Ethiopia and Austria discuss strengthening their strategic partnership to develop the tourism sector.
Ahmed Salem
The Ethiopian Ministry of Tourism discussed with a delegation from the Republic of Austria ways to enhance strategic cooperation in the tourism sector, focusing on developing digital marketing and tourism promotion, capacity building, and improving the quality of services.
Deputy Minister of Tourism, Dr. Indegina Abebe, affirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Austria in developing tourism products and community-based tourism in a way that contributes to empowering youth and women and promoting local development.
For his part, Deputy Minister of Tourism Slache Germa called on Austrian investors to take advantage of the opportunities available in the tourism and hospitality sectors, noting the availability of an encouraging investment environment and supportive legal frameworks.
For his part, the head of the Austrian delegation, Dr. Michael Mattiaschitz, affirmed his country’s continued support for the Ethiopian tourism sector, especially in the areas of technology transfer and capacity building, which will enhance the sector’s competitiveness and modernization.
Both sides also expressed their readiness to expand economic cooperation and support joint tourism projects between the two countries.
Ethiopian detainees return from Saudi Arabia after being pardoned
320 Ethiopian citizens have returned home from Saudi Arabia after receiving a royal pardon and the dropping of legal proceedings against them, thanks to the continuous diplomatic efforts of the Ethiopian government.
The returnees arrived at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, where they were received by State Minister for Foreign Affairs Ambassador Berhanu Tsegaye and a number of other relevant officials.
Efforts were coordinated between the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ethiopian Embassy in Riyadh, and the Consulate General in Jeddah. These diplomatic moves resulted in the pardoning of 1,655 Ethiopian citizens who were being held in Saudi Arabia, and their release from the legal proceedings they were facing.
The government's commitment to serving the citizen
The Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that this development reflects the government’s commitment to a citizen-centered diplomatic policy, placing the protection of Ethiopian citizens abroad and safeguarding their interests and safety at the forefront of the country’s foreign policy priorities.
The ministry explained that follow-up efforts are still ongoing to address outstanding consular issues and to strengthen protection measures for Ethiopian citizens residing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
In the same context, the ministry called on citizens to be wary of misleading offers promoted by human smuggling and irregular migration networks.
These offers are widely circulated on social media platforms, confirming continued cooperation with the relevant authorities to pursue those involved in human trafficking crimes and bring them to justice.
