Ethiopian Embassy UK Newsletter October 2018 Issue
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The Monthly Publication from the Ethiopian Embassy in London Ethiopian October 2018 News Inside this issue PM Abiy’s memorable visit to Europe………………………………………… ……………………………………………6 CONNECT WITH US Quadruple amputee to scale Ethiopia’s highest mountain………… …………………………………………….7 Addis Fine Art showcases Ethiopian art at 1-54 Contemporary Art Fair in London…………………9 UK and Ethiopia sign £176 million grant……………………………………………………………………………….10 UK-Ethiopia Trade and Investment Forum affirms Ethiopia is open for Business………………….12 Ethiopia makes ‘strong gains’ from FDI flow…………………………………………………………………………14 Clothing giant Calzedonia opens its first African factory in Ethiopia………………………………………15 Ethiopian Diaspora Trust Fund goes live…………………………………… …………………………………………16 th 47,500 participants registered for the Great Ethiopian Run – 18 November………………………17 Ethiopia launches visa-on-arrival for African travellers…………… ………………………………………….18 @EthioEmbassyUK Meet the 19 -year-old tech genius coding at Ethiopia's first AI lab …………………………………………19 Ethiopia Shows the World that Women can Lead Country now boasts first female President, Supreme Court President and gender-balanced Cabinet Page 2 Ethiopian News Ethiopia’s three weeks of historic firsts Women take centre stage in Prime Minister Abiy’s new Government line up In just three weeks, Ethiopia made Aisha Mohammed, formerly Minister history with the elevation of women to of Construction, will now serve as top government posts: a cabinet Defence Minister – the first woman to reshuffle saw a gender-balanced hold that position in the country. cabinet with women taking up half the ministerial posts, the first female Muferiat Kamil will lead the newly- president and first female supreme established Ministry of Peace, which court president. will oversee the intelligence and security agencies. Similarly, in the These measures are part of Prime April 2018 reshuffle Minister Minister Abiy’s latest political and Muferiat was elected speaker of the economic reforms since taking office in House of People’s Representatives April 2018 and are huge milestones in and was the first woman to hold that Ethiopian political history. position in the country’s history. …Cabinet reshuffle Dr Workneh Gebeyehu (Minister of Foreign Affairs), Dr Amir Aman (Minister of Health), Dr Sileshi As part of ongoing reforms taking place in the Bekele (Minister of Water, Irrigation and country, Prime Minister Abiy named a new Cabinet Electricity) and Berhanu Tsegaye (Attorney General on 16th October, with half the posts being taken up with the Rank of Minister) retained their previous by women – a historic first for Ethiopia, and Africa posts as ministers. in general. Prime Minister Abiy’s nominations were The cabinet reshuffle saw the number of ministerial unanimously approved by the Parliament. positions reduced from 28 to 20, with half of the cabinet posts now held by women, including key Historic Ministries such as the Ministry of Peace, Trade and Industry, and Defence. Ethiopia now joins a handful of countries, mostly European, where women make up 50% or more of The Prime Minister said the appointments took into ministerial positions, according to the Inter- consideration competence and educational Parliamentary Union and U.N. Women. background and are move towards forming a more inclusive and “gender-balanced” government. Days after Ethiopia’s announcement, Rwanda became the second country in Africa to announce a “Our women ministers will disprove the old adage that women can’t lead. This decision is the first in the history of Ethiopia and probably in Africa…This is to show respect to the women for all the contribution they have made to the country. The new cabinet is expected to reform their respective ministries, remove the walls of bureaucracy, and bring innovation and technology to provide services efficiently.” 2 Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed gender-balanced Cabinet, although women already In her inaugural address to Parliament, the newly- make up 61% of parliament members in Rwanda. appointed President committed to working for the cause of peace in the country while exerting every A full list of Cabinet Ministers is available on our effort to make gender equality a reality in Ethiopia. website: http://bit.ly/GoE-Cabinet “We have no other option than peace to realise the …first female President vision of building a great nation,” she said. In yet another historic move, and just days after “If the current change in Ethiopia is Prime Minister Abiy named the new gender- headed equally by both men and balanced Cabinet, Ambassador Sahle-Work Zewde was appointed as the fourth President of Ethiopia, women, it can sustain its replacing outgoing President, Dr Mulatu Teshome. momentum and realise a prosperous Ethiopia free of The decision was made by a unanimous vote during a special joint session of Ethiopia’s two legislative religious, ethnic and gender houses of parliament – the House of Peoples’ discrimination.” Representatives and the House of Federation. “The reform is expected to be complex and to have A seasoned diplomat, Ambassador Sahle-Work multiple challenges,” the President said, adding that becomes Ethiopia’s first female president and, the joint efforts and unity of the government and currently, the only female head of state in Africa. other political parties is required to overcome these challenges. As president, and as per the Ethiopian Constitution, Ambassador Sahle-Work can expect to serve two She thanked outgoing President Mulatu Teshome, six-year terms. who resigned from his post on 24th October, for his Photo: President Sahle-Work (second left) shortly after her appointment together with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed 3 October 2018 Ethiopian News services to the country during the past five years. Dr She also helped start Enat Bank, the first women’s Mulatu resigned one year ahead of his term ending, bank in the country. saying he wanted to be part of change and reforms taking place in the country. “By example, President Mulatu has shown us what role we can play for the sake of the reforms,” she said, adding “I hope other leaders at all levels will follow suit.” A seasoned diplomat Ambassador Sahle-Work brings a wealth of experience to the position. Immediately prior to being appointed president, Ambassador Sahle- Work was serving as the Special Representative of UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, to the African Union and Head of the UN Office to the In an interview with the BBC, Meaza said “This is an African Union – the first woman to be appointed to honour and a distinct privilege. This kind of offer that position. In 2011, she was appointed to the does not come every day and this is a new chapter position of Director-General of the United Nations in our country as we go through a Office at Nairobi (UNON). transformation…It will be a privilege if I am able to contribute to the independence of our judiciary… She has also served as Ambassador of Ethiopia to [and] the government is ready to ensure that I get Senegal, Djibouti and France, and held a number of all the support I need to build an independent other high-level positions including Permanent judiciary. Representative of Ethiopia to the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa On becoming the first woman to hold the job, as well (ECA) and as Director-General for African Affairs in as the other recent promotions of women, Meaza the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia. said: …first woman to head supreme court “I am so happy that the glass ceiling is shattered, and my As the trend continues, on 1st November, the daughters can dream of becoming Parliament appointed Meaza Ashenafi as the country's first female Supreme Court President. anyone they want to be in Ethiopia.” "Ethiopia's march towards gender parity in key …Prime Minister’s spokespersons also leadership positions continues unabated," PM appointed Abiy's then chief of staff, Fitsum Arega, wrote on Twitter. “Meaza Ashenafi is one of Ethiopia's most Billene Seyoum has seasoned lawyers and a prominent women rights been appointed as activist." Press Secretary at the office of Prime A former high court judge, Meaza was also an Minister Abiy Ahmed. advisor on the writing of the Ethiopian constitution, Her deputy is Helen and founded the Ethiopian Women Lawyers Yosef. Association (EWLA). As EWLA's Executive Director, Meaza successfully defended a 14-year-old girl In her first briefing to accused of killing a man who raped her in a story local and foreign that was dramatised in the 2014 movie produced by journalists, the new Hollywood actress, Angelina Jolie, titled "Difret". press secretary announced the issuance of access badges for media operating within the PM’s office. 4 The World Reacts to Ethiopia’s Historic Appointments I congratulate Prime Minister Abiy Congratulations to President Ahmed of Ethiopia for appointing a Sahle-Work Zewde on being cabinet marked by gender parity…I elected the first female look forward to other similar bold President of Ethiopia – a strong initiatives on the continent, as part of symbol of growing female Agenda 2063. The decision by the empowerment in Africa. Prime Minister sets a major - UK Prime Minister, Theresa May milestone in Africa’s efforts towards gender equality and women’s empowerment, in particular women’s access to high-level political decision-making positions. Congratulations to Sahle- Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Work Zewde & to Ethiopians, Mahamat on your first woman president & new cabinet in which women ministers head key departments. The African I am proud to hear that a continent is leading the way former UN official, Sahle-Work in showcasing that women's Zewde, has become the first engagement and leadership are crucial to female President of Ethiopia. lasting peace. - UN Secretary-General, António Guterres Congratulations, Madam President! Women do make a difference. We are proud of you! - UN General Assembly President, María Fernanda Espinosa Garces Congratulations to President Sahlework of Ethiopia on her new appointment.