Spain to provide seven million Euros to Ethiopia

Addis Ababa, January 30, 2007 (Addis Ababa)

The government of Spain would provide a development assistance amounting seven million Euros to Ethiopia, senior Spanish government officials said.

State Minister for International Cooperation Ms. Leire Pajin and State Minister for Political Affairs of Spain Bernardino Leon Gross said the Spanish government has decided to open a new office in Ethiopia with in a month to facilitate the development assistance.

The officials made the statement here on Tuesday while holding talks with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi at the United Nations Conference Center.

Ethiopia and Spain have signed a development and cultural cooperation agreement on the same day.
The officials said Ethiopia is one of the four countries that are given special attention by the Kingdom of Spain.

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi on his part said the existing cooperation between Ethiopia and Spain was encouraging.

Meles called on the Spanish government to provide necessary assistance to Spanish investors with a view to enabling them engage in various investment sectors in Ethiopia to strengthen the ties between the two countries.

The officials said the Spanish government would do its level best to enable Spanish investors invest in Ethiopia.

Two separate Spanish delegations would come to Ethiopia in the near future to conduct a study on investment situations and other sectors in Ethiopia.
The officials also expressed Spain’s readiness to work jointly in economic and other sectors with Ethiopia.

The officials on the occasion invited Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to visit the Kingdom of Spain.