Ethiopia-Turkey relations 'excellent,' Ethiopian president tells AA

Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome has lauded his country's relations with Muslim heavyweight Turkey in all domains, especially in the field of investment, reiterating his confidence that bilateral ties would develop further.

"Diplomatic, political and cultural ties – as well as business relations between the two countries – are excellent," President Teshome said in an exclusive interview with Anadolu Agency to be published in full later.

Teshome, who served as Ethiopian ambassador to Turkey for more than seven years, said that annual trade volumes between the two nations had surged to a current $400 million from only $30 million in 2006.

What's more, some 250 Turkish entrepreneurs are investing in different sectors of Ethiopia's economy, noted the president, which, he said, had served to create thousands of new job opportunities.

President Teshome stressed the need to further strengthen relations between the two countries and attract more investment in the textiles, food processing, leather and engineering fields.

Ethiopia, he added, enjoys a comparative advantage in terms of production, labor availability, energy and markets.

Teshome, who was elected president by Ethiopia's parliament on October 7, cited enormous economic potential for Turkish contractors in Ethiopia, which, he stressed, had very ambitious construction plans.

Modern diplomatic relations between Ethiopia and Turkey date back to 1910.

Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie, who ruled the country between 1916 and 1974, was the first head of state to visit Turkey.

Bilateral ties were ruptured during Ethiopia's period of military rule, which lasted from 1974 to 1991.

Following the fall of Ethiopia's military dictatorship, however, the two countries resumed diplomatic relations.

Ethiopia reopened its embassy in Turkey in 2006.

By Mohamed Taha Tawakel