馃嚜馃嚬EthiopiaEast Africa
Canada and Ethiopia mark 60 years of diplomatic ties amid global geopolitical shifts
via The Reporter Ethiopia17 min read
Canada's Ambassador to Ethiopia and Djibouti, Nicolas Simard, discussed the evolving relationship between Canada and Ethiopia, marking 60 years of diplomatic ties. Simard highlighted that Canada's engagement in Africa, particularly with Ethiopia, is shifting from a traditional donor-recipient model to a more strategic partnership focused on economic cooperation and mutual benefits. This recalibration aligns with Canada's broader diplomatic strategy under Prime Minister Mark Carney, which emphasizes "values-based realism" in a fragmented global order and seeks to expand economic cooperation with middle powers beyond its historical trading partners. Key strengths of the Canada-Ethiopia relationship include deep people-to-people ties, with a significant Ethiopian diaspora in Canada, and Canada's substantial bilateral development assistance program in Ethiopia, which supports health, education, governance, agriculture, and economic resilience. The newly established Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Ethiopia aims to boost trade and investment, with aerospace being a significant driver of Canadian exports. Canada also provides substantial aid to Ethiopia, ranking it as the second-largest recipient globally after Ukraine, and supports the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration program. Academic collaborations, such as the Toronto-Addis Ababa Academic Collaboration, have significantly contributed to training medical specialists in Ethiopia. Simard also addressed concerns about t
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