Islamabad: The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan have engaged in discussions to sign a Bilateral Political Consultation Agreement by the end of this year. This agreement aims to foster deeper cooperation at bilateral, regional, and multilateral levels to address global challenges effectively.
The discussion took place during a meeting between H.E. Jemal Beker Abdula, Special Envoy & Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of FDRE to Pakistan, and H.E. Ambassador Hamid Asghar Khan, Additional Secretary (Africa) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Both sides agreed to expedite the signing of the agreement, which will establish an institutional mechanism for the countries to collaborate on issues such as climate change, terrorism, cybercrimes, and fake news.
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During the meeting, H.E. Ambassador Jemal Beker emphasized the Ethiopian Government’s strong desire to sign the Bilateral Political Consultation Agreement with Pakistan to further enhance bilateral relations. He highlighted the growing political, economic, trade, and cultural cooperation between the two countries, facilitated by consistent engagement between governments, business communities, academia, and professionals, along with delegation exchanges over the past two years.
Ambassador Jemal Beker also briefed the Additional Secretary on the Home Grown Economic Reform Programme 1.0 (HGERP), which has significantly boosted Ethiopia’s GDP, making it the top economy in East Africa and the third in Sub-Saharan Africa under the leadership of H.E. Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali, Prime Minister of Ethiopia. He added that Ethiopia has now launched HGERP 2.0, aimed at creating a stable macroeconomic environment, transforming investment and trade landscapes, boosting productive growth, and enhancing public sector capabilities.
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Additionally, the Ambassador informed the Additional Secretary about Ethiopia’s regional integration initiatives, such as the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, Green Legacy Initiative, and Dine for Generation. He mentioned that South Sudan’s signing of the Nile Basin Cooperative Framework Agreement ensures equitable utilization of Nile water, promoting regional integration. Ethiopia has also been proactive in ensuring regional peace and security by facilitating dialogue among conflicting parties.
On the other hand, the Additional Secretary reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to deepening bilateral ties through enhanced cooperation at bilateral, regional, and multilateral levels. He informed the Ambassador that Pakistan had ratified the Bilateral Political Consultative Agreement, which is crucial for strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries.
