Ethiopia pledges to work closely with the Kingdom in manpower sector

Ethiopian President Girma Wolde-Giorgis. (AN photo)

By GHAZANFAR A. KHAN | ARAB NEWS

Published: Aug 2, 2011 00:46 Updated: Aug 2, 2011 01:09

RIYADH: Ethiopia has pledged to work closely with Saudi Arabia to boost bilateral ties, especially in the manpower and agriculture sectors.

Ethiopian President Girma Wolde-Giorgis, who was released from a Riyadh hospital on Sunday after a routine medical check-up, made the vow to forge closer ties and to support the Kingdom’s ambitious food security initiative in an exclusive interview with Arab News in the capital Sunday night.

Girma, while providing an overview of progressively growing relations between Riyadh and Addis Ababa, pointed out that about 10,000 maids out of the 30,000 female workers recruited so far from the second most populous African country have arrived in the Kingdom.

He described Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia as friends and partners currently working together in several areas. Girma, 87, was admitted to the Riyadh-based Armed Forces Hospital for medical examinations last week.

No details were given about his health condition at the time. Some observers said that his health problem is related with his age while others said that he had acute diabetes and a heart attack. Girma, however, denied the reports.

"I have a severe leg infection, I am neither diabetic nor hypertensive." He thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for the hospitality and support given to him.

Referring to bilateral relations, President Girma said the Kingdom and Ethiopia have been trustworthy friends for hundreds of years. He called for increasing inter-governmental exchanges, trade and economic cooperation. He also welcomed the move by the Kingdom to choose Ethiopia for agricultural investment within the framework of King Abdullah's initiative on agriculture investment abroad for food security.

On cooperation in the manpower sector, Girma said the shortfall of workers in the Kingdom would be compensated by Addis Ababa. About 30,000 Ethiopian maids will be deployed to Saudi Arabia, said the president, adding that the Saudi side has agreed to pay a minimum monthly salary of SR1,000 to them.

This will come as a big relief for Saudi families who were desperately seeking maids from other countries after recruitment from Indonesia and the Philippines was stopped earlier this month.

In Ramadan, maids are in great demand with black market traders making huge profits. Girma promised to facilitate the deployment of Ethiopian workers within the framework of the country’s new labor laws.

He said a substantial investment in agricultural development was key to improving the quality of life across Africa. Saudi Star Agricultural Development’s investment in Ethiopian rice farming was likely to have multiple benefits for both Ethiopian rice production and Saudi rice consumption, he noted. Saudi Star is owned by billionaire Sheikh Mohammed Al-Amoudi, who has announced plans to invest $2.5 billion by 2020 in Ethiopia.

The company, based in Addis Ababa, has already leased 10,000 hectares in Ethiopia’s western Gambella region for 60 years at a cost of $9.42 per hectare annually. It plans to rent an additional 290,000 hectares from the Ethiopian government soon. The project forms part of the Horn of Africa nation’s plan to lease 3 million hectares, an area about the size of Belgium, to private investors over the next 2.5 years, according to a report published recently.

Saudi investment in farms will expand rice-producing areas and improve techniques, which in turn will also improve Ethiopia's food security and boost the local economy. Saudis are allowed 100 percent investment in projects in Ethiopia. The country has plenty of alluvial land, water and abundant labor, while Saudis have capital and technology to invest in the country. This is in addition to the close geographical proximity between the two nations.

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GRAGN AHMED

Aug 2, 2011 05:26

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PLEASE RELEASE MY COMMENTS EDITOR. ETHIOPIA AND ISLAM AND SAUDI ARABIYA ARE ONE WHEN ONE REMEMBER FIRST HIJRA. WE ETHIOPIAN MUSLIMS ARE THE DESCENDANTS OF THE IMPACT OF FIRST HIJRA.
We have received our Sahaba. Our King who was christian converted to Islam, King Ashama or Negashi. The new generation Saudis may not know history but our people were friendly al though some christians invaded the holy city of mecca but then were driven out by the mercy of Allah. Although there were good times, now the city of Axum where the first muhajerin came in and where the King Nagashi or Ashama resided is a city of misery and shame for muslims. Now those moderate christians are not there and is taken up by extremists who refuse to recognize a mosque in the city and also refuse a piece of land to bury their loved ones. Axum is no match for Mecca. Axum is now only for orthodox xhristians. But there is no Bible that says there should be only church. If that was the case I would be less inclinded to write this piece. But even the Bible itself is as we know the word of God and even if it were no single reference is to be found indicating the sanctity of Axum.
As we know many Arab couuntries allow christians to build churchs even in cairo another city where most Arab muslims live. But through the last 1500 years Muslims of Ethiopia have beeen ingored or persecuted as traitors and supporters of Arabs just to prolong their power. For example, Ethiopia is considered as land of christianity or island of christianity surrounded by Muslims of Somalia and Djobouti and Sudan. Because of this they seek alliance from christian West. in the year 1523 they saught christian Portugese for help, then British and France. On the Muslim side only Turkey played much role with Egypt coming second. We know Saudi is trying its best to come to terms with coptic Ethiopians who are now only 30 per cent but claim they are 60 percent which is a lie. I need the Saudi gov't to push for a two track solution. First is to keep unity of Ethiopia although Eritrea is not now a part of it. That will mean to correct the behavior of Ethiopian copts to allow unrestricted movement of Muslims. power sharing upto prime Minister and tangible results.
These days Muslim students are being hijacked from University campus and sent to horrible jails the equivalent of Abu Gharib with no reason. Individauls must be given freedom to worship in campus like their christian counter parts. Quraan is getting abused and used for toilet. Openly Priests insult our Prophet (PBUH). While this is the case we don't know why Saudi keeps silent. Al though we know christian Kings lately promise a lot they deliver less. They site christians have no freedom in Arab world. But who are Ethiopian Muslims to talk about our own right by hijacking us with the issue of another country. We muslims are not immigrants. We are converts of chrisitan forefathers. We are not saying some of our Arab brothers did not also become part of our history. So what can Saudi do? Keep silent as if it is not her problem.
If Ethiopian copts think interms of Arab countries it will be dehumanizing Ethiopian muslims. So Daudis can say we are not going to be blamed for what christian Ethiopians are doing for Muslim Ethiopians. If that is the idea Saudi should put some sanctions. Second is to help Muslim area s become independent of coptic oppression. Every Saudi needs to know that the more coptic christians get power the more trouble it will be for national security of Saudi. So this is an urgent matter. Some high profile Saudis are in Ethiopia and they can influence the present regime. King Faisal asked to solve Ethiopian muslims problem but the then King Hailes Selassie asked if we allow you to build mosque in Ethiopia we need church in Mecca? Very funny. But time has changed and Muslims are now majority!!! Please forward this letter to the King Ramadan Mubarek

DADU

Aug 2, 2011 12:52

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Ethiopia is entering a dangerous territory of supplying maids to Saudi market where the Filipinos and Indonesians are putting a strict rule to protect their work force and negotiating a deal that will give the workers some right, Ethiopia is trying to fill the gap by supplying them by thousands with out any plan to protect their work force from abuse.

NOUR

Aug 2, 2011 12:57

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Orthodox Christianity and Islam, the two main religions in Ethiopia, have coexisted since Mohammed,s time. The first believers in Islam were converted while the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was alive and the first mosque was built in the eighth century. However, culturally the Orthodox church has dominated the political, social, and cultural life in the highlands, as it has been official religion of the imperial court and hence also of the feudal establishment until Haile Selassie was deposed in 1974. Since the religion and state have been separated, Ethiopia has long enjoyed the most intimate relations with Islam. Some of the earliest disciples of the Prophet, when persecuted in Arabia, found refuge at Axum, which was then ruled by King Armah. When one of the refugees, Umm Habibah, was to marry Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Armah sent her a golden dowry. The prophet later prayed for the Axumite Kings soul and instructed his followers to leave the Abyssinians in peace, thus exempting them from a holy war. Many words in Ge ez, the classical language of the Ethiopians, are to be found in the Holy Qur'an. The first muezzin calling the faithful to prayer in the prophet's time was an Ethiopian named Bilal, as his compatriots recall with pride to this day. Ethiopia has an extensive and very active Muslim population , who have played an important role in Ethiopia life, particularly in the field of commerce, for over a millennium. The majority of Muslims inhabit the eastern, southern and western lowlands, but there are also many followers of Islam in Addis Ababa and in all Ethiopian towns -- even in the so-called Christian highlands. Mosques, however, were for the most part constructed only with in the last century or so; they are now found throughout the length and breadth of the country. Ethiopia's earliest and most holy Muslim center, according to tradition, is at Nagash, north of Wukro in Tigray, where there is a fine mosque of considerable antiquity. Perhaps the most important Islamic center since medieval times, however, has been the famous walled city of Harar. One of the principal holy cities of Islam, it has long been renowned for its religious learning, as well as for its mosques, many Muslim shrines, and tombs of several holy Muslim leaders of the past. So this time the federal government of ethiopia creates a favourable condition for every of its citizens to learn & propagate his /her own religion freely , to learn more & use this condition for our purpose is the main thing expected from us , the muslims. Only if we fail to do this christian dominance will continue. spreading haters between the two religions will not be a solution & will not be considered as a big issue between the muslims & christian ethiopians because the bond of tolerance between them is constructed for over 1400 years & unbreakable by any poisonous politics of fundamentalists like gragn ahmed.... Ramadan Kerim

KP

Aug 2, 2011 13:04

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Go get'em cowboy

MIGUEL

Aug 2, 2011 13:08

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CIA World Factbook on Ethiopia

(https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/et.html)

Religions:

Orthodox 43.5%, Muslim 33.9%, Protestant 18.6%, traditional 2.6%, Catholic 0.7%, other 0.7% (2007 Census)

Please note the source cited is a 2007 census.

MELES A.

Aug 3, 2011 20:13

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I really share Nour's point.Muslims and christians have lived in harmony for centuries.so the openion by Gragn doesnot hold water.My brother should unerstand that Ethiopia is a soveriegn state.

TAND

Aug 3, 2011 20:29

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Modern day slavery, no doubt.

This is to be expected from an illegitimate government loathed and despised by all Ethiopians.

Sending their own citizens to slavery to a country known for its inhuman and barbaric treatment of maids? This act not only deplorable, but it is also Criminal.

Saudi Arabia has always been a bawl of dust until they found oil. Now intoxicated with oil money, they want to be served by the daughters of the ancient and proud Ethiopians, who once lord it over the Arabian peninsula. What a shame, what a stain!!!

To "Gragn Ahmed":

Why pick such a provocative name? Obviously you must have relished the massacre of millions of Christians (fellow citizens) by that crazed Mullah. So is that what you have in store for us if you and fellow Moslems gain power in Ethiopia? Remember, it is the christian Ethiopians who are your kins, not the slave driving Arabs. Think like an Ethiopian not like some deranged religious fanatic.

The name is not "Negashi", that is ignorant writer's distortion of the old Geez word "Negassi". And for your information Negassi was not a King. And, Negassi is a tittle, not a name, and the bearer of that tittle is not a King, but a chief of the Red sea costal nomads and their lands, under the King of Axum.

Egypt was a christian country until Arabs invaded and forcefully converted the people to Islam at sword's point (just as they did your ancestors). To this day, 10% of Egypt is christian.

Ethiopian christians are not copts. Copts are Egyptians. They are Helenized Egyptians(that is the result of Greek invasion of Egypt). Ethiopian Christians are Orthodox Tewahido, like the Egyptian Christians.

Why is the idea of Ethiopians building churches in Mecca so "funny"? Your brainwashed mentality doesn't let you think reasonably. Of course, I am not against moslems building Mosques in Axum.

Regarding your complaint that Moslems in Ethiopia are not equally represented in the government, I agree with you. It is a left over of the Ancient Christian Kingdom tradition, where moslems were treated either traders (a derogatory term) or nomads(also derogatory) and a non-citizens.

Finally, why whine to Saudis? Who did you think the Saudis are? How Pathetic.

ALI KHAN

Aug 4, 2011 01:50

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Why u guy have headac or sore its depend on arabs who they manage his internal or out skart need either they love christain or islam or orthodox pls let them its not ur country or chairperson to decide o.k
all arabs or GCC or OIC are belongs to white tob cover by chiritain famiily
who are who only god know by face or by cloth u can not dicide ur self they are belongs to ?
IF they are pure muslim never ever bow his head infront of US or UK or Israel .
but need summer holyday injoy there so did they say dedagainst of them.

GRAGN AHMED

Aug 4, 2011 20:53

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HISTORY OF ETHIOPIA IS BIASED SO I am not going to detail what Gragn Ahmed was.

I will also say that the whole attitude is that Muslims were not even second citizens. You ask me if I care about 'saudis. but in the line you state that Egyptians are close to your copts what message are you sending to
Ethiopian muslims? Are you not suggesting friendship? Have not christian Ethiopians gotten their Pope from Egypt and yet Ethiopian christians call us Arabs? Which to me is fine but you guys always are taking double sides when it comes to Muslims. NO person denies his birth place but as Muslim and as a reference to mosque building in Axum related to Saudi's lack of church, it is no brainer I seek the understanding of Saudi. The more strong coptic Ethiopia is the more existential threat to Muslim Ethiopians as we have seen it in history.

So, given the suggestion of Prime Minister Meles to UK based newspaper that " Ethiopia is an island of christianity", it is hard for me to think that christian Ethiopian will ever treat Muslims in equality. Hence, he Meles seeks western sympathy at the expense of muslim Ethiopians degradation .

We are tired of this oppression it must end. We can not beg our rights. Allah has created me free.