President Bids Farewell to Austrian, Czech Ambassadors

Addis Ababa, July 16, 2026 (ENA) —President Taye Atske Selassie bade farewell to Austrian Ambassador Simone Knapp and Czech Ambassador Miroslav Kosek upon the completion of their diplomatic missions in Ethiopia.

The President commended the ambassadors for their efforts of strengthening socio-economic and political spheres of cooperation between Ethiopia and their respective countries.

He emphasized the need for continuing collaboration building on the progress achieved.

Speaking to ENA, Austria's Ambassador Knapp expressed gratitude for her four years in the country, describing Ethiopia as a “beautifully diverse” nation where she had meaningful interactions with Ethiopians throughout her tenure.

 

Ambassador Knapp credited Austrian–Ethiopian cooperation for enabling multiple diplomatic and development initiatives, including business engagement efforts that brought more than 25 Austrian companies to Ethiopia over the years to better understand the country and explore partnerships.

A number of Austrian firms are already taking steps toward investing in Ethiopia and the momentum is supported by Ethiopia’s ongoing economic reforms she described as bold and confidence-building for investors.

The Ambassador also pointed to strong people-to-people connections, long-standing university cooperation, and growing cultural links, including artistic exchanges involving both Austrian and Ethiopian musicians.

Stating the over 120 years diplomatic relations between Ethiopia and Austria, Ambassador Knapp pointed out that there remains room to deepen ties, particularly on the business front.

For his part, Ambassador Kosek said his four-year mission was very fruitful in the efforts to strengthen bilateral relations.

 

He noted several areas of progress in business and culture that helped introduce Ethiopia to Central Europe while promoting the country as a tourism destination.

The Ambassador described Ethiopia as a strategic partner for the Czech Republic in Africa, saying Czech efforts focus on expanding cooperation and promoting technology exchange in sectors including e-mobility, hydrogeology, and health, among others.