Italy-Ethiopia: Pistelli, cooperation funds doubled

ROME, Italy, May 31, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- “In times of crisis and cutbacks we have been able to double aid to Ethiopia from the €48 million of 2009-2011 to €98.9 million for 2013-2015. An important contribution aimed at developing the area, with a special focus on mother/child healthcare, which is also an acknowledgement of Ethiopia's role as our partner in regional stabilisation”. The announcement came from Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Lapo Pistelli as he signed a new 3-year framework agreement between Italy and Ethiopia in Addis Ababa.

Italy in the forefront on integrated development

“I am very satisfied”, Pitelli stated after the signing with Minister for Finance and Economic Development Ato Ahmed Shide, “because at just a few weeks from the installment of the new government we have already formalised major achievement such as this”, which place Italy in the forefront in the integrated development model the European Union intends to pursue within the context of the “new millennium goals” to be introduced at the next UN General Assembly meeting.

Water, education, healthcare

“Specifically speaking”, the Deputy Minister underscored, “today's agreement is the fruit of Italy's active role in promoting the Union's joint cooperation strategy with Ethiopia. The Italian Cooperation will concentrate in a series of priority projects focused on concrete considerations in the sectors of agriculture and sustainable rural development, through the supply of targeted services: water, education and healthcare.