Pinas, Ethiopia nagkasundo na magtulungan sa kalakalan, teknolohiya, Manila-Addis Ababa Air Linkage

“AFRICA positioning itself as an emerging major economy has brought global excitement, and the Philippines could seize the opportunity by forging stronger partnership with Ethiopia, one of the region’s major economies.”

Ito ang sinabi ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. matapos na mainit na tinanggap si Ethiopian Ambassador Dessie Dalkie Dukamo sa Palasyo ng Malakanyang.

“I think the whole world is very excited about — how most of Africa is positioned in terms of — now coming and emerging… as major economy, as they already are,” aniya pa rin.

Ani Pangulong Marcos, ang Pilipinas at Ethiopia ay maaaring mag-explore ng maraming bagay pagdating sa larangan ng kalakalan, transfer of technology at iba pang  exchanges o pagpapalitan.

Sinabi pa nito na kinilala ng Pilipinas ang agrikultura bilang priority sector dahil sa pangangailangan na suportahan ang mga kailangan ng mga mamamayang Filipino at panatilihing maayos ang ekonomiya kabilang na ang serbisyo at manufacturing sectors, bilang batayan ng developmet o pag-unlad ng bansa.

Para naman kay Dukamo, kinokonsidera ng Ethiopia ang development trajectory ng Pilipinas bilang  “something to look at.”

“We know how the Philippines is growing from traditional agriculture to services and manufacturing industry, especially in the area of technical and vocational training. The way how the Philippines makes its people…skilled and dedicated and productive,” anito sabay papuri sa mga manggagawang Filipino para sa kanilang dedikasyon, hard work at disiplina.

“We know well the Philippines through its workers. We are so grateful and we can share a lot in the area of trade and industry. From the fastest growing economy, we can share a lot. Ethiopia is also now growing larger, step by step (becoming) a large country and the largest economy in East Africa with huge potential in trade and investment,” ayon kay Dukamo.

“Philippine businessmen can invest in Ethiopia’s industrial area, particularly with their expertise in manufacturing especially electronics, which they could introduce to Ethiopia,” ang winika ni Dukamo sabay sabing maliban sa pagiging malaking bansa sa Africa, ang kanyang bansa ay isa ring “gateway” sa nasabing rehiyon.

“It’s geographically located bridging the Middle East and the rest of Africa and also Western countries. So, if Filipino businessmen come and invest in Ethiopia, it’s possible to take advantage of Africa market,” ayon kay Dukamo.

Binanggit din nito ang pangangailangan  na  itatag ang  air linkages sa pagitan ng  Ethiopia at Pilipinas para palakasin ang  bilateral cooperation sa iba’t ibang larangan na maaaring lumawig ‘regionally’ sa  Africa.

“Let’s work on that. Let that be the first job that we give ourselves. We make that connection easier. I think it’s never a bad thing to start with people-to-people relations that are always so important,” ang naging tugon ni Pangulong Marcos.

“Sometimes I say that foreign diplomacy is best conducted by ordinary people rather than diplomats. Which I’m sure you’re happy about. Because we are proud of our citizens They are all good ambassadors for our country. Any good contact for us is necessarily a good thing,” aniya pa rin.  (Daris Jose)