SA's new embassy building in Ethiopia
Bathandwa Mbola
29 January 2009
South Africa has opened a state-of-the-art new embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The 12 000 square metre, South African-styled and decorated building was designed by architects from both Ethiopia and South Africa, and includes a section highlighting SA's preparations for the 2010 Fifa World Cup. Construction began in September 2006.
Attending the official opening on Thursday, Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said the embassy was South Africa's new home in Addis Ababa, and would help strengthen SA's relations with the east African nation.
With less than 500 days to go to the first football World Cup on African soil, Dlamini-Zuma said: "We firmly believe that this will be a truly African event, and encourage Africans and their teams to ensure that we celebrate our victory and achievements."
Ethiopian Foreign Minister Tekeda Alemu said the new building was proof of South Africa's commitment to enhancing cooperation with Ethiopia and the African Union (AU).
South Africa has signed a number memoranda of understanding with Ethiopia, on industrial and technical cooperation as well as on trade and investment, agriculture, defence, arts and culture, tourism, human resource development and health.
South Africa and Ethiopia first established official diplomatic relations in 1994. Ethiopia is the new chair of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad), the socio-economic development blueprint of the African Union.
Source: BuaNews
