Welcome message from Ambassador
Dia dhaoibh go léir. Fáilte go Ambasáid no hEireann.
I am delighted to welcome you to the website of the Embassy of Ireland in Ethiopia. It is an honour for me to represent Ireland in Ethiopia. Since the opening of our Embassy here in 1994 Ireland has built an enduring partnership and a reputation as a reliable and valued partner of Ethiopia. Our bilateral relations have grown based on a strong foundation of development cooperation, political engagement and economic relations advancing our shared values and interests.
Throughout our 25 years of cooperation, Ethiopia has grown to be Ireland’s largest bilateral aid programme. Our development cooperation is built on the values of partnership and openness and a shared commitment to ending poverty and reducing inequality. We work closely with the Government, UN and NGOs on gender equality, governance and human rights, peace and security, and on addressing and reducing humanitarian need. We have a particular priority focus on advancing the rights of women and girls, recognising that they are often left behind in the development process.
Our political engagement, bilaterally and as a member of the European Union, promotes our shared values and supports national and regional peace and security. The next five years will see a deepening of our political engagement in Ethiopia and the region.
There is increasing interest in the potential to grow business and trade between our two countries. Ethiopia is one of Africa's fastest growing economies. Its young vibrant population is creating economic opportunities for both countries. The Embassy supports Irish businesses operating in Ethiopia mainly in agriculture and digital finance, and assists new businesses to navigate the market for the first time.
Historically, there have been enduring people-to-people links between Ireland and Ethiopia. There are a number of Irish NGOs present here and strong partnerships have developed between a number of Irish and Ethiopian universities. Over 100 Ethiopians have studied on scholarships in Ireland, returning to play important roles here.
The Embassy represents Ireland in the region through its accreditations to South Sudan and Djibouti, and to the African Union, the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, representing the important position and role of Addis Ababa as the political capital of a more interconnected Africa. I am committed to promoting strong relations and fostering mutual understanding between Ireland and these countries and supporting the work of African Union as the principal intergovernmental organisation on the continent focused on conflict prevention and resolution, peacekeeping and governance. This regional engagement provides the Embassy with a unique platform to work together to advance our shared values and interests in promoting peace and security, regional integration, economic growth and sustainable development. I look forward to enhanced collaboration on regional issues particularly as Ireland takes up a non-permanent seat on the Security Council for the two years 2021 and 2022.
For those planning on visiting Ethiopia we recommend registering your details with the Embassy and checking our Travel Advice Section before you travel. We welcome feedback on our website and on the services we provide – please Contact Us with any comments or queries and please stay in touch via our Facebook and Twitter pages.
With every best wish.
Nicola Brennan, Ambassador, Embassy of Ireland