India, Ethiopia decide to enhance economic engagements

Decision to this effect was taken at a meeting between Food minister K V Thomas and Ethiopian Agriculture Minister Tafera Derbew here. India's investment in Ethiopia, a landlocked country located in the Horn of Africa, at present stands at USD 4.4 billion which we wish to increase "substantially" by opening new ventures particularly in the farm sector, Thomas told reporters after the meeting.

Ethiopia is a major destination of Indian foreign investment in Africa, he said adding the meet explored possibility of opening new ventures in each other's country. The minister said efforts would be made to set up a single window system by which Indian farmers and agri companies could have easy access into the African country.

Thomas said the Ethiopian delegation was impressed with the "efficient" running of Public Distribution System (PDS) in India and sought details of its operation for adopting the model back home.

Likewise, they also evinced interest in learning about irrigation system and watershed programmes run successfully in India, the minister added. Thomas said students from the African country would be invited in India for learning especially in the field of farm sector.

Ethiopia is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 85.2 million people, and the 10th largest by area. It's capital is Addis Ababa.