"Ethiopia's huge market is attracting Russian companies"

Russian companies are working on a number of promising economic projects in Ethiopia in the automotive, electrical and chemical industries, Russian Ambassador to Addis Ababa Yevgeny Terekhin told Izvestia. In the context of the forthcoming visit to the country of the Speaker of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko, the diplomat noted a significant strengthening of cooperation in all spheres. In particular, our companies are expected to actively participate in investment projects in the republic. A visit of Russian robotics specialists to Ethiopia is also planned - they will bring their inventions. In addition, the possibility of expanding air transportation between the countries is being discussed. About the prospects of trade relations between Russia and Ethiopia, the participation of the country's delegation in SPIEF, its attractiveness for tourists, as well as the cultural proximity of the two peoples - in an interview with Evgeny Terekhin "Izvestia".

"Relations between our countries continue to develop on an upward path"

- You have been heading the Russian Embassy in Ethiopia for more than five years. Is it comfortable working in this country?

- I was honored to head our diplomatic mission in Ethiopia by a decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin in March 2019.

It is worth noting that this is a state with which I am linked by several decades of professional diplomatic activity. I first traveled here as a student back in 1979. The rich history, local cultural traditions and genuine friendliness and sincerity of Ethiopians confirmed my desire to devote my life to the development of relations between our states and peoples. Over the years, my confidence in the rightness of my decision has only grown stronger.

Despite the fact that formal diplomatic relations were established in 1898, it is generally accepted in the historical and expert community that they have a deeper, centuries-long history. The first unofficial contacts between our countries date back to the XV-XVI centuries. We can say with good reason that Russian-Ethiopian relations have always been characterized by the spirit of mutual respect, aspiration to take into account each other's interests, traditions of friendship and partnership. Their core, undoubtedly, is the spiritual closeness of our peoples.

Perhaps not everyone knows, but in Ethiopia, as in Russia, the dominant religion is Orthodox Christianity, which became the state religion here in the IV century. Even the dates of the main religious holidays coincide with each other. Ethiopia also has a strong tradition of "classical" Islam, dating back to the times when the first followers of the Prophet Muhammad found refuge in Abyssinia from the persecution they were subjected to in their homeland.

Based on the above, I can confidently say that Russian diplomats can feel at home in Addis Ababa. All issues that arise, including those of a technical nature, are resolved quite quickly with the active assistance of the Ethiopian Government and local municipal authorities. We constantly feel hospitality and welcome both at the official level and from ordinary citizens. Any meeting, conversation with Ethiopian friends is accompanied by a sincere smile and ends with a firm handshake.

Therefore, it seems quite natural that the relations between our countries continue to develop on an upward path. There is a significant intensification of bilateral interaction in all spheres and across the widest spectrum.

- At the beginning of 2024 Ethiopia joined BRICS. Do Russia and Ethiopia have specific projects that are being implemented within the BRICS framework?

- It is symbolic that the beginning of Ethiopia's full membership in BRICS coincided with the year of Russia's presidency in this association. Throughout 2024, we have been working hard to harmoniously integrate the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) into the work of this informal club of states representing the interests of the global majority. This has undoubtedly been facilitated by intensive contacts at the highest and highest levels. Suffice it to recall the active participation of the FDRE delegation headed by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in the BRICS summit in Kazan on October 22-24 last year.

If we talk about the results of the first year of our Ethiopian friends' membership in BRICS, it is safe to say that it was a very successful year for Addis Ababa. According to experts, including those in the FDRE itself, the country's accession to a fundamentally new format of global governance helps to establish strong and long-term political cooperation with other member states, benefits its economic growth, including by attracting foreign direct investment for industrialization projects, infrastructure and agricultural development, and facilitates trade both within the association and bilaterally, including between our countries.

In turn, the association has gained a new, dynamic, active and ambitious member. As a fast-growing economy, Ethiopia is making a notable contribution to the collective strength of the association and giving its members a fresh perspective on the African continent.

Ethiopia has been very active in a number of working groups. Last year alone, there were many mutual visits of representatives of the relevant ministries and agencies of our countries to discuss the details of future projects and develop a roadmap for cooperation.

I would like to note the participation of Ethiopian colleagues in the BRICS Forum in Moscow dedicated to traditional values, including their contribution to the decision to promote family popularization and traditional spiritual and moral values, as well as the creation of a volunteer platform of the BRICS countries. They supported initiatives related to training, competence building, exchange of experience between volunteers and specialized non-profit organizations.

Ethiopia is a country with a dynamically growing human potential, rich cultural heritage and vast natural resources. Its political leadership shares the principles of international equitable development and multipolarity. Therefore, we look forward to the future of our interaction within the BRICS framework with great enthusiasm and optimism.

"I see good potential for enhancing trade and economic cooperation"

- How important is Ethiopia as a trading partner of Russia?

- The answer to the question of Ethiopia's importance for Russia in Africa lies on the surface, if only because at the end of 2024, the Russian government decided to upgrade the status of co-chair of the Russian-Ethiopian Intergovernmental Commission. On our side, it was headed by the Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation Maxim Reshetnikov.

Speaking about the economy, it should be noted that Ethiopia is a dynamically developing, fifth largest economy in Africa. In the past fiscal year 2024, its GDP grew by 8.1% to $205 billion. The average annual growth of the country's GDP in recent years is more than 6%. FDRE is also the third largest economy in Africa (after Egypt and South Africa) in attracting foreign direct investment ($3.9 billion in 2024). Finally, Ethiopia, with a population of over 120 million people, is a large, rapidly growing promising market for Russian goods and services that are familiar and familiar to local consumers.

At the end of 2024, Addis Ababa hosted a representative business forum "Russia-Ethiopia: Time is of the essence!". This event was organized by the Coordination Committee for Economic Cooperation with African Countries (Afrocom) with the support of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the active participation of the Embassy and Trade Mission to FDRE. The forum clearly showed that the business communities of our countries are not only ready for dialog, but also really aim to achieve concrete agreements and practical results. And they have already been achieved. And this is despite the fact that Russian exporters are in difficult business conditions, as they have to overcome various barriers related to the sanctions pressure on our country.

It is sometimes not easy for Ethiopian goods to make their way to Russia. Nevertheless, I see a good potential for increasing trade and economic cooperation and the desire of the two sides to realize it. As they say, when partners are interested in cooperation, any mountain is within their reach. For their part, the Embassy and the Trade Mission in Addis Ababa consider one of the most important tasks to ensure the steady and steady growth of our trade and economic cooperation.

- Last year the Ethiopian government stated that Addis Ababa is interested in Russian investments in Ethiopian industrial parks and free trade zone in Dire Dawa. Does Ethiopia attract Russian business? What areas of Ethiopia's economy are most attractive for businessmen from the Russian Federation?

- Let me start with the fact that the Ethiopian government is carrying out important economic reforms aimed at improving the business climate in the country and attracting foreign investment in promising mutually beneficial projects. Therefore, we expect a qualitative change in our bilateral cooperation and active participation of Russian companies in investment projects.

Promoting projects in special economic zones has a number of advantages in terms of ready-made infrastructure, various tariff and non-tariff preferences, but ultimately business itself determines where it is most profitable to locate its production facilities.

Ethiopia's huge market attracts Russian companies, which are currently working on a number of promising economic projects in the automotive, chemical, electrical and food industries, transportation, information and communication technologies and, of course, agribusiness, as agriculture plays a leading role in the country's economy.

- In November, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made it clear that the second ministerial conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum will be held in 2025 in one of the African countries. Is Ethiopia showing interest in hosting the event? Has FDRE been invited to participate in SPIEF this year?

- Indeed, the second Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum is planned to be held on African soil. The host country for the future Forum has not yet been determined. Relevant consultations with partners are underway. There are proposals from a number of interested states, but it is premature to disclose them. For our part, we believe it is right to be guided in this matter by the agreed position of our African friends. All the more so as the 46th meeting of the Executive Council of Foreign Ministers and the 38th meeting of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union will be held in Addis Ababa in mid-February this year.

With regard to Ethiopia, I would like to emphasize that our friends have repeatedly expressed their readiness to facilitate Russian-African events of various levels. Addis Ababa, where the headquarters of a number of international and regional organizations are located and where the African Union summit is held annually, has excellent infrastructure for that purpose. However, I repeat: it is up to the Africans to decide.

FDRE representatives are traditionally welcome guests at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum and do not avoid this annual event with their attention. We hope that 2025 will be no exception. According to the established practice, invitations to SPIEF are sent in the spring, and the Embassy has already submitted its proposals to the Forum organizers, but I would still prefer to refrain from "highlighting" specific personalities for the time being.

"There is a potential for further growth of tourist traffic"

- Against the background of increasing demand for travel to Africa, has the number of Russian tourists who will visit Ethiopia in 2024 increased?

- We assume that tourist trips to Ethiopia, which is famous for its rich history, culture and natural diversity, may be of great interest to Russians. According to the data of the Unified Interdepartmental Information and Statistical System (EMISS), the tourist flow from Russia to Ethiopia in the first nine months of 2024 generally corresponded to the indicators of the same period of the previous year. However, there is certainly potential for further growth. This is, among other things, the active development of the country's tourist infrastructure, the availability of a regular and sufficiently intensive air service between Moscow and Addis Ababa, as well as the opportunity for Russians to issue an entry visa directly at the airport of the Ethiopian capital.

- What are the prospects for expanding direct air service between Russia and Ethiopia?

- Addis Ababa International Airport has become one of the largest transportation hubs in Africa and a highly demanded connecting hub on the way from Russia to other countries of the African continent, as well as Latin America. The national air carrier, Ethiopian Airlines, is considering the prospects of increasing the number of flights between Addis Ababa and Moscow (currently four times a week). The possibility of flights to other Russian regions is also being discussed.

The large-scale project on construction of the largest air harbor in Africa near the Ethiopian capital is also expected to play a positive role in the geography of travel of Russians. "Ethiopian Airlines" has set ambitious goals - to complete the project by the end of 2029 and thus ensure the capacity of the new international airport at the level of 100 million passengers per year.

- Speaking about the spheres of culture and education, what projects are being prepared for implementation by the Russian side in Ethiopia in 2025?

- In terms of culture, every year we traditionally hold Pushkin Days, which is symbolic for Ethiopia, which is considered to be the ancestral home of our favorite poet. As part of these events, a Russian Language Day is traditionally held at the site of the UN Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa. There young Ethiopians recite poems in Russian and Russian classics translated into Amharic, and members of the compatriots' club "Otchizna" perform Russian folk songs and dances.

In spring we expect the arrival of artists of the project "Rising Stars" performing classical repertoire. And in the fall, also traditionally, we plan to hold the Days of Spiritual Culture, with a tour of a church choir from Russia. On the margins of the events we will organize photo exhibitions about the historical heritage of our country and its sights.

In the sphere of education, one of our main tasks is to recruit Ethiopian students to study in our universities under the quota of the Russian government. It is worth noting that every year the interest of Ethiopian youth in getting education in our country is growing. According to available data, this year the university competition amounted to five people per place. On the basis of the Russian House in Addis Ababa, a preparatory faculty has been functioning for the second year already, thanks to which the applicants who have successfully completed it and passed the entrance examinations, save a whole year of study, as they will not need to undergo the preparatory program in Russia.

We are also planning to repeat the successful experience of last year and bring Russian robotics specialists and their inventions back to Ethiopia. There is a keen interest in new technologies here, particularly in robotics and IT. This kind of events draw special attention of local youth to the achievements of our country in the field of innovations and motivate them to adopt the experience of our highly qualified specialists.

Speaking of specialists. There is a program that the Russian House also implements every year. It is called "New Generation". Under this program, young Ethiopian specialists from various fields under the age of 35 make short-term trips to Russia and participate in specialized events, thus improving their qualifications and getting acquainted with colleagues from Russia and other countries of the world. This project can be referred to both culture and education at the same time.