According to the NOVA Agency, Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, visiting yesterday in Qatar, thanked the government of Qatar for the support given to the project of building the Dam of Rebirth (Gerd) and assured that Addis Ababa will continue to guarantee support to the Ethiopian communities living in Qatar. Speaking to the press on the eve of his meeting with the emir Tamim bin Hamad at Thani, scheduled for today, Desalegn also asked the qatari government to support the Ethiopian opening project in Qatar. Desalegn's visit follows that made by the Emir at Thani in Ethiopia last April, during which the two parties agreed on the need to strengthen bilateral cooperation in all sectors, especially the economic one.
At that time, Desalegn said that Addis Ababa is enthusiastic about the presence of the companies of Qatar in the African country and their contribution to the rapid development of Ethiopia. For his part, the Emir at the Thani had reiterated the appreciation of Qatar for the role played by Ethiopia in maintaining peace and stability in the Horn of Africa, reaffirming the availability of Qatar to cooperate with Ethiopia in the fight against terrorism in the region. Relations between the two countries have seen a qualitative leap with the visit to Addis Ababa of Foreign Minister Qatariot Mohamed bin Abdulrahman to Thani in December 2016, culminating with the signing of 11 cooperation agreements in various economic sectors including tourism, investments and infrastructure.