Ethio-Yemeni Bilateral relation Reaches at peak: Ambassador Dr. Tawfik Abdullahi Ahmed
Ethio Boy
April 24, 2008
Yemen is one of the countries that have historical and cultural ties with Ethiopia. Its population is about 22.4 million with Islam and Arabic as its major religion and language respectively. Their relation is so diversified that it incorporates various issues in politics, economy and social aspects.
The two countries and their people are highly interwoven since time immemorial. Recently, a Trade Fair and Bazaar was held in Sana´a and there we had an interview with His Excellency Ambassador Dr. Tawfik Abdullahi Ahmed, Ethiopian Ambassador in Yemen, on the status of current relation between the two sisterly countries.
Amb.Dr. Tawfik Abdullahi Ahmed
WIC:- Your Excellency Ambassador Dr. Tawfik Abdullahi Ahmed, first of all we would like to appreciate your willingness for the interview.
Am. Dr. Tawfik:- Thank you.
WIC:- Could you tell us the synopsis of current bilateral relation between Ethiopia and Yemen?
Am. Dr. Tawfik: - Well, the bilateral relation between Ethiopia and Yemen isn´t a newly emerging one. It emanated from the longstanding and deep-rooted historic and cultural ties that the people in both countries are intermingled in many respects. History has registered that the relation between them began in the 6th Century AD. There is quite a large number of Yemeni citizens who have Ethiopian origin and vice versa. Marriage between partners from both countries is rife. The longstanding bilateral relation between Ethiopia and Yemen is so diversified that they cooperate in three basic categories: politics, economy and social. Therefore, the current status of Ethio-Yemeni relation is founded on good ground. So, it is historical, cultural, deep-rooted and solid.
WIC:- Some years ago, these two countries in collaboration with Sudan and Somalia, established the Sana´a Forum. What is its recent development and what have the two countries and their respective people benefited from that forum?
Am. Dr. Tawfik:- The status of that relation is good. It has been playing greater roles in enhancing the bilateral relation of the two countries. The 15th summit was held in Ethiopia and the 16th summit will be held in Sudan. This Forum has resulted in significant economic, political and social agreements between the two countries. It also helps both countries to have common views on regional, continental and world issues. Therefore, the countries and their people could be benefited from these various economic and political agreements.
WIC:- What efforts does the Ethiopian Embassy in Sana´a did to promote investment and trade?
Am. Dr. Tawfik:- The economic ties of the two countries are alarmingly increasing. In 2001, the trade exchange between Ethioopia and Yemen was 6 million US dollars, which augmented to 30 million US dollars. Both Embassies: Ethiopian Embassy in Yemen and Yemeni Embassy in Ethiopia, are working together and doing tremendous efforts to promote investment, trade and tourism in both countries. They have been working to enhance and strengthen the tourism flow and advocate the investment possibilities.
As a result, the number of Yemeni investors in Ethiopia in various economic sectors likes agriculture and industry increases from time to time. The Trade Fair and Bazaar between 14th -19th, 2008 in Sana´a is one of the results that show the efforts of both countries in enhancing trade and investment.
Of course, the Trade Fair and Bazaar was organized by Abdurahim Seber General Business, which belongs to a young Ethiopian origin Yemeni investor.
The trade show became a reality for the simple reason that there is conducive atmosphere for investment and trade in both countries. However, we believe that much has to be done as the two countries have enough potential. The Trade show that took place this month in Sana´a is the first step. This trade show was visited by many Ethiopians living in Yemen, by Yemeni and other foreigners living in the country.
This could be taken as an experience to do more in the same way in an organized manner in the future to create market access to Ethiopian products in Yemen and other countries. Such experience could also help to bring assimilation among business people in both countries and enhance their cooperation in export and import transactions.
WIC:- Could you explain if this Trade Fair and Bazaar has any contribution in image building of the country apart from its economic impacts?
Am. Dr. Tawfik:- Definitly`. On one hand, there are traditional clothes, food and other cultural materials in the exhibition which could show the cultural aspects of our country. On the other hand, there are Ethiopian music, festive, films and the like. So, these could highly promote the efforts of the positive image building of the country.
WIC:- Your Excellency Ambassador Dr. Tawfik Abdullahi Ahemed, we are very grateful for your time and before we wind up the interview we´d like to hear if you have any additional finally do you have something to add?
Am. Dr. Tawfik:- The political, economic and social relations of Ethiopia and yemen reached at its peak. Therefore, the two Embassies should strengthen their efforts to make these relations sustainable so that both countries and their people could be benefited.
The two countries and their people are highly interwoven since time immemorial. Recently, a Trade Fair and Bazaar was held in Sana´a and there we had an interview with His Excellency Ambassador Dr. Tawfik Abdullahi Ahmed, Ethiopian Ambassador in Yemen, on the status of current relation between the two sisterly countries.
Amb.Dr. Tawfik Abdullahi Ahmed
WIC:- Your Excellency Ambassador Dr. Tawfik Abdullahi Ahmed, first of all we would like to appreciate your willingness for the interview.
Am. Dr. Tawfik:- Thank you.
WIC:- Could you tell us the synopsis of current bilateral relation between Ethiopia and Yemen?
Am. Dr. Tawfik: - Well, the bilateral relation between Ethiopia and Yemen isn´t a newly emerging one. It emanated from the longstanding and deep-rooted historic and cultural ties that the people in both countries are intermingled in many respects. History has registered that the relation between them began in the 6th Century AD. There is quite a large number of Yemeni citizens who have Ethiopian origin and vice versa. Marriage between partners from both countries is rife. The longstanding bilateral relation between Ethiopia and Yemen is so diversified that they cooperate in three basic categories: politics, economy and social. Therefore, the current status of Ethio-Yemeni relation is founded on good ground. So, it is historical, cultural, deep-rooted and solid.
WIC:- Some years ago, these two countries in collaboration with Sudan and Somalia, established the Sana´a Forum. What is its recent development and what have the two countries and their respective people benefited from that forum?
Am. Dr. Tawfik:- The status of that relation is good. It has been playing greater roles in enhancing the bilateral relation of the two countries. The 15th summit was held in Ethiopia and the 16th summit will be held in Sudan. This Forum has resulted in significant economic, political and social agreements between the two countries. It also helps both countries to have common views on regional, continental and world issues. Therefore, the countries and their people could be benefited from these various economic and political agreements.
WIC:- What efforts does the Ethiopian Embassy in Sana´a did to promote investment and trade?
Am. Dr. Tawfik:- The economic ties of the two countries are alarmingly increasing. In 2001, the trade exchange between Ethioopia and Yemen was 6 million US dollars, which augmented to 30 million US dollars. Both Embassies: Ethiopian Embassy in Yemen and Yemeni Embassy in Ethiopia, are working together and doing tremendous efforts to promote investment, trade and tourism in both countries. They have been working to enhance and strengthen the tourism flow and advocate the investment possibilities.
As a result, the number of Yemeni investors in Ethiopia in various economic sectors likes agriculture and industry increases from time to time. The Trade Fair and Bazaar between 14th -19th, 2008 in Sana´a is one of the results that show the efforts of both countries in enhancing trade and investment.
Of course, the Trade Fair and Bazaar was organized by Abdurahim Seber General Business, which belongs to a young Ethiopian origin Yemeni investor.
The trade show became a reality for the simple reason that there is conducive atmosphere for investment and trade in both countries. However, we believe that much has to be done as the two countries have enough potential. The Trade show that took place this month in Sana´a is the first step. This trade show was visited by many Ethiopians living in Yemen, by Yemeni and other foreigners living in the country.
This could be taken as an experience to do more in the same way in an organized manner in the future to create market access to Ethiopian products in Yemen and other countries. Such experience could also help to bring assimilation among business people in both countries and enhance their cooperation in export and import transactions.
WIC:- Could you explain if this Trade Fair and Bazaar has any contribution in image building of the country apart from its economic impacts?
Am. Dr. Tawfik:- Definitly`. On one hand, there are traditional clothes, food and other cultural materials in the exhibition which could show the cultural aspects of our country. On the other hand, there are Ethiopian music, festive, films and the like. So, these could highly promote the efforts of the positive image building of the country.
WIC:- Your Excellency Ambassador Dr. Tawfik Abdullahi Ahemed, we are very grateful for your time and before we wind up the interview we´d like to hear if you have any additional finally do you have something to add?
Am. Dr. Tawfik:- The political, economic and social relations of Ethiopia and yemen reached at its peak. Therefore, the two Embassies should strengthen their efforts to make these relations sustainable so that both countries and their people could be benefited.
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