Ethiopia, Czech Seek to Boost Economic Cooperation

ADDIS ABABA – Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and his Czech counterpart Petr Fiala held talks that sought to strengthen the relations between Ethiopia and the Czech Republic.

“We aim to build on existing relations between our two countries to further mutual development,” PM Abiy said on X, after the discussion.

The bilateral talks at the Office of the Prime Minister was held the day after Czech Premier Fiala arrived in Addis Ababa on Friday evening for a two-day visit.

The visit is part of his week-long Africa tour that aimed to increase economic relations with the continent.

Czech-Ethiopian relations have almost a century of tradition. “And there is certainly much to build on,” PM Fiara said.

Per the Minister, the Czech Republic is interested in increasing its involvement in development aid projects which involve surface and underground water research.

“At the same time, we want to expand economic cooperation, especially in the defense industry,” PM Fiala said.

The Czech company Omnipol is currently working with the Ethiopian Air Force (EAF) on the modernization of L-39 fighter aircraft.

Fiala sees this as “a good example” of the cooperation between the two countries.

“We are involved in the refurbishment of L-39 aircrafts, we supply flight simulators and Czech technicians train local personnel here,” he said.

“There is an opportunity to deliver more aircraft of the new generation,” he wrote on X, after his meeting with the Ethiopian Air Force (EAF) Commander Lieut Gen Yilma Merdassa, at the Bishoftu Air Base.

In Addis Ababa, Prime Minister Fiala also met with Water and Energy Minister Habtamu Itefa and discussed the outcome of cooperation. His delegation also participated in the Czech-Ethiopia business forum.

The Czech Premier left Addis Ababa for Nairobi to continue his African tour that would also take him to Nigeria, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire.