The Ethiopian Messenger 14 - April-September 2019

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The Ethiopian Messenger

ውድ አንባቢያን፣

Dear Readers,

የመጀመሪያው የአውሮፓ ህብረት- ኢትዮጵያ የቢዝነስ ፎረም እ.ኤ.አ. በግንቦት ወር አጋማሽ ተካሂዷል። የዚህ ዕትም የመጀመሪያው ክፍል ለረዥም ጊዜ ዝግጅት ሲደረግበት የቆየው እና በአውሮፓ ህብረት እና ኢትዮጵያ ግንኙነት ወሳኝ የሆነው ይሄው ሁነት በተመለከተ የሚዳስስ ይሆናል።

The first EU-Ethiopia Business Forum was held in Brussels midMay. Our first article talks about this event that had been long in the making and is destined to become an essential element of EU-Ethiopia relations as Ethiopia reforms its business environment. It has been a little more than a year since Abiy Ahmed became the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, changing the country for the better. However, beyond the transformation of the political landscape and the opening up of the economy, the other positive developments that have been taking place in the country deserve our attention – as seen in our second article.

ክቡር ጠቅላይ ሚኒስትር ዶ/ር ዓብይ አህመድ በሀገሪቱ የነበረውን ነባራዊ ሁኔታ በመለወጥ ወደ ተሻለ ደረጃ ለማድረስ ሀላፊነት ከተረከቡ ከአንድ ዓመት ብዙም የዘለለ አይደለም። ከፖለቲካ ምህዳር ማስፋት እና ከኢኮኖሚ ማሻሻያ ባሻገር ትኩረት እየሳበ ያለው ሌላው በአገራችን እየተከናወነ ያለው አዎንታዊ ለውጥ በተመለከተ በሁለተኛው ክፍል ተዳስሷል። በክፍል ሶስት በፈረንጆቹ አቆጣጠር ከዚህ ዓመት መጀመሪያ ጀምሮ በአፍሪካ ቀንድ እየታየ ያለው ለውጥ አስመልክቶ የሚዳስስ ፅሁፍ ቀርቧል። ክቡር ጠቅላይ ሚኒስትር ዓብይ አህመድ በመጋቢት ወር በአፍሪካ ቀንድ በሚገኙ አገሮች ዲፕሎማሲያዊ ጉብኝቶችን አካሂዳል። ከሚያዝያ ወር ጀምሮ ሱዳን በታሪካዊ የፖለቲካ ሽግግር ሂደት ውስጥ ትገኛለች። የደቡብ ሱዳን የሰላም ስምምነት ተግባራዊነት እየቀጠለ ሲሆን በተባበሩት መንግስታት የጸጥታው ምክር ቤት በሶማሊያ የተሰማራውን ሰላም አስከባሪ የቆይታ ጊዜ አራዝሟል። በመቀጠልም ኢጣሊያ ለሁለተኛ ጊዜ ኢትዮጵያን በወረረችበት ወቅት የኢትዮጵ ህዝብ ለሉዓላዊነቱና ለነፃነቱ ተጋድሎ ሲያደርግ የካቲት 12 የደረሰበትን ዘግናኝ ጭፍጨፋ የተመለከተ ፅሁፍ ቀርቧል። በአምስተኛው ክፍል እ.ኤ.አ. ከ2015 ጀምሮ በኢትዮጵያ ባህል እና መንፈሳዊ እምነት ላይ ትኩረትዋን የሳበው፣ ከዚህም በመነሳት የኢትዮጵያውያንን ጥበብ አስመልክቶ ለአውሮፓውያን ወላጆች እና ልጆቻቸው ለማካፈል መፅሃፍ የፃፈችው ቤልጄየማዊቷ ክሪስታ ሄስት ታሪክ የሚዳስስ ፅሁፍ ቀርቧል። በመጨረሻው ክፍል በኢትዮጵያ ስላለው ተስፋ ሰጪ ኢንቨስትመንት ጋር በተገናኘ ሁለት ፅሁፎች ቀርበዋል። የመጀመሪያው ፅሁፍ አዲሱ የ ‘AfricaEurope Alliance for Sustainable Investment and Jobs’ መጀመር የተመለከተ ሲሆን፣ ሁለተኛው ደግሞ የአውሮፓ ኢንቨስትመንት ባንክ በአፍሪካ ዩሮ 3.3 ቢሊዮን የኢንቨስትመንት ዕቅድ በተመለከተ ያስቃኛል።

Our third article explores the evolving situation in the Horn of Africa since the start of the year. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed undertook a diplomatic marathon across the region in March and Sudan started a historic political transition in April. Meanwhile, the implementation of South Sudan’s Peace Agreement is progressing, and the United Nation Security Council has renewed the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM).

Afterward, we tackle a lesser-known chapter of Ethiopian peoples’ fight for sovereignty and independence: the Yekatit 12 Massacre, a tragic event which took place during Italy’s second invasion of Ethiopia. Our fifth article tells the story of Krista Haest, a Belgian citizen who fell in love with Ethiopia’s culture and spirituality in 2015 and has now written a children’s book to share her love of Ethiopian wisdom with parents and children in Europe.

መልካም ንባብ

Finally, we conclude this magazine with two articles about promising investment projects in Ethiopia: one about the launch of a new ‘Africa-Europe Alliance for Sustainable Investment and Jobs’, and the second about the European Investment Bank’s plan to invest EUR 3.3 billion in Africa.

የአርትኦት ኮሚቴ

Most sincerely, The Editorial Team

Content

The first EU-Ethiopia Business Forum 4 Ethiopia has changed for the better

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The Horn of Africa is changing but not shaking

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Remembering the February 19 (Yekatit 12) Massacre

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Krista Haest: sharing Ethiopian culture and wisdom in Europe

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The Africa – Europe Alliance for Sustainable Investment and Jobs

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The European Investment Bank (EIB) to Invest EUR 3.3 billion in Africa

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Mortgage loan for members of the diaspora

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Quarterly magazine of the Embassy of Ethiopia in Brussels. Editor: Embassy of Ethiopia in Brussels, info@ethiopianembassy.be +32 2 771 32 94.

April - September 2019

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EU-Ethiopia

The first EU-Ethiopia Business Forum The first EU-Ethiopia Business Forum was held in Brussels mid-May. This event that had been long in the making gathered considerable interest from participants from various sectors and is destined to become an essential element of EU-Ethiopia relations as Ethiopia reforms its business environment.

The EU-Ethiopia Business Forum was held in Brussels on 14 and 15 May 2019 to stimulate European private sector investment in Ethiopia by providing practical information about doing business in the country. The Forum had been long in the making and took place at a time when Ethiopia’s economic opportunities are attracting considerable interest in the European Union, as proven by the vast and diverse audience that attended the two-day event.

During this high-level Forum, investors and businesspeople interested in doing business in Ethiopia were provided with practical information and were able to interact with top officials from the Ethiopian Investment Commission and other high-ranking officials from Ethiopia. They also had the occasion to share the experiences of representatives of some of the largest European companies already active in Ethiopia during the panel sessions. Overall, around 150 participants (business companies from all over Europe and Ethiopia, members of the public and private sectors, journalists and EU and Ethiopian officials included) attended the two-day event.

Discussing reforms and challenges The first day of the Forum consisted of a day-long program with two separate panels (on Investing and Doing Business in

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Ethiopia) and four “Break Out Sessions” on four key sectors.

Markos Tekle, State Minister for Foreign Affairs and Abebe Abebayehu, Ethiopian Investment Commissioner, both took the floor to present an overview of the unprecedented reforms that were undertaken to open up the economic and political spheres in Ethiopia over the past year and the government’s vision for attracting FDI to the country.

During the panel discussion about Investing in Ethiopia, panelists addressed essential issues such as fiscal policy, the ease of doing business in Ethiopia, access to land and industrial parks, and the legal protection of investors.

Panelists were not shy to mention challenges that need to be addressed to further improve the business environment in Ethiopia. Fortunately, the government is working on new measures to improve doing business in Ethiopia. PM Abiy has set out a steering committee that solely works towards achieving results in this area.

Competitive advantages of Ethiopia A second panel session discussed Doing Business in Ethiopia, the market potential and competitive advantages of Ethiopia and the ease and challenges of doing business in the country. Mr. Dougie Brew, Corporate Affairs and Sustainable Business Director Africa of Unilever, highlighted

the incredible market potential of Ethiopia, especially for local production, as the middle class is growing and consumers need more than just consumer goods. He summed up Ethiopia’s advantages in three points: a young population and a growing market, an evolving consumer base as the country is developing and the collective vision of the government to promote inclusive development.

Mr. Thomas Schaefer, Chairman and Managing Director of Volkswagen Group South Africa, for his part, said that it was the political will and the vision of the government that attracted Volkswagen to Ethiopia. He also encouraged investors to think out of the box. For instance, instead of paying significant amounts for imported oil, they could use Ethiopia’s national gas reserves, which would cut CO2 emissions by 50%.

The Forum took place at a time when Ethiopia’s economic opportunities are attracting considerable interest in the European Union.

Promising sectors Afterward, during the four breakout sessions, investors and entrepreneurs shared their success stories in four key areas: agro-processing, textile, apparel and leather, pharmaceutical and medical and ICT. Mr. Lutz Harman, Fruitbox Africa, and Mr. Ben Depraetere, BASF Vegetable Seeds Ethiopia, shared testimonies on their successful agriprocessing companies in Ethiopia. During the ICT session, it was learned that part of the AI of the famous robot Sophia was programmed by the Ethiopian company ICog_Labs, founded by Mr. Getnet Aseffa.

Mr. Jyrki Katainen, vice-president of the European Commission and Commissioner for Jobs, Growth, Investment, and Competitiveness, gave the keynote address where he outlined the Commission’s commitment to invest in SMEs, de-risk investment and contribute towards the improvement of the investment climate. He also encouraged and urged Ethiopia to expedite its accession to the World Trade Organization.

A key event in the making The Second day of the EU-Ethiopia Business Forum was dedicated to a morning-long networking session.

Participants who had registered the previous day were able to discuss in detail potential partnership projects with other interested parties. Following discussions, most participants at the end of the B2B Matchmaking Session expressed their satisfaction about the information provided and contacts made during the two days and hoped that such EU-Ethiopia Business Forums would become regular events in the coming years.

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April - September 2019

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Political Affairs

Ethiopia has changed for the better It has been a little more than a year since Abiy Ahmed became the Premier of Ethiopia, changing the country for the better. However, beyond the transformation of the political landscape and opening up of the economy, the other positive developments that have been taking place in the country deserve our attention.

The reforms implemented since April 2018 enjoy strong popular support.

A little more than a year ago, a new prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, ascended to power in Ethiopia following the surprise resignation of Hailemariam Desalegn in a bid to calm intensifying tensions and pave the way for dialogue.

Ethiopia has since undertaken a dramatic series of changes, and Prime minister Abiy’s transition has commanded international attention.

Africa’s youngest leader ended Ethiopia’s two-decade conflict with its neighbor Eritrea, continued to open the political space, released tens of thousands of prisoners, invited back opposition groups, spectacularly increased the place of women in power and took initiatives to open up the economy for private investment. However, while much has been said about these tremendous achievements, other positive developments that have been taking place in the country deserve our attention.

fronts as well. For instance, during his first month in office, Abiy made warm visits to both Dubai and Riyadh, and relations with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, now important players in the Red Sea basin, are at historic highs. Both countries are investing massively; notably in infrastructure, and in June 2018, Abiy accepted $3 billion in aid and investment from the United Arab Emirates and a year’s worth of oil, with payment deferred, from Saudi Arabia.

Strengthened friendships, pacified region

The normalization of relations with Eritrea after twenty years of discord also brought a huge peace dividend to the whole Horn of Africa region. Most leaders in the region recognized the historic opportunity on the table following Ethiopia and Eritrea’s reconciliation and made peace with the former. Somalia quickly chose to reconcile with Eritrea, soon followed by South Sudan. Even more impressively, long-running and complex tensions between Eritrea and neighboring Djibouti and Sudan, are also well on the way to being resolved.

Even though Prime minister Abiy Ahmed’s most spectacular achievement in foreign policy has been the thaw in EritreanEthiopian relations, Ethiopia has moved forward on other

The prime minister has also been pushing vigorously for regional economic integration, which he has described as one of the three pillars of Ethiopia’s renaissance and a

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crucial to securing peace and reconciliation in the Horn of Africa.

Appeasing the country After becoming Prime minister, Abiy Ahmed first and foremost focused on engaging with the public by holding town hall meetings all over Ethiopia to listen to the people’s grievances.

Combined with the reforms undertaken, this attention to the needs of the Ethiopian people stopped the protests and gave Ethiopians hope for the future of their country.

Ethiopia has just started its transition. But with time, it will undoubtedly become the anchor of a more peaceful, less divided Horn of Africa.

However, there are some persisting problems in the country, such as the politically-motivated conflict that uprooted hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians from their homes.

Managing IDPs remains Ethiopia’s biggest problem, as 1.8 million people are currently displaced due to ethnic attacks that flared up in various parts of Ethiopia over the past year.

However, it should be noted that saying there had been a backlog of more than one million people displaced before Abiy Ahmed even took office, as there were large-scale displacements in rural Ethiopia during the three years of protests.

To appease the country, the Ethiopian parliament passed a bill sanctioning hate speech (up to five years in prison and fines of 5,000 Ethiopian birr, or $173). In addition, after carrying out studies to explore the best possible way of returning the displaced people in the country, a steering committee led by the Ministry of Peace came up with a threephase plan to return all the displaced people to their homes within four months. The committee has repatriated 800,000 internally displaced people to their previous homes and plans to repatriate all the 1.8 million displaced people in the country within four months.

In addition to return them home; federal and local authorities will create an enabling environment where the returnees will be rehabilitated effectively, will also ensure peace and stability in the areas where the displaced people will return and bring to justice the individuals or groups who forcibly displaced them. Another good news is that 1,000 fighters with the Oromon Liberation Front (OLF) rebel group, that was removed from a list of terror organizations last year, have given up arms and entered rehabilitation camps following negotiations with the federal government.

Ethiopia’s relationship with Egypt and Eritrea has considerably improved over the past year.

upcoming month, the authorities will face a wide range of complex challenges in trying to reform the political system, economy, military and much more.

One of Prime minister Abiy’s biggest challenges could take place in 2020 when Ethiopia holds crucial polls. There are currently more than 107 political parties vying for power, and this increasing polarization of views could complicate the transition to a stronger democracy. An encouraging sign is that they all negotiated and signed a code of conduct that will guide their operations and political activities onwards on March 14. The document will not only govern the relationship between and among political parties, and settle disputes arising between and among them.

In the end, Ethiopia’s biggest chance is that the reform project is a profoundly endogenous process. The country’s leaders are also too invested in the reforms now underway to be disturbed by internal or external pressures. Ethiopia has also just started its transition. But with time, it will undoubtedly become the anchor of a more peaceful, less divided Horn of Africa.

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Continuing the transition While Abiy Ahmed has made great strides in his first year, as in all transitional countries, the challenges are many. In the

April - September 2019

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Regional Affairs

The Horn of Africa is changing, but not shaking The situation in the Horn of Africa has been evolving quickly since the start of the year. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed undertook a diplomatic marathon acroos the region early March and Sudan started a historic political transition in April. Meanwhile, the implementation of South Sudan’s Peace Agreement is progressing.

Protesters in Sudan

Diplomatic marathon In keeping with Prime minister Abiy’s intention to advance regional peace and security and economic integration in the Horn of Africa, Ethiopia has been very active at the regional stage since the start of the year. The Ethiopian Premier undertook a real diplomatic marathon early March, when he successively hosted Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta and Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi, before flying with President Abdullahi to Nairobi for talks with President Kenyatta. As current Chair of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), PM had been making special efforts to reconcile any differences between Somalia and Kenya at a time when the longstanding Somali-Kenyan offshore dispute over their maritime boundary had led to diplomatic issues between the two countries during the previous week.

The same week, Prime Minister Abiy held tripartite summits with President Kenyatta and Eritrean President Isaias in Asmara; and with South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir and President Isaias in Juba. As an outcome of these discussions, all parties agreed to work together towards and peace and to take measures in addressing issues that escalated the tensions. Overall, the Prime Minister’s approach has paved the way for the creation of positive momentum throughout

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the Horn of Africa, laying the groundwork for lasting increased regional economic integration and peace and security. The peaceful regime change conducted in Sudan is further proof of the profound wind of transformation blowing throughout the Horn.

Transition in Sudan Sudan is undergoing a major transition following the April 11 ouster of Omar al-Bashir, one of Africa’s longest-ruling leaders, prompted by a sustained and peaceful campaign.

However, tensions rose as the Transitional Military Council continued to resist opposition demands for civilian leadership and security forces attacked protesters.

The AU Peace and Security Council, following a meeting on June 6, suspended, with immediate effect, the participation of Sudan in all AU activities until the effective establishment of a civilian-led Transitional Authority. If the Transitional Military Council (TMC) failed to hand over power to a civilian-led Transitional Authority, it will impose sanctions.

IGAD has called on Sudanese stakeholders to return to the negotiation table and work in good faith and the spirit of compromise. In a statement issued on June 5, IGAD underlined the need to preserve the peace and stability of

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed arriving in Khartoum on June 7

Sudan and called on all Sudanese stakeholders to exercise maximum restraint and ease the increasing tension.

Ethiopia, for its part, has been working to facilitate the resumptions of the talks between all parties. General Abdul Fattah Al-Burhan, the Head of the Transitional Military Council made an official visit to Addis Ababa on May 28, where he held talks with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed led a delegation to Khartoum on June 7 for talks with the head of the Transitional Military Council, Lt. General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. PM Abiy also held discussions with members of the Forces for Freedom and Change. He expressed Ethiopia’s commitment to fostering peace in the region and underlined that a prerequisite for restoring peace in Sudan is unity. In light of the brotherly relations, H.E the Prime Minister has taken the Initiative to mediate between the Sudanese political forces to facilitate a smooth transition in this Country.

Accordingly, the Prime Minister has assigned HE Ambassador Mohamoud Dirir as his Special Envoy to shuttle between the two sides to assist the parties to resume their talks in good faith and in the spirit of ironing out the remaining sticking points of previously started discussions and negotiations. HE Ambassador Mohamoud Dirir has held fruitful discussions with Lt. General Abdel-Fattah AlBurhan, the Chairman of the Transitional Military Council, all the Members of the Transitional Military Council; and indeed, with the Representatives of the Forces for Freedom and Change. The Special Envoy has also exchanged views with the other political groups and personalities in Sudan.

According to the press release on June 12, 2019, regarding the discussions between the Ethiopian Special Envoy and the various parties in Sudan, stakeholders have agreed for a smooth transition.

The Points of Agreement include:

1. The two sides have agreed to uphold what they have agreed upon before the suspension of the negotiation, regarding the Structures, powers, and responsibilities of the Transitional Government, etc.

3. The two sides have agreed to refrain from inflammatory statements and de-escalate tensions; 4. The Transitional Military Council has agreed to take confidence-building measures, including the release of political prisoners.

5. The Forces for Freedom and Change, on its part, has agreed to call-off the Civil-Disobedience.

Progress in South Sudan Meanwhile, the implementation of South Sudan’s Peace Agreement is progressing slowly but surely. On March 14, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2459 (2019), renewing the mandate of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) for another year. The resolution also reinforced the core mission of UNMISS: to protect civilians, support delivery of humanitarian assistance, monitor and investigate human rights, and support the peace process. Maintaining UNMISS force levels at 17,000 troops and 2,101 police, it underlined the crucial role of neighboring states, as well as regional and sub-regional organizations, could play in encouraging efforts to further enhance cooperation.

The renewal of UNMISS’ mandate follows a briefing to the Security Council by David Shearer, the UN SecretaryGeneral’s Special Representative and Head of UNMISS on March 8, where he underlined the considerable progress achieved since the signing of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan in September 2018. Opposition politicians from various parties are now moving freely around the capital, Juba, without hindrance.

The overall levels of political violence had diminished significantly; and people are now expressing a willingness to return home, with an estimated 135,000 refugees, out of some 2.3 million already having returned. However, some outstanding issues still need to be resolved, such as the resolution of boundary and state issues, the formation of a unified armed force and the constitution-making process.

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2. Talks will resume soon in good-faith to iron-out the remaining outstanding points, including the Sovereign Council and other relevant matters.

April - September 2019

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History

Remembering the February 19 (Yekatit 12) Massacre A lesser-known chapter of Ethiopian peoples’ fight for sovereignty and independence is the Yekatit 12 Massacre, a tragic event which took place during Italy’s second invasion of Ethiopia. This date is of vital importance in the history of Ethiopian patriots.

While the history epic victory of Adwa is famous throughout the world, the Yekatit 12 massacre, a tragic episode that took place 40 years after Adwa, is not as well known internationally. However, this chapter of Ethiopia’s history deserves to be remembered and commemorated to ensure that all the Ethiopians who sacrificed themselves to protect the sovereignty of the country and the innocent victims killed during this struggle are not forgotten.

Ethiopia, one of the oldest nations in the world, is also the only African country that was never colonized following its bold defeat of the Italian colonial force at the battle of Adwa. During this climactic battle of the First ItaloEthiopian War, Ethiopian troops led by Emperor Menelik II defeated an invading Italian force on March 1, 1896, near the town of Adwa in the north of the country. The decisive victory thwarted the Kingdom of Italy’s campaign to expand its colonial empire and secured the Ethiopian Empire’s sovereignty for almost another forty years.

This huge victory turned Ethiopia into a preeminent symbol of the international opposition to colonialism and resistance against European conquest. However, a lesserknown chapter of Ethiopian peoples’ fight for sovereignty and independence is the Yekatit 12 Massacre, a tragic event which took place during Italy’s second invasion of Ethiopia.

Italy’s revenge Italy could not forget the military and political humiliation it suffered at the Battle of Adwa and prepared its revenge.

This time, Rome made extensive preparations before advancing on Ethiopia. For instance, Italy built a chemical weapons factory on 30 acres of land near Mogadishu in Somalia. When the Italians came back in 1935, Ethiopian fighters were gassed on the ground and strafed from the skies. This savage and surprise attack allowed Italy to temporary govern the country. It is during this occupation that the terrible Yekatit 12 massacre took place. In Ethiopia, an ancient civilization with its own calendar and alphabet, “Yekatit 12”, is February 19. This date is of vital importance in the history of Ethiopian patriots.

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The Yekatit 12 massacre The massacre of Friday, February 19, 1937, conducted two years after the Italian invasion of Ethiopia, also known as Addis Ababa Massacre was a three days rampage of indiscriminate killing of 30,000 Ethiopians men, women, and children. The colonial fascist Italy regime perpetrated this indiscriminate massacre in Addis Ababa following an attempted assassination of Marshal Rodolfo Graziani, Viceroy of Italian East Africa, by two young Ethiopians named Abraha Deboch and Mogus Asgedom. In the aftermath of the assassination attempt, the Italian response was immediate. Italian occupation forces were ordered to react and kill Ethiopians for three days. “For three days, I give you carte blanche (a mandate) to destroy and kill and do what you want to the Ethiopians,” ordered the then Federal Secretary, Guido Cortese. During these terrible 72 hours, the Italians brutally massacred more 30,000 Ethiopians in Addis Ababa only. In addition to these killings, thousands of Ethiopians were sent to detention camps at Danan (present Somali Ethiopia region) in the Ogaden and Nokra in the Dahlak Archipelago, where conditions were so inhospitable that up to half of the prisoners died.

Remembering Yekatit 12 The first day of the massacre has been commemorated as “Yekatit 12” by Ethiopians ever since. There is a moving monument called by this name rising dramatically from the roundabout Siddist Kilo in Addis Ababa in memory of the tens of thousands of Ethiopian victims of Italian aggression, and the children of Ethiopia study this chapter of history in school.

The Yekatit 12 monument has even become a tourism spot in Addis Ababa; alongside other sites such as the National Museum (that hosts archaeological findings of Lucy, our human ancestor who lived 3.5 million years ago in the north-east part of Ethiopia), the Entoto Museum and mountain (with the top view of Addis Ababa), monasteries, Cultural Centres and Cultural restaurants. The memory of Yekatit 12 deserves our attention and remembrance to ensure that the brave Ethiopians who sacrificed their lives to protect the sovereignty of their country and all the innocent victims who were killed in the course of this struggle are not

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Culture

Krista Haest: sharing Ethiopian culture and wisdom in Europe In 2015, Krista Haest, a Belgian citizen, fell in love with Ethiopia’s culture and vibrant spirituality. She has now written a book, Néala and the Path of the light, to share her love of Ethiopian wisdom with adults and children in Europe.

A lifelong interest in Ethiopian culture led Krista Haest, a Belgian citizen, to visit Ethiopia in 2015, where she fell in love with the country culture and spirituality. She has now written a book, Néala and the Path of the light, to share her love of Ethiopian wisdom with parents and children in Europe.

Falling in love with Ethiopian wisdom Krista Haest, who had dreamed of visiting Ethiopia since she was a child, was not disappointed by her first journey through the country in 2015. By traveling for the first time in Ethiopia, she was immediately drawn to the intense spirituality of its people and experienced an intellectual and spiritual awakening. Her soul was enchanted by Africa’s spiritual heartland, a country of deeply religious people where the three major faiths coexist peacefully and where participating in the supernatural is as normal as breathing.

During this initial visit, she sensed an openness to the spiritual world that she had never found in Europe. She meditated for a full week on the mountain Hudad in Lalibela. Traveling by public transport, donkey, horse, motor, or by foot, she was able to meet and communicate with the people of Ethiopia very naturally. Her Ethiopian friend, Ayenew Negatie, introduced her to the high- and lowlands of Lalibela. She received teachings in the Gheralta mountains from a 110-year-old woman and was also initiated into the wild by a wish doctor of the Tsemay tribe in the Southern part of Ethiopia. All these contacts and experiences have prompted her to have a deeper connection between her inner world and her surroundings. Ethiopia has become a like a second home to Krista who is looking forward to “going back home” for the ninth time this Summer.

Sharing Ethiopian wisdom The spiritual wisdom crystallized in this book is based on Krista’s four years’ experience, which led her to want to share Ethiopian culture and wisdom in a children’s book – a direct gateway to the hearts of children and parents in Europe as the is told in a playful and child-friendly way.

In most industrialized countries, people tend to live in societies ruled by rationality and neglecting the spiritual

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aspects of their lives. The book could also convince families to make the journey to Ethiopia to experience the country’s energy directly.

The illustrations are full-color paintings inspired by Ethiopian nature and life, like the jewels of the land.

Ethiopian children living in Belgium or Holland can enjoy this book and feel the resonance of their roots. Dutchspeaking families everywhere can learn about Ethiopia spirituality. The book includes a lot of information about Ethiopian culture at the end of the book, to help parents understand the beauty of Ethiopia and talk easily with their children.

The original Dutch version of the book was published by The Kristal Womb. The profits of this book will go toward printing the Amharic/English version. This way, the book will eventually find its way into the homes of Ethiopia, as the author intends to donate these books to Ethiopian libraries and families.

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MORE INFORMATION On the webpage www.kristahaest.com/book you have the possibility to: * order a book * find shops where the book is available * donate the Amharic/English version Many objects mentioned in the book (the scarf, the cross, jewels, the injera basket...) can be found in Christian Articles Shop in Lalibela.

CONTACT: Ayenew Negatie Ymer (+251 1935231858) & Krista Haest (+32484649141) Across from ‘Zagwé Hotel’ and next door to ‘Holidays Hotel.’

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Investment

The Africa – Europe Alliance for Sustainable Investment and Jobs In September 2018, the President of the European Commission announced the launch of a new ‘Africa-Europe Alliance for Sustainable Investment and Jobs.’ This Alliance is more than a financial plan: it aims at unlocking private investment and exploring huge opportunities that could yield benefits for African and European economies alike.

In his State of the Union Address on 12 September 2018, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker announced the launch of a new ‘Africa-Europe Alliance for Sustainable Investment and Jobs.’ This initiative complements the long-standing political partnership between the two continents and seeks to promote a substantial increase of private investment from both Africans and Europeans, boost trade, enhance job creation and contribute to sustainable and inclusive development, promoting standards of modern and sustainable technology, environmental and labour protection, and responsible business conduct.

A new alliance This Alliance is more than a financial plan. It is about unlocking private investment and exploring the huge opportunities that can yield benefits for African and European economies alike, with a specific focus on jobs for youth, responding also to Africa’s demographic patterns. It is an economic strategy that puts the respective strengths of Europe and Africa to work, taking the ambition of the External Investment Plan to the next level. Building on concrete actions, the Alliance will support the generation of 10 million jobs in Africa in the next five years.

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This Alliance is not a stand-alone initiative. It is part of the broader set of EU-Africa relations and strategic frameworks joining Europe and Africa. The principles of partnership, dialogue and ownership will be at the heart of the Alliance.

It is an essential part of a strategy combining in a coherent and balanced way the different elements of Africa-EU joint approach to migration: a shared responsibility for addressing the root causes of irregular migration and forced displacement, effectively managing borders, preventing and fighting migrant smuggling and trafficking of human beings, rescuing and protecting lives, offering paths for legal migration, and ensuring improved cooperation on return, readmission and reintegration of irregular migrants in line with the established principles and international law obligations, as well as agreed arrangements.

The Alliance sets out the key strands of action for a stronger economic agenda for the EU and its African partners to achieve the following objectives; 1. BOOSTING STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS FOR JOB CREATION AND STRENGTHENING THE ROLE OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR The Alliance recognizes that the private sector holds the largest potential for generating jobs and growth and it, therefore, aims to boost responsible private – domestic and foreign – investments

in Africa by mobilizing increased resources via blending and guarantees in order to leverage resources from capital markets with international, European and national financial institutions, to de-risk investments and to facilitate access to finance.

For a surge in private sector investments to have the biggest possible impact, the most promising value chains at the national and regional level must be identified. To this end, Jobs and Growth Compacts are currently under discussion with most of the African partners in order to steer the joint efforts around those value chains with the highest potential for job creation, seizing the opportunities for manufacturing and processing, unlocking the massive potential of the green and blue economy, supporting transition to low-carbon and climateresilient economies, exploiting the full potential of the digital transformation of the economy, in particular e-commerce and data economy, and tackling the areas requiring reform in order to improve the business enabling environment.

the Alliance will support the generation of 10 million jobs in Africa in the next five years.

Europe and Africa have an interest in working together more seriously on strategic developments and interests. The European Commission will bring together African and European public, private and financial operators and academia on a sectoral basis to examine and support strategic developments in critical economic areas such as digital solutions, energy, transport, and agriculture. This will allow us to look at the long-term challenges and strategic interests, by examining how to accelerate impact, boost public and private investments, and best share knowledge and know-how.

2. INVESTING IN PEOPLE BY INVESTING IN EDUCATION AND SKILLS More investment is needed to provide people, in particular girls and women, with access to education, notably Technical and Vocational Education and Training, as well as digital skills and competencies, and to address the mismatch between the skills that young people receive at secondary and tertiary level and those needed for their working life. This will help to equip youth with relevant skills to build their future while consolidating as well as pathways to legal migration.

In this regard, the EU will support a critical African Union skills initiative, aimed at developing an African continental qualification framework, a facility to enhance private sector involvement in Technical and Vocational Education and Training, supporting labour market and Technical and Vocational Education and Training system diagnostics and piloting mobility of students and staff. Access to higher education and research institutions to adequate e-infrastructures will be supported.

3. STRENGTHENING THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT AND INVESTMENT CLIMATE Boosting private sector investment requires peace, security and stability, and an enabling investment climate and business environment, including macro-economic stability and open financial systems for increased private sector credit. It also encompasses adequate actions to address broader critical governance issues, such as the strength of government institutions, the rule of law, transparency and accountability, as well as corruption and illicit financial flows. The Alliance proposes to develop a strengthened dialogue and cooperation among partners on the investment climate, including investment protection where appropriate.

4. TAPPING THE FULL POTENTIAL OF ECONOMIC INTEGRATION AND TRADE Investments in value-adding and labour-intensive sectors also requires markets for the products and services. Advancing the economic integration process at regional and continental level in Africa and boosting trade relations with the EU are therefore essential components of a coherent economic strategy.

The Alliance foresees to provide support to the African Continental Free Trade Area through increased funding for institutional support as well as technical support to the various phases of the negotiations. Building on the African Continental Free Trade Area implementation, the long-term perspective is to create a comprehensive continent-to-continent free trade agreement between the EU and Africa. The Alliance will look at supporting the policy frameworks and the core enabling infrastructure, including broadband and e-infrastructures.

Particular attention will go to sectors including sustainable energy, transport, data economy, information and communications technologies, circular economy, sustainable use of natural resources, waste and water management and blue growth; this could include offering partnerships with EU industry, in particular where it is a world leader. This will be linked up with the support provided to investments through blending and the guarantee.

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Economy

The European Investment Bank (EIB) to Invest EUR 3.3 billion in Africa The European Investment Bank recently announced it would invest EUR 3.3 billion in Africa. The EIB’s largest annual support to Africa in 54 years of operations on the continent will provide direct support for 59 private sector and sustainable development projects across 20 African countries.

In November 2018, Ethiopia signed a agreement for a €30 million long term with the European Investment Bank (EIB) to further boost female economic inclusion and empowerment across the country.

The European Investment Bank, the lending arm of the European Union, recently announced it would invest EUR 3.3 billion in Africa, the largest annual support for investment across Africa by the EIB in 54 years of operations on the continent that will provide direct support for 59 private sector and sustainable development projects across 20 African countries.

The European Investment Bank’s activities in Africa The European Investment Bank, the lending arm of the European Union, is also the world’s largest multilateral lender and the biggest provider of climate finance both inside and outside the European Union. Outside the Union, EIB lending is governed by a series of mandates from the European Union in support of EU development and cooperation policies in partner countries, including sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific region, to which Ethiopia belong.

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The EIB invests in a wide range of projects in sub-Saharan Africa from providing financial support to allow microfinance institutions to lend small amounts to microenterprises and innovators, up to large infrastructure projects. Contrarily to bilateral donors, the EIB focuses exclusively on private sector development and vital infrastructure as its core priorities in sub-Saharan Africa, promoting initiatives in line with the EU Agenda for Change and the Sustainable Development Goals, and it supports the EU’s New Consensus for Development. On the ground, this means its activities can reach many kinds of operation and reach more people that may be expected.

The EIB’s largest investment in Africa In 2018, the European Investment Bank agreed EUR 3.3 billion ($3.74 billion) of new financing for the private sector and infrastructure investment in 20 African countries. Addressing the African Union summit in Addis Ababa in February 2019, Werner Hoyer, President of the European Investment Bank

confirmed that this represented the largest annual support for investment across Africa by the EIB in 54 years of operations on the continent.

The close cooperation between the European Investment Bank, the EU Bank, and African partners enabled record activity in 2018 with EUR 3.3 billion of EIB new investment that will benefit projects across the continent.

The close cooperation between the European Investment Bank, the EU Bank, and African partners enabled record activity in 2018 with EUR 3.3 billion of EIB new investment that will benefit projects across the continent.

photovoltaic technology in a single project to enable clean solar energy to be provided after sunset.

SUPPORT FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN PRIORITY SECTORS The EIB also backed new investment to enhance the supply of clean drinking water in Angola, improve treatment of wastewater in Egypt, manage to flood in Benin, tackle pollution in Tunisia and enable more efficient use of water for irrigation by smallholders in Eswatini.

Last year the EIB also supported new investment to tackle land degradation, support forest conservation and improve sustainable fishing and aquaculture across Africa.

IMPROVING EDUCATION AND HEALTH Students in Morocco will benefit from improved teaching, and student facilities following EIB support for a new university campus in Fes and a pioneering medical financing initiative will support investment by providers of healthcare to communities with limited services at present.

In the coming months, the European Investment Bank expected to confirm significant new financing for projects across Africa including support for sustainable transport, urban development, water infrastructure, microfinance, and private sector investment. The European Investment Bank has agreed more than EUR 48 billion of investment across Africa since 1965.

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The EIB President highlighted, the discussion with African leaders Addis was conducted with the intention to strengthen the impact of the European Investment Bank’s engagement across the continent in the years ahead and announced that a total of 59 private sector and sustainable development projects would get direct financing support in the following areas of intervention: BACKING PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT TO ENHANCING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES Last year the EIB provided more than EUR 1.14 billion for private sector investment in Africa. This included support for industrial investment in Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and Nigeria, and new financing for business investment through credit lines with local banks in North, West, East and Southern Africa.

This included targeted financing to enhance financing available for female entrepreneurs in Ethiopia and backing dedicated lending for climate-related investment.

IMPROVING ACCESS TO CLEAN ENERGY AND ACCELERATING INVESTMENT IN RENEWABLES Millions of people living across Africa will benefit from new EIB backed investment in solar power, off-grid renewables and interconnectors to distribute clean energy to unconnected areas.

Last year the EIB agreed to support investment in projects that will generate more than 1,600 MW of clean energy including solar power plants in Morocco, Kenya and Zambia, hydropower in Cameroon, and enabling an estimated 10 million households and small businesses in Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda to benefit from off-grid solar power.

This included support for the pioneering Noor Midelt project in Morocco that combines concentrated solar power and

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