Ethiopia: Land of mystery and contrasts

Aired June 2007

Welcome to Ethiopia, land of mystery and contrasts

Once known as Abyssinia, Ethiopia is old beyond what most people can imagine and one of the great kingdoms of the ancient world. The country possesses the richest histories on the African continent. It’s the home of Lucy 3,2 million year old skeleton which has provided a wealth of information about the ancestral line of human beings and made Africa the cradle of human race.

Ethiopia is strategically located on the Horn of Africa at the crossroads between Africa, the Middle East and Asia. With a population of 74 million people, Ethiopia is the third most populous country in Africa.

The people are ethnically, linguistically and culturally diverse. There are about eighty languages spoken in the country, which corresponds to the number of ethnic groups. Amharic is the working language of the Federal Government, while English is the medium of instruction in secondary schools and higher education institutions, and it is widely used in business transactions.

TRANSPORT

One of Ethiopia’s strongest assets has to be its location within the Horn of Africa giving foreign investors access to the entire continent of Africa, Europe and the Middle East. It is situated within easy reach of the Horn’s major ports. Access to these ports has played a prominent role in enhancing the country’s international trade With an extensive road network under development, and world class land and freight companies Ethiopia’s landlocked position is becoming an advantage.

Ethiopian Airlines is one of the only profitable airlines in the world with an annual operating income of 600,000,000 US dollars. It recently celebrated its 60th anniversary as one of the oldest, best run companies in Africa. It flies all over the world excluding South America and Australia, and with its large internal flight network it makes communicating within the large mass of Ethiopia a breeze for tourists and business travelers alike.

ENERGY

Ethiopia, like in most developing African countries, the energy sector is dominated by traditional energy. Modern energy, electricity and petroleum and infrastructure for energy supply exist mainly in urban areas. For this reason, the majority of the population living in rural areas has little access to modern energy. There is a major opportunity for investors from all over the globe to partner with Ethiopian power suppliers and the Ministry of Mines and Energy in providing power to the rural area.

The relation between energy and economic growth in Ethiopia has become an emotive issue. Any development endeavor in the country has to be backed with the supply of efficient and affordable energy. Despite the problems regarding energy development, however, there is a diversity of energy resource potential in Ethiopia that has not yet been exploited.

Devising appropriate mechanism for the development of these resources could solve a number of interrelated basic problems of the country.

TOURISM

Ethiopia is truly a land of contrasts and extremes; a land of remote and wild places. Some of the highest and most stunning places on the African continent are found here, such as the jaggedly carved Simien Mountains, one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites Many people visit Ethiopia because of the remarkable manner in which ancient historical traditions have been preserved. And, indeed, the ceremonies and rituals of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, open a window on the authentic world of the Old Testament. In no other country is it possible to find yourself so dramatically transported back in time or to participate with such freedom in the sacred rituals of the past.