GERMANY: Ethiopian President Girma Wolde-Giorgise recieved with military honours on official German visit

Record ID: 439171

  • Title: GERMANY: Ethiopian President Girma Wolde-Giorgise recieved with military honours on official German visit
  • Date: 18th March 2008
  • Summary: MILITARY BAND PLAYS ETHIOPIAN ANTHEM GIRMA AND KOEHLER WATCHING EUROPEAN, ETHIOPIAN AND GERMAN FLAG GIRMA AND KOEHLER GIRMA AND KOEHLER WATCHING AS GERMAN ANTHEM IS BEING PLAYED HONOUR GUARD STANDING AT ATTENTION AS ANTHEM IS BEING PLAYED
  • Embargoed: 2nd April 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA2J8N3SXWJJHWY07YYLOBGIJWQ
  • Story Text: Ethiopian President Girma Wolde-Giorgise is received by German President Horst Koehler with full military honours during official visit to Germany.
    Ethiopian president Girma Wolde-Giorgise was received by german President Horst Koehler with military honours in Berlin on Monday (March 17).
    Girma followed an official invitation by Koehler to discuss bilateral issues that are of concern to both countries.
    Girma will stay in Germany until wednesday (March 19), when he meets with German chancellor Angela Merkel.
    On Tuesday (March 18), Girma is scheduled to meet with business leaders and members of the Ethiopian community.
    Germany and Ethiopia have been maintaining diplomatic relationships for more than 100 years.
    While still one of the poorest countries, Ethiopia has enjoyed 25 percent growth in its mainly agriculture exports annually over the past four years, while imports rose by 15-17 percent a year in the same period.
    Germany was the biggest importer of Ethiopian goods, accounting for 13 percent of last year's total exports. China, India and Pakistan were also buying more Ethiopian products.
    Coffee remains the top export in Africa's biggest coffee-grower -- and birthplace of the bean -- followed by sesame seeds and flowers. Investment has blossomed in the sector with incentives such as tax holidays of between two and seven years, 35-year leases, and relatively low rates for renting land.
    Ethiopia exported 5-6 tons of gold in 2006/07, earning the country $100 million.
    The Horn of Africa country has made some small progress in its bid to join the 150-member World Trade Organisation. So far Ethiopia, which applied for WTO membership in 2003, has submitted details of its trade regime and received more than 200 questions from the United States and Canada. Economists say Ethiopia's main worry is how to overcome WTO's rule that member states open up foreign investment in the financial sector.
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