Fond farewell for Ethiopian ambassador to Turkey

By Munira Abdelmenan Awel

ANKARA

The outgoing ambassador of the Horn of Africa nation of Ethiopia on Sunday received a special farewell ceremony organized by Ethiopian students in Turkey's capital Ankara.

The Association of Ethiopian Students in Turkey (AEST) organized a ceremony to thank the distinguished Ayalew Gobeze for his extraordinary service.

The ceremony started with a speech from Idris Buta, the student group’s vice president, followed by the ambassador and other members of the association, as well as a discussion and tea ceremony.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, the ambassador said his tenure was a successful one, adding that he loved his time in Turkey, where he has served since 2014.

"The students are the real ambassadors here, they always help the embassy to avoid language barriers as they are fluent in Turkish,” he said.

“They are also doing a great job being a bridge in the cultural and economic relationships of the two countries, and more."

He also praised the recent reforms in Ethiopia under the leadership of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, saying he hopes they will help the students contribute more to both their country and to Turkey.

For his part, Buta expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the ambassador for his tireless service.

"Ayalew Gobeze served out his term in a much-disciplined manner. He always saw the students as equal citizens without any partiality," he added.

Growing economic ties

Economic ties between Ethiopia and Turkey have recently gained strength, said Abdulqadir Adem, an economics lecturer at Ankara’s Yildirim Beyazit University.

"The trade volume between the two countries has increased in recent years to $300 million. Turkish companies in Ethiopia have also created job opportunities for around 30,000 locals," he stressed.

Gobeze will soon leave for Ethiopia to continue serving his country. Local media has reported Addis Ababa will send newly appointed diplomats to various countries.

Currently, there are more than 350 Ethiopian students in Turkey.

Nearly 17,000 foreign students are studying in Turkish universities on government scholarships, while over 100,000 are studying in Turkey using non-government funds, according to the Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB), the biggest scholarship provider to foreign students in the country.