GERMANY: Ethiopian president Girma Woldegiorgise continues his Germany visit and meets with Chancellor Angela Merkel to discuss bilateral issues

Record ID: 452197

  • Title: GERMANY: Ethiopian president Girma Woldegiorgise continues his Germany visit and meets with Chancellor Angela Merkel to discuss bilateral issues
  • Date: 17th March 2008
  • Summary: (AD2) BERLIN, GERMANY (MARCH 19, 2008) (REUTERS) MOTORCADE CARRYING ETHIOPIAN PRESIDENT GIRMA WOLDEGIORGISE DRIVING PAST GOVERNMENT BUILDING ON ITS WAY TO CHANCELLOR'S OFFICE GERMAN AND ETHIOPIAN FLAGS FLYING PHOTOGRAPHERS TAKING PICTURES AS MOTORCADE ARRIVES HONOUR GUARD STANDING TO ATTENTION ONLOOKERS WATCHING THROUGH FENCE WOLDEGIORGISE BEING HANDED A CANE, WOLDEGIORGISE BEING GREETED BY GERMAN CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL, THE TWO SHAKING HANDS AND POSING BRIEFLY FOR CAMERAS BEFORE ENTERING BUILDING MERKEL AND WOLDEGIORGISE SEEN THROUGH WINDOW GERMAN, ETHIOPIAN AND EUROPEAN UNION FLAGS FLYING OUTSIDE CHANCELLOR'S OFFICE, BUNDESTAG (PARLIAMENT) IN BACKGROUND
  • Embargoed: 1st April 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVACD82YS2H9G1N9ERMUQICIIMZ
  • Story Text: German Chancellor Angela Merkel has received the president of Ethiopia, Girma Woldegiorgise for talks in Berlin on Wednesday (March 19) where the two leaders were expected to discuss bilateral issues.
    Germany and Ethiopia have maintained diplomatic relations for more than 100 years.
    On Tuesday, Girma Woldegiorgise met with business leaders and members of Germany's Ethiopian community.
    Although Ethiopia is one of the world's poorest countries, it has enjoyed a 25 percent annual growth in its mainly agricultural exports over the past four years while imports rose by 15-17 percent a year during 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 for Africa's biggest coffee-grower -- and birthplace of the bean -- followed by sesame seeds and flowers.
    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 (WTO).
    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.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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