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Toronto – Ethiopian Prime Minister on Friday headed to Malaysia leading a delegation after the conclusion of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia.
The country’s leader, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, accorded him official reception on Saturday at the Perdana Putra Building, as reported by MailMalay.
The two leaders had a meeting in Seri Perdana following the official reception ceremony. Discussions on Issues of mutual interest on regional and international affairs as well as strengthening their bilateral relations were among agenda items.
There were discussions on trade and investment including in the areas of agriculture, commodities, halal industry, health, tourism education and sustainable development.
The two countries have reached an agreement to strengthen their bilateral relations. Thanking the Malaysian people and government, Abiy Ahmed wrote on his social media page, “We have agreed to deepen our collaboration across several key areas, including in trade and investment, with particular focus on agriculture, mining, manufacturing, and renewable energy.”
The Ethiopian PM also urged businesses in Malaysia “seize vast investment opportunities in Ethiopia’s rapidly expanding economy.” However, there have been recent reports of investors leaving Ethiopia due to the security situation and bad governance.
In August 2023, his government started what he called a “military operation” in the Amhara region of Ethiopia – which is in fact a full fledged war involving the mechanized unit of the defense force and the air force. Initially, it was stated that the operation was for a few weeks and a six month state of emergency was declared. The mission was “to disarm fano” forces in the region. Nearly over a year and half now, the war is still raging.
In July this year, Abiy Ahmed’s government introduced a major macro-economic reform packaged under “homegrown economic growth plan.” Ethiopian Birr, the currency, was further devalued and a market-based exchange rate was introduced.
According to sources, Ethiopia was Malaysia’s 26th largest trading partner in Africa in 2023.
The volume of trade between the two countries was Malaysian Ringgits 446.8 million (over US$ 103 million). Ethiopia’s export to Malaysia is said to have increased by 24.6 percent compared to the year before.
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I always admire Malaysia since the days of Tunku Abdul Rahman. That country had bloody ethnic conflicts just like our old country but somehow found ways to address the issues amicably and successfully avoided disintegration. The peaceful bye bye of Singapore(there was no war fought for that) was so wise that it still remains exemplary to the rest of the world. It successfully and decisively defeated demonic commies both militarily and ideologically at the time when commies were riding high in that part of the world. Both Thailand and Malaysia were able to methodically and successfully thwart the curse of communism in the 1950’s, 1960’s and 70’s. That fat ass Mao was exploiting the ethnicity card to turn Malaysia into another North Korea or North Vietnam. I still remember how Tunku was so eloquent in exposing the fallacies of Marxism/Leninism/Maoism. He was a great debater who knew how to hit commies where it really hurts.
Such leader who can effectively discredit communism since it took root in the 1960’s has been missing from our old country. The late Emperor was in his advanced age when the ideology came aboard. Mengistu who followed became an 11th hour convert to communism. Those who came after him were the original deacons of communism with sharp tongues. The current regime that replaced them is something you wouldn’t know what to make of it. Is it a leadership of holy dancers or confused philosophers? You figure it out. But at this stage of high mileage life, there is one aching reality I vividly see. There has never been such animosity between once harmonious ethnic groups in that country.
There are two leaders of their countries whose speech still remain fresh in my memory. Tunku taking apart communism and Bourguiba of Tunisia demolishing religious extremism. But this does not mean both those leaders did not have shortcomings but the way they were able to expose and discredit both types of extremism is still admirable to me. May be countries like Ethiopia with multiethnic societies can learn a thing or two valuable lessons from Malaysia.