Yesterday, I had the privilege of meeting H.E. Mihreteab Mulugeta, Ethiopian Ambassador to Sweden, and his esteemed staff member, Mr. Tesfakiros Hailu. The meeting centered on a wide range of collaborative opportunities between Ethiopia and Europe, particularly in the domains of education, technology, and sustainable development. I am delighted to share that the discussion was both productive and inspiring, with Ambassador Mihreteab expressing his strong commitment to supporting these initiatives within his capacity.

Key Highlights from the Meeting

1. Promoting DEMERA’s Mission
   We discussed the impactful work of DEMERA, a non-profit organization focused on transforming education and empowering underserved communities in Ethiopia. H.E. Mihreteab commended DEMERA’s efforts, particularly its IT training programs and plans to launch the scalable DEMERA-EDU Digital Learning Platform, which ensures equitable access to quality education for students, teachers, and communities.
2. Strengthening IT Governance with EISAA
   The Ethiopian IT Standards and Audit Association (EISAA), which focuses on building cybersecurity and IT governance capacity, was also a focal point of our discussion. EISAA’s collaboration with Script, a Kenyan cybersecurity firm, is paving the way for enhanced digital resilience in Ethiopia. The Ambassador reaffirmed his support for capacity-building initiatives like these, which are vital for Ethiopia’s growing digital economy.
3. Encouraging European Investment in Ethiopia
   We explored ways to attract European companies to the Ethiopian market, focusing on transformative projects such as the Fairway Identity Wallet, which integrates with Ethiopia’s National ID (Fayda), and the SocRadar Cybersecurity Solution for financial institutions. Ambassador Mihreteab emphasized the importance of fostering trust and collaboration to unlock Ethiopia’s economic potential.
4. Enhancing Ethiopian Representation in Scandinavia
   We celebrated the recognition of H.E. Natalia Sabure’s Honorary Consulate status and discussed the strategic importance of positioning Helsinki as an ICT hub for Ethiopian partnerships in Scandinavia. Ambassador Mihreteab expressed enthusiasm for mobilizing stakeholders to capitalize on Helsinki’s advanced ICT ecosystem for the benefit of Ethiopian enterprises and institutions.
5. Advancing Key ICT Projects
   Two ambitious ICT projects were presented for potential support, each designed to address critical challenges and drive transformative change in Ethiopia and Africa.

• Cyber African Citizen Skills, inspired by Europe’s “Cyber Citizen” initiative, aims to cultivate cybersecurity awareness and skills across Ethiopia and Africa.
• DEMERA-EDU, a digital learning platform offering online and offline education solutions tailored to Africa’s unique challenges.
  The Ambassador pledged to leverage his diplomatic channels to help secure funding and partnerships for these transformative initiatives.

A Promising Path Forward
H.E. Mihreteab’s unwavering support and strategic vision reaffirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to fostering meaningful collaborations in education, technology, and economic development. With the Ambassador’s encouragement and the Embassy’s backing, we are readyto drive impactful change and strengthen Ethiopian-European partnerships for a brighter future.

This meeting was a testament to what can be achieved when shared goals and collaborative efforts come together. I look forward to building on this momentum to realize the ambitious projects that will transform lives in Ethiopia and beyond.

December 4, 2024, Stockholm, Sweden