, and trade and Germany is the fifth largest destination for Ethiopian export.

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