ISLAMABAD (Khyber Mail): The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan have agreed to collaborate in various educational sectors, including science and technology, agriculture, health, and ICT.
This agreement was reached during a meeting between Jemal Beker Abdula, Special Envoy and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of FDRE Ethiopia to Pakistan, and Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan.
The meeting, held at the Ethiopian Embassy in Islamabad, focused on advancing mutual cooperation in the education sector to exchange knowledge, skills, and expertise.
Ambassador Jemal Beker expressed the Ethiopian government’s eagerness to strengthen the already flourishing bilateral ties between the two nations through educational diplomacy. He recalled the willingness of Ethiopian medical experts, who studied at Pakistani universities, to assist those affected by the flash floods in Pakistan in 2022.
He also mentioned a delegation from a top Ethiopian university that visited Pakistan in 2023, indicating a strong interest in Ethiopia for establishing institution-to-institution collaboration between the two countries.
The Ambassador briefed the HEC Chairman on a plantation campaign led by the Ethiopian Embassy in Islamabad, in collaboration with the Ministry of Climate Change, universities, civil society, and the business community across Pakistan. This campaign is part of the Green Legacy Initiative of Dr. Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of Ethiopia, aimed at fostering fraternity between the two nations.
On the other hand, the HEC Chairman informed the Ambassador about advancements and digitalization in the education sector, including the establishment of digital libraries and smart classrooms, providing access to education for millions of students in Pakistan and abroad.
He assured the Ambassador of full support for strengthening cooperation and collaboration in the education sector between Ethiopia and Pakistan. He also invited the Ambassador to visit the HEC Headquarters and requested assistance in facilitating delegation exchanges between the two countries to further collaboration in the education sector.
The HEC Chairman informed the Ambassador about the opening of the Global Engagement Department at HEC, which will have a desk for Africa with a special focus on Ethiopia.