Warm welcome: Abiy and his wife Zinash arriving at the Bunga Raya Complex to begin a two-day official visit, which is also his first visit to the country. — Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR: Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed Ali began a two-day official visit to Malaysia with a tour around the Perdana Botanical Gardens.
He arrived at the botanical gardens at 2.15pm yesterday and was welcomed by Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Dr Maimunah Mohd Sharif.
The visiting Prime Minister also signed the guest book and was presented with a briefing about the area before being shown around several main attractions, including the Laman Perdana.
Abiy, who arrived yesterday morning, along with First Lady Zinash Tayachew Bere, also visited the Proton Plant in Tanjung Malim, Perak.
His itinerary during the official visit includes attending an official welcome ceremony followed by a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at Seri Perdana, Putrajaya, today, Bernama reported.
According to Wisma Putra’s statement on Thursday, Abiy’s inaugural visit to Malaysia was aimed at further advancing the efforts to enhance Malaysia-Ethiopia relations.
His delegation includes the Ethiopian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Gedion Timotheos, Cabinet ministers and senior officials of the Ethiopian government.
Ethiopia ranked as Malaysia’s 26th largest trading partner in the African continent in 2023.
The value of bilateral trade between Malaysia and Ethiopia stood at RM446.8mil.
Exports from Malaysia to Ethiopia were valued at RM358.6mil, representing a 24.6% increase from the previous year.
Malaysia’s exports to Ethiopia were electrical and electronic products, palm oil and palm oil-based agricultural products, chemical and chemical products, as well as textiles, apparel and footwear.
