Ethiopia and Comoros Aim to Bolster Bilateral Ties

Addis ababa: The Comoros and Ethiopia enjoy strong diplomatic relations and wish to strengthen their cooperation in several areas, the Comoros' ambassador to Ethiopia has said. The two countries have established cooperative relations that have gradually grown stronger. The Comoros opened its embassy in Ethiopia in 2011, and both sides are currently working to finalize an agreement on the establishment of a joint commission.According to Ethiopian News Agency, the Comoros' Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the African Union, Mr. Youssouf Mondoha Assoumani, mentioned that the commission should help identify new areas of cooperation, particularly in trade, health, education, culture, tourism, and civil aviation. Economic cooperation is also a key priority. The air connectivity provided by Ethiopian Airlines facilitates trade between the two countries and helps increase travel by Comorian and Ethiopian citizens and business operators.The Comoros is preparing to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Ethiop ian Airlines' service to the country, and a delegation from the airline is expected to visit the Comoros for the occasion. The ambassador also highlighted the potential for expanding trade, noting that Comorian businesses could strengthen their ties with their Ethiopian counterparts, particularly through the chambers of commerce in both countries.Cooperation also extends to the security sector. A Comorian police delegation recently visited Ethiopia to learn about Ethiopia's experience in security, the fight against organized crime, and drug trafficking. In civil aviation, cooperation on air traffic controller training is also under way with Ethiopian institutions. The training program, scheduled to last several years, aims to strengthen Comorian national capabilities in this sector.Ambassador Youssouf also emphasized the importance of the energy sector for Africa's development, commending Ethiopia's efforts to expand its energy capacity and its potential to help provide access to electricity in the region . He also commended Ethiopia's national dialogue initiative, noting that peace and stability are essential conditions for the development of the African continent.Finally, the Comoros hopes to draw on Ethiopia's expertise in tourism, the hospitality industry, and the organization of sporting events. In particular, the Comoros will host the upcoming Indian Ocean Islands Games, for which cooperation with Ethiopian partners is being considered. The ambassador reaffirmed the Comoros' commitment to continuing to strengthen relations with Ethiopia, particularly through the future joint commission, which should help identify areas of mutual interest and bring new cooperation projects to fruition.