Israeli Foreign Minister H.E. Mr. Avigdor Liberman came to Ethiopia and four other African countries (Rwanda, Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Kenya) in early June to strengthen Israel-Africa ties. He was joined by MKs Simon Solomon (Chairman of the African lobby in the Knesset), Merav Michaeli, and Pnina Tamano-Shata, as well as a delegation from leading Israeli business companies.
FM Liberman asserts that cooperation endeavors with Africa is very important on both humanitarian and socio-political planes, including areas where Israel can provide assistance and training mainly: in agriculture, water technology, medicine, combatting terror, and much more.
Ethiopian FM Dr. Tewodros Adhanom welcomed FM Liberman at the airport and went on to discuss diverse bilateral partnerships. They signed MOU to work together on various political and economic issues of cooperation including: Agriculture, IT, medical sectors. In a joint press briefing, they disclosed that Israel moreover offered to support Ethiopia and Africa in joint ventures of combating terrorism.
FM Tewodros and FM Liberman signing MoU 
Briefing media regarding his visit at MoFA Office
In addition, they agreed to establish museums in Gonder and Shire areas in northern Ethiopia in due honor of the residence of over 100,000 Ethiopian-Jews in Israel that make for even deeper attachment of the nations.
The business delegation joining FM Liberman, from the Israel Export Institute, is composed of over-40 top Israeli economic and business entities from various sectors (among them: Agriculture and Water technology; Energy & Mining; Life Science; IT; Bank; Cleantech; Mining industries; Homeland Security; Infrastructure industries; Consultancy; and Aviation) that are keen to identify investment and business opportunities in Ethiopia and establish mutually beneficial business relationships with governmental and private organizations.
Accordingly, the Embassy of Israel in Addis Ababa in collaboration with the Ethiopian and Addis Ababa Chambers of Commerce and Sectorial Associations organized a business seminar and one-to-one discussions attended by the said Israeli Economic and Business delegation and Ethiopian counterparts, Ethiopian Foreign Minister Dr. Tewodros Adhanom, government and non-government high officials, representatives from Ethiopian Investment Agency, and the World Bank on June 17, at Sheraton Hotel.
FM Liberman and FM Tewodros speaking at opening of seminar
Addressing the Ethio-Israeli Business Summit, they both stressed in their key messages that considering the strong historical and cultural ties of the two peoples of Ethiopia and Israel, investment, trade, and development cooperation ventures.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom appreciated Israel’s renewed focus on deepening its ties with the African continent and said that the Ethiopian government is eager to expand the two countries’ economic relationship. Minister Liberman said the two countries are facing similar challenges particularly concerning security and terrorism and could draw lessons from each other’s’ experiences.
Different local businessmen and women from different sectors of the economy participated and created relations with the Israeli businessmen and women, and said that they had very successful one-to-one meetings, learned a lot from Israeli technology, and would like to do more of follow up more of the like discussions with them in the future.
One-to-one business discussions between
Ethiopian and Israeli counterparts at the seminar
Credit to the above three pictures: Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations
Later in the day, FM Liberman met with Pres. Mulatu Teshome at the National Palace to discuss areas of widening social and people-to-people relations besides political and economic cooperation. Minister Liberman said he is very satisfied with his visit.
He also met with PM Hailemariam and discussed on ways of investment opportunities in line with furthering all-rounded bilateral links between the two countries.
with Ethiopian President Dr. Mulatu Teshome
FM Liberman, joined by Amb. Belaynesh and Knesset members and Israeli delegation, posing with Ethiopian President Dr. Mulatu at the National Palace
Prior to the visit, FM Liberman, accompanied by Head of MASHAV Ambassador Daniel Carmon, and joined by a delegation from the Israel Export Institute, visited Rwanda (the other country that the Embassy of Israel in Ethiopia is accredited to) where he inaugurated an agricultural center of excellence. The Center of Excellence for Horticultural Development was established by MASHAV following a request made by the Minister of Agriculture of Rwanda, Dr. Agnes Kalibata, to set up a special center for advanced horticulture designed for all levels of the farming community, from small holder farmers to commercial farmers. The design and implementation of the project were carried out by CINADCO – MASHAV’s main professional and operational affiliate for international agricultural rural development cooperation.
Together with Rwandan Minister of Agriculture Dr. Agnes Kalibata and Amb. Daniel Carmon, FM Liberman inaugurated the Rwanda-Israel Center of Excellence for Horticultural Development
FM Liberman (assisted by Amb. Belaynesh) signing MoU with Rwandan counterparat Louise MushikiwaboForeign Minister Avigdor Liberman began his visit to Africa in Rwanda (Wednesday, June 11, 2014). In the morning, he opened the Israel-Rwanda joint economic seminar with the participation of 200 business people.
Afterwards, he met with Rwanda President Paul Kagame and with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Louise Mushikiwabo, with whom he signed a memorandum of understanding to upgrade relations between the two countries. FM Liberman placed a wreath at a memorial to the victims of the Rwandan genocide. On Thursday (June 12), FM Liberman and the accompanying Israeli delegation continued the official visit to Cote d'Ivoire.
President Kagame and Avigdor Lieberman discussed the strengthening of the bilateral cooperation. (Photo credit: Village Urugwiro)