The federal government is working on a comprehensive strategy for Africa
“Austria and Ethiopia have a long-standing partnership. Together with the Prime Minister, we want to make this stronger again,” said Chancellor Karl Nehammer on the occasion of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s visit to Vienna in Monday. afternoon. “We talked intensively about ways to strengthen our bilateral cooperation in the economic and agricultural sectors, in mining, but also in tourism”, reported Nehammer after the working discussion at the Federal Chancellery.
The strategy for Africa aims to strengthen cooperation on equal terms
Ethiopia has been a priority country for Austrian development cooperation for more than 30 years and, with economic growth of 6%, is one of the highest in Africa. According to the Chancellor, this represents a potential that has not yet been fully explored in economic cooperation. “Austria and Ethiopia also share a strong commitment in the multilateral sector, particularly in United Nations peacekeeping missions and as host states of important international and regional organizations.” The federal government is currently working on a “comprehensive strategy for Africa with the aim of strengthening partnerships with African countries on an equal footing,” Nehammer said, referring to his visits to Angola, Ghana, Egypt and Morocco in recent months “to get a better picture of cooperation opportunities on the ground.”
Common political and economic interests
“Together with our African partners, we can pursue our political, security and economic interests and contribute to stability, sustainable economic and social development and resilience on both continents. Austrian companies have successfully negotiated with African countries decades ago”, said the Chancellor. This is particularly true in important industrial areas such as infrastructure, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture and healthcare. “Given its central role in the Horn of Africa, Ethiopia is one of the key countries,” concluded Nehammer.
Photos from this event are available free of charge through the Federal Chancellery’s photographic service.