ETHIOPIAN PRIME MINISTER’S VISIT TO ISRAEL | THE FIRST …€¦ · ETHIOPIAN PRIME MINISTER’S VISIT TO ISRAEL | THE FIRST-EVER WATER-TECH HACKATHON | ISRAEL-ETHIOPIA SEMINAR ON

Embassy of the State of Israel July – September 2019

ETHIOPIAN PRIME MINISTER’S VISIT TO ISRAEL | THE FIRST-EVER WATER-TECH HACKATHON | ISRAEL-ETHIOPIA

SEMINAR ON AGRICULTURE | UPDATES ON SHP | INNOVATION FOR DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP AND MORE

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On 1-2 September 2019, Israel welcomed the visit of the Ethiopian Prime Minister, to which it attached great an importance as it contributes to the enhancement of the relationship and strengthen the cooperation between the two countries.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu officially welcomed Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed for his official visit to Israel with a guard of honor at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem on 01 September 2019. Prime Minister Abiy met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Reuven Rivlin, and held talks to bolster existing bilateral relations.


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During the visit, H.E. Ambassador Morav and his counterpart signed a Joint Declaration on further enhancing the collaboration between the two countries in various fields, including agriculture, irrigation, science and more. The Prime Minister and his delegation visited the world Holocaust Remembrance Center, Yad Vashem. Diplomats and other staff members of the Embassy of Ethiopia accompanied the delegation to the State of Israel. This important visit took place after Prime Minister Netanyahu’s visit to Africa in July 2016, during which he also visited Ethiopia. The Ethiopian Prime Minister’s visit to Israel is further evidence of PM Netanyahu’s ‘Return to Africa’ policy, and the common desire of both countries to strengthen the bonds of friendship and deepen bilateral cooperation.


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The Embassy of the State of Israel in partnership with IceAddis launched a first of its kind Water-Tech Hackathon in Ethiopia on August 6-8, 2019 at the IceAddis Hall. The Seminar was kicked off with remarks by H.E. Mr. Raphael Morav, Ambassador of the State of Israel, H.E. Jemal Beker Abedula, State Minister at the Ministry of Innovation and Technology, and Mr. Markos Lemma, Co-founder and CEO of Ice Addis. The Israeli expert Sinai Gohar is leading the hackathon, which lasts for three days with a participation of 30 young entrepreneurs and tech enthusiasts,, from the Systematic Inventive Thinking.

The event aims to gather innovative youth from diverse field and facilitate the development of new digital technology based ideas that can solve major problems faced in the water sector. In the bible, Israel was referred to as the "Land of Milk and Honey," but Israel of today is labeled as "Startup Nation", a title that often comes as a surprise due to the country's small size. Israel is also

a relatively young economy – 71 years old and has a culturally diverse population – Melting pot.


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Israel has the largest number of start-ups per capita in the world, including more than 2,000 founded in the past decade. But Israel is also home to more than 350 R&D centers of some of the world’s largest multinational corporations, such as

Microsoft, Apple and Google.

The Israeli economy is remarkably resilient, and despite its youth, the country has made significant strides in terms of global impact.The Embassy here in Addis in collaboration with different governmental and non-governmental actors works in facilitating the process experience sharing to foster development in Ethiopia.


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The Embassy of the State of Israel in partnership with the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) held an interactive Agri-business seminar on the 6th of August, 2019 at the Skylight Hotel. The aim of the event was providing the Ministry of Agriculture with an overview of current investments of Israeli businesses in the agriculture sector. The workshop also provided an insight on new opportunities and shortcomings in the sector regarding investments.

H. E. Raphael Morav, Ambassador of the state of Israel in Ethiopia, H.E. Mr. Oumer Hussien, MOA of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, H.E. Dr. Eyasu Abrha, State Minister at MOA of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Israeli businessmen investing in Ethiopia and representatives of 19 Israeli companies and NGOs’ already active in Ethiopia for years, officials and experts from the Israeli Embassy attended the event.

Ambassador Morav, thanked the minister for his commitment to strengthen the already good collaboration between the two countries in the field of agriculture in his opening remark. The Ambassador also said the seminar was a good opportunity to discuss about Israeli companies’ activity in the field of agriculture in Ethiopia and learn about the polices of the ministry in order to elaborate where the synergies could or should exist. The Ambassador also stated some of the achievements regarding MASHAV- USAID-MOA Ethiopia Joint Technical Cooperation Program in Smallholder Horticulture in his presentation.


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The supply of more than 500,000 seedlings per year of high standards variety of avocado seedlings suitable for export, awareness creation for the huge potential of avocado export from Ethiopian smallholder farmers and private sector, establishments of farmers’ clusters with a modern solar irrigation system as basis for commercial production, exporting avocado from small holder farmers to the European market are some of the achievements.

The Israeli companies presented their activities here in Ethiopia and explored challenges and opportunities in the agriculture sector. H. E Mr. Omuer commented on the questions raised by the companies and promised to create conducive environment for the investors and to strengthen the already good collaboration between the two countries in the field of agriculture.


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The Small Holder Horticulture Program is a joint MASHAV-USAID-MoA Ethiopia program implemented in four main regions of Ethiopia- Amhara, Tigray, SNNPR and Oromia. Phase1 was launched in 2005 as a pilot project in SNNPR at a nursery center in Butajira and Areka. The primary purpose back then was to introduce improved fruit and vegetables varieties and irrigation technologies to help improve smallholder farmers’ production and productivity, income and nutrition. In July 2019, various nursery activities were undertaken, including sowing seeds,

transplanting and management of both grafted and rootstock seedlings at Butajira, Picolo, Alamata and Kersa Nursery Centers. Furthermore, sorting, weed


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management, compost preparation and applications as well as mother clone garden management were the major nursery centers’ activities. As usual, the main nursery centers have been serving as a Knowledge Transfer Centers (KTCs) where demonstration on improved planting materials production was undertaken for the surrounding farming communities. The majority of the grafted seedlings were planted in July 2019. Particularly, it was undertaken in Mecha, Meskan, Kersa and Alamata woredas. Besides, thousands of the grafted seedlings were planted by the private companies in Amhara and Southern Regions, namely Tana Flora, Yekabdi plc, Alemeta plc and so on.


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As part of the Ethiopian nationwide plantation campaign, the Ambassador of the State of Israel to Ethiopia, H.E. Mr. Raphael Morav planted an avocado tree produced in Ethiopia by the Israeli Smallholder Horticulture Program (SHP) of Cooperation. The SHP produces half a million of seedlings per year of high quality avocado trees planted in Ethiopia, thus contributing to the economic growth, the diversification of nutrition and to the afforestation of Ethiopia.

Responding to Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed’s call to break the Guinness World Record in a nationwide reforestation initiative, 353 million trees were planted in one day (Monday, 29 July 2019) in Ethiopia. Entitled the “Green Legacy” project, this effort began with a goal of planting 200 million trees in one day. In his twitter page Ambassador wrote, ‘I feel proud & privileged to have participated today in the #PlantYourPrint with an avocado tree produced in #Ethiopia by our Smallholder Horticulture Program of Cooperation. #GreenLegacy’.


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COLLABORATING TOWARDS

A FAVORABLE INNOVATION

DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENT

State Minister for Innovation and Technology of Ethiopia, Ahmed Jamal with Professor of Science and Technology at the Ministry of Science and Technology of Israel, Professor Alexander Bligh, has discussed on the possibility of creating a favorable innovation development environment in Ethiopia.

Their consultation focuses on the areas in which Israel can share its experience of technology, agriculture, health, water resources management, energy development, research and university-industrial relations with Ethiopia. The two countries will set up a Joint Committee to enable them to do this work in December. State Minister for Innovation and Technology State Jamal said that Ethiopia wants to create jobs for its youth by gaining the broad experience of technology-based irrigation, which Israel is widely known for.


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APPRECIATION FOR THE

EMBASSY'S SUPPORT FROM THE ISRAELI NGO NALA

The Israeli NGO NALA - NTD Advocacy Learning Action presented to H.E. Ambassador Morav a photo memento as a sign of appreciation for the embassy's support. NALA has been operating field projects in Ethiopia since 2008 to fight diseases that perpetuate poverty. Prof. Zvi Bentwich established NALA foundation with a mission to fight infectious diseases and AIDS and overcoming poverty, especially in Africa. NALA developed a comprehensive approach in order to achieve its goals including surveys, capacity building, drug distribution, health education, water supply, and sanitation.


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PRESS BRIEFING SESSION

Deputy Ambassador Mr. Or Daniely met with journalists from various medias and discussed about the Middle East, Israel and Ethiopia. Journalists from EBS, LTV, Addis Standard and Addis TV attended the briefing.


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SUPPORTING SCHOOL

FEEDING INITIATIVE

Deputy Ambassador Mr. Or Daniely visited Mekdela school in Addis Ababa, where Eskender Mulugeta runs his school-feeding initiative. Mr. Or toured the different plots and discussed options for collaboration. After the visit, Mr. Or said ‘I was thrilled to find in one of the plots a variety of donated by Fair Planet Seeds’


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ISRAELI FOOD IN

ETHIOPIAN TV

Deputy Ambassador Mr. Or Danily was a gust cook on EBS Tv Kidamen Keseat show broadcasted on July 13, 2019. Mr. Or shared recipes and preparation of three Israeli dish Ptitim, Falafel and Shakshoukah. In his twitter page Mr. said “Had a great time cooking #Israeli food in @TheEbstv food show. Although the Shakshouka I cooked was delicious, I think I’ll keep my current diplomatic

career…👨🍳”


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INNOVATION FOR

DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP

The Israeli Embassy together with the Ministry of Innovation and Technology of Ethiopia and UNDP conducted on 24-25 September the “Innovation for Development Workshop” in Addis Ababa.During the workshop, Israeli experts presented the Israeli experience in innovation and discussed the opportunities for developing the innovation ecosystem in Ethiopia.

The workshop aimed to convene the Ministry of Innovation and

Technology, participants in the

innovation ecosystem in Ethiopia, academia and innovation policy experts from Israel to share experiences and to identify the enabling policy,

regulatory environment and regulatory framework that will support developing innovation ecosystem and promote innovation in Ethiopia. The area of innovation policy and regulations include but not limited to access to finance, enabling environment for innovators/start-ups and incentive mechanisms.


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During the workshop, two Israeli experts were keynote speakers and presented the Israeli experience in innovation: Ms. Aliza Inbal of Pears Program for Global Innovation and Ms. Hilly Hirt of Innovation. Another important presentation made by Dr. Abraham Kebede of Ministry of Innovation and Technology of Ethiopia. Following their insightful and inspiring presentations, they conducted a great Q&A session with the participants of the workshop.

During the Workshop Dr. Shkabatur and Dr. Schwartz from IDC Herzliya and Dr. Bar-El from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev presented preliminary findings of their Ethiopian innovation ecosystem assessment. State Minister Jemal Beker said: "Israel has made it a small level of Ethiopia 50 times of Ethiopia, using high technologies using technology and economy." The second day of the Workshop focused on the work of development agencies in fostering the innovation ecosystem, and discussing the lessons from the Israeli experience to be implemented in Ethiopia. Israel is a world leader in innovation, being famous as a “Start-up Nation and happy to share its experience with Ethiopia. According to Start-up Nation Central, there are over 220 active acceleration hubs and 6,600 active companies in Israel as of the end of 2018.


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THE EMBASSY IN BRIEF

Deputy Ambassador Or Daniely met with Dr. Kiros Terefe, Head of Maternal and Fetal Medicine University of Gondar, Ethiopia Med. Center, who is on his way to Israel, as part of training program for senior physicians led by doctors from Assuta Hospital in Israel. The program aims to decrease maternal and neonatal death.

Ambassador Morav had a sit down with Bilal Derso of the Ethiopian Press Agency/The Ethiopian Herald/. The Ambassador talked about the thriving Ethio-Israel bilateral relations and Israel’s continuing effort in supporting Ethiopia’s development endeavors.

The Ambassador of the State of Israel to Ethiopia, H.E. Mr. Raphael Morav met with the Speaker of the House of Peoples’ Representatives of the FDRE, Hon. Tagesse Chaffo and discussed about strengthening the friendly Israel - Ethiopia relations, the prospects for parliamentary cooperation and Israel’s support to the reform agenda.


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The Ambassador of the State of Israel to Ethiopia, H.E. Mr. Raphael Morav met with Dr. Solomon Belay Tessema, Director General of the Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute (ESSTI) and discussed possible Israel - Ethiopia cooperation in space sciences and technologies.

Deputy Ambassador Or Daniely welcomed at the Israeli Embassy Dugassa Tessema, Misganaw Nega and Andualem Ali, graduates of MASHAV training programs on Intensive Vegetable Production and Startup Accelerators in the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem, to discuss on their experience in Israel and future projects. More than 20 trainees from Ethiopia participated in Mashav programs in 19'.


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Documents

ETHIOPIAN PRIME MINISTER’S VISIT TO ISRAEL | THE FIRST …€¦ · ETHIOPIAN PRIME MINISTER’S VISIT TO ISRAEL | THE FIRST-EVER WATER-TECH HACKATHON | ISRAEL-ETHIOPIA SEMINAR ON