PM Abiy, Netanyahu to meet at UN General Assembly

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are scheduled to meet on the sidelines of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 73) that will be held from September 18 to October 5 in New York.
Raphael Morav, Ambassador of Israel to Ethiopia, told Capital that the two leaders will discuss bilateral issues.
During his visit to Capital’s office, the ambassador said that his government is also working to invite the PM to Israel in the coming few months.
The ambassador said he appreciated the recent actions of the PM especially the attempt to implement democracy and open up more space to opposition parties. In terms of economic cooperation he noted that the two countries are collaborating in various projects such as the effective implementation of the first of its kind solar power pump project in Bahir Dar.
Ambassador Morav said that during his meeting with Abiy, the PM stressed that his government is keen in getting expertise in agro-technology from Israel. “In our discussions Abiy told me that his government is very interested in working with the Israeli government to expand irrigation based agricultural activity from the current five percent of the total agricultural production,” Ambassador Morav said.
He also stated that the Israel Agency for International Development Cooperation (MASHAV) has assisted in developing agribusinesses, sharing its expertise. For instance avocado production is one such success story that MASHAV supported in Ethiopia.  In terms of strengthening the economic ties between the two countries, the Ambassador was positive that Israeli investment would be expanding. Israeli contractors and equipment suppliers are already engaged in developmental projects in Ethiopia, according to Ambassador Morav, who noted the drip irrigation at Wolqite Sugar Factory and the construction of the toll road at Mojo-Hawassa as some of the developmental projects that Israeli companies are participating in.