Minister Skinnari to participate in President Niinistö’s visit to Ethiopia

Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari will participate in the official visit of President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö to Ethiopia on 15 and 16 October 2019.

As a member of President Niinistö’s delegation, Minister Skinnari will meet the President of Ethiopia, Sahle-Work Zewde, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, and Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat.

Additionally, Minister Skinnari will have a meeting with Ethiopia’s Minister of Finance Ahmed Shide. The Ministers will discuss the long-term and effective development cooperation between Finland and Ethiopia and efforts to strengthen their countries’ commercial relations. Minister Skinnari will also speak at an event focusing on technology and higher education.

The relations between Finland and Ethiopia are based on the good results achieved in development cooperation in the education, water and agriculture sectors. Ethiopia is Finland’s longest-standing development cooperation partner in Africa. The countries are seeking ways to diversify their relations by strengthening the political and commercial contacts. Ethiopia is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. The country has implemented significant political and economic reforms and brought stability to the troubled Horn of Africa. Ethiopia continues to play an important role in the region.