Jonas Gahr Støre hosted the visit and discussions were held in the Government’s Guest House in Parkveien. A number of bilateral issues were discussed with a lot of emphasis on the forthcoming elections in Ethiopia and on strengthening bilateral trade and investment. Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin also met with a number of Norwegian business people from different sectors. Expansion of bilateral cooperation on developing Ethiopia’s huge potential in hydropower was discussed in detail.
In the discussions on regional issues, Sudan was given priority and the two ministers agreed on the importance on strict implementation of the CPA between the two parties and on the important role of AU and IGAD to support the parties. Jonas Gahr Støre said Norway supports the regional actors in their efforts, and will fund a IGAD Liaison office to be established in Juba. Seyoum Mesfin also met Norwegian research and foreign policy institutions (NUPI, CMI, FAFO and University og Bergen) for a roundtable on Sudan, chaired by ambassador Jens-Petter Kjemprud.
Seyoum Mesfin also held talks with State Secretary for International Development Ingrid Fiskaa on development cooperation and trade issues. He also met the Head of the Foreign Affairs Committee in Parliament Ine Marie Eriksen Søreide on democratic development, trade and investment as well as regional issues. During his visit Seyoum Mesfin also held talks with the Secretary General of the Norwegian Labour Party, former state secretary for Foregin Affairs Raymond Johansen.
Ambassador Kjemprud participated in the visit of Foreign Minister to Norway and describes the visit as “very successful, confirming the deep and sound relations between the two countries”. The Ambassador also underlines “the potential in further strengthening trade and investment relations” and assured both the Foreign Minister and Norwegian companies that the Embassy “will leave no stone unturned to achieve growth in bilateral economic cooperation”.