By: Yusuf M Hasan
HARGEISA (Somalilandsun) – A high ranking Ethiopian Government delegation is on an official tour of Somaliland.
The 12 member Government Delegation which arrived on Wednesday as reported by slnnews has so far undertaken a hectic schedule that encompasses an inspection of Port and Fuel storage facilities as well as meetings with senior Somaliland government officials led by President Ahmed Mahmud Silanyo
Also to have the Ethiopian delegation on site was the Wajale Border town between the two neighbouring countries where goods transit to Ethiopia from the Somaliland port of Berbera.
Led by Ethiopia’s Federal Government minister in charge of Finance and Economic Development H.E Ato Sufian Ahmed the delegation from Addis Ababa includes
H.E Ato Workneh Gebeyehu, Minister, Ministry of Transport
H.E. Ahmed Shide, State Minister, MoFED
H.E. Ato Ahmed Tussa, Director, Maritime and logistics services
Dr. Getachew Betru, Director General, National Railway Corporation
Amb. Solomon Abebe, Director General, African Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ato Kokeb Misrak, Director, Bilateral Cooperation, MoFED
Ato Wassihum Abate, Director, Legal Service, MoFED
Ato Bekele Negussie, Deputy Director General Ethiopian Road Authority
Ato Brigadier General Berhe Tesfaye, Ethiopian Ambassador to the RSL and two Members from the Ethiopia Embassy in Hargeisa
During the inspection tour of facilities in Berbera of utmost importance to Ethiopia owing to the large share of imports to their country that pass through the port of Berbera where the delegation from Addis Ababa was given a detailed tour by officials from the Sahil regional administration , Berbera municipality, Port Authority and Fuel depot.
Of much interest to the Ethiopians was the new wing at the port just finished and commissioned thence to exclusively serve Ethiopian imports.
The Somgas facilities at the port city also received an intense scrutiny from the visiting delegation as a prelude to the Federal Government in Addis Ababa jumpstarting its Gas exports that shall have the multimillion locally owned Somgas as storage before loading and shipping out.
Upon completion of the hectic schedule the Ethiopian delegation were hosted at the Somaliland presidency for a Dinner by President Ahmed Mahmud Silanyo that culminated with bi-lateral discussions.
At the presidency meeting that saw the visiting Ethiopians express satisfaction with the status of facilities dear to their country’s imports the two teams were in accord as per the imperatives of not only sustaining the existing multi-pronged relations but enhancing them as well
Among Somaliland officials at the meeting chaired by President Silanyo were the Somaliland ministers of Foreign affairs, Commerce, Finance, Presidency, Public works and Aviation.
The Ethiopian Delegation is yet to complete its duties in the country.
