The first Prime Minister from India to visit Ethiopia ever, Manmohan Singh, won over the hearts of Ethiopian Parliamentarians, calling their country the cradle of humankind, a magnet for foreign investment, and one of the most stable and progressive states driving the engine of African growth.
“Ethiopia has the credentials to shape a new vision for Africa’s prosperity and development … The people of India will stand with you every step of the way,” Singh said attracting thunderous applause from a packed house in his address to the joint session of Parliament of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa.
India’s bilateral trade with Ethiopia is on course to touch $1 billion by 2015, and it is the largest foreign investor besides Ethiopian-born Arabs. More than 450 Indian companies have committed upwards of $4 billion in investment till date, Singh pointed out.
Singh, who received a standing ovation the Parliamentarian as he stepped inside the House, drew 10 rounds of applause while he spoke, as he cited a number of similarities between the two countries. “The tradition in southern India of using fermented flour for making Dosa is similar to the Injara in Ethiopia. The sight of women with heads covered and men wearing turbans is strikingly common in Ethiopian and Indian villages,” he said to loud clapping by the House.
Evidently, the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister meant a lot for Ethiopians and both New Delhi and Addis Ababa seem to have burnt midnight oil to make a success of this trip. So, when Ethiopia’s Ambassador to India Genett Zewide entered the House more than 30 minutes before Prime Minister Singh was scheduled to arrive, Parliamentarians did not shy from giving her a round of big applause.
“Our farming communities and scientists should collaborate to usher in a second Green Revolution. This is the lasting solution to the scourge of hunger that afflicts millions in both our countries,” Singh said. During bilateral talks, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said his country had decided to set aside 3 million hectares of fertile land for foreign investors to invest in agriculture. Karuturi Global, Emami Biotech and Ruchi Group are some of the companies that have invested in the country.
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