Press Advisories
5. 11. 2023 12:31
The Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala began his tour to sub-Saharan Africa. In Ethiopia he held talks with Prime Minister Ahmed
At the beginning of his trip to Sub-Saharan Africa, Prime Minister Petr Fiala first opened a Czech-Ethiopian business forum in Ethiopia, where he spoke about how much he appreciated the reforms Ethiopia had been able to make in recent years. He said that he understands that just like in the Czech Republic in the past, the transition is never easy. Fiala also mentioned that Ethiopia offers many opportunities for cooperation.
"We see Ethiopia as one of our key trading partners in sub-Saharan Africa. We are proud that Ethiopia is our priority country for development cooperation. I believe that economic and development cooperation should go hand in hand,“ said the Prime Minister.
Subsequently, the Czech Prime Minister was received by his Ethiopian counterpart, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, and they discussed further opportunities for cooperation. The meeting was very open. The Prime Minister said that Ethiopia was interested in cooperation in several areas: "We want to build strategic relations. We discussed the main areas of cooperation, such as water management, agricultural technology, health care and mining, as well as better cooperation in the security and defence industries,“ Fiala said.
At the Water Museum the Czech Prime Minister was welcomed by Minister of Water and Energy Habtamu Itefa Geleta and the State Minister of Water, Mr. Abraha Adugna. Together, they had the opportunity to see the results of the work of Czech hydrogeologists who mapped water resources in Ethiopia as early as in the 1970s. These maps have been useful, for example, in combating famine. The Czech Geological Survey, People in Need, All for Soil as well as Mendel University are helping in the development sector in Ethiopia. The non-profit sector is represented by ADRA and CARE here: „I think it is important that we help people in developing countries to have better farming conditions and a better life, not least because if this is achieved they have no reason to leave the country,“ Fiala mentioned.
According to the Prime Minister, it was during his visit to the Abebech Gobena MCH Hospital that Czech assistance in the development area was fully demonstrated. The maternity hospital, which is supplied with beds by the Linet company, cares not only for women in labour, but also for sick women and rape victims. Czech medical companies associated in the AVDZP have submitted the "Mother and Child Care" project, which includes gynaecological, obstetric and neonatological care. The local hospital is designed as a "Centre of Excellence", i.e. a training centre where Czech doctors and nurses will train staff from this hospital and from the whole region. The Czech Republic is also supplying incubators and other equipment to Ethiopia.
Before leaving for Kenya, Prime Minister Fiala visited the Ethiopian National Museum on Sunday, 5 November 2023, which plans to cooperate with the Czech National Museum on an exhibition in 2025. Also his stop at the Bishoftu air base was important. Here the Prime Minister visited the air academy. The Czech Republic now supplies for example helmets to Ethiopia. However, the cooperation can take many forms in the defence industry. Czech industry is already represented by Omnipol here.
"The multi-party cooperation has been taken place here. Firstly, we are involved in the refurbishment of the L-39 Albatros fleet, Omnipol supplies simulators and pilot training equipment, but there is also a regular group of Czech technicians and engineers involved in aircraft refurbishment. There has been a chance for signing an agreement for additional new L-39 5G series aircrafts, here,“ added Prime Minister Fiala at the end of his visit to Ethiopia.
During his tour to sub-Saharan Africa, the Czech Prime Minister will also visit Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana and Ivory Coast.
