Korea and Ethiopia have agreed to deepen their partnership in the textile industry, in constructing infrastructure and in high tech and ICT.

After the summit between President Park Geun-hye and Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, the two governments signed 40 memorandums of understanding (MOUs), including 36 that covered tie-ups in trade and investment.

There were four MOUs on the textile industry, including ones that covered collaboration on an industrial complex, textile technologies and overall investment in the sector. The two governments agreed to develop a "Korea textile complex" at a 99-square-meter site at the Adama industrial complex some 74 kilometers to the east of Addis Ababa. The two also agreed to a feasibility study on the construction of a textile "techno park" that would feature training centers and laboratories.

Seoul and Addis Ababa agreed to build a stronger partnership on infrastructure construction, as well. There were MOUs covering road and transportation technologies, urban and housing development, and the generation, transmission and transformation of electricity. Alongside these, the two governments agreed to provide support for Korean businesses that want to participate in building the Gore-Tepi road, a project worth around USD 690 million.



Partnerships in high value-added industries, such as ICT and providing online government services, were discussed, as well. For example, the Korean tax office's one-stop customs system will be introduced in an ongoing project to help modernize the current Ethiopian customs system. Also, the two governments will sign a contract to integrate and connect 21 different organizations into one online system as the initial stage in developing a "single window" that will simplify the process of collecting customs and duties.

By Chang Iou-chung
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Cheong Wa Dae
icchang@korea.kr