29 March 2017
Addis Ababa, 29 March 2017 – The President of the General Assembly, H.E. Mr Peter Thomson, met today in Addis Ababa with the President of Federal Republic of Ethiopia, H.E. Mr. Mulatu Teshome. On behalf of the United Nations, President Thomson expressed gratefulness for Ethiopia’s long-standing commitments to the work of United Nations, including as one of the largest troop contributors to UN peacekeeping. He congratulated the Government of Ethiopia for the sustained economic growth achieved over the past decade and the nation’s strong commitment to sustaining peace and sustainable development.
President Thomson also met today with H.E. Mr. Admasu Nebete, Ethiopia’s State Minister for Economic Cooperation, and stressed the importance the United Nations is placing this year on momentum for the Sustainable Development Goals. He said he was greatly encouraged by Ethiopia’s leadership of sustainable industrialization (SDG9). Minister Nebete said that the Government of Ethiopia’s Growth and Transformation Plan II captures synergy with the Sustainable Development Goals and that sustainable industrialization was at the heart of his country’s efforts to ensure green growth and decent jobs.
A field visit to the Bole Lemi Industrial Park was then undertaken, where President Thomson engaged with entrepreneurs and workers on the importance of innovation, industrialization and infrastructure for poverty eradication, increased employment, and the positive impact these have on the achievement of other SDGs.
After the visit President Thomson said: “I was very impressed by the visit to the Bole Lemi Industrial Park, particularly in seeing over 5000 young Ethiopians employed in decent jobs. Ethiopia is demonstrating SDG9 at work, thereby serving as an excellent example to other developing countries.”
The President also met today with Mr. Haile Menkerios, Special Representative and Head of UN Office to the African Union, with whom he discussed the cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union, including on issues related to peace and security.