French Foreign Minister to visit Ethiopia

Addis Ababa June 07/2018 French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian will pay visit to Ethiopia. According to French ministry of foreign affairs, the minster will also visit Congo, Chad from June 7 to 8. It states that the visit will take place within the framework of France close and regular dialogue with the African Union and the African countries committed to peace and security on the continent. Accordingly it says, the meetings will provide an opportunity to discuss regional security challenges and situations in various countries like the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Sahel, Libya, Somalia and South Sudan. It also enables to discuss on France partnership with Ethiopia, the Republic of Congo, Chad, and the African Union. Relations between Ethiopia and France have grown denser over the last five years. France had a structural trade surplus of 604.6 million Euro for the first half of 2017. Ethiopia, thus, became France’s third biggest market in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2016, French exports reached a record high of €430.9 million. France is among the main European investors, after the United Kingdom, Italy and the Netherlands. The roughly 30 companies working in Ethiopia employ nearly 3,000 people.