Woyanne minister of agriculture in Ethiopia, Tafera Derbew, has dismissed a request by figurehead President Girma Woldegirogis (see here) not to sell western Ethiopian land to Indian companies and went to India yesterday to approve a $4.4 billion investment deal. The Indian companies must be made aware in advance that the deal is illegitimate and that the new government that will soon be replacing the Woyanne junta will not have to honor any such deal. The following is a press release by the Government of India.
PRESS RELEASE (Government of India) — Ethiopia has invited Indian farmers for commercial farming in view of high skill and experience of Indian farmers in commercial crops. Calling on Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Prof. K.V.Thomas here today, Ethiopian Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Tafera Derbew said that Indian farmers can avail the opportunity of vast farming land set aside by his country for commercial farming and grow pulses and edible oil crops for export to India.
The visiting Agriculture Minister of Ethiopia said that his country would like to take advantage of Indian experience not only in the area of mechanized farming but also in food security system. He discussed other issues of bilateral cooperation with Prof. K.V. Thomas.
Welcoming the offer of Ethiopian government, Prof. K.V. Thomas requested the Ethiopian minister to set up single window system for various clearances to Indian entrepreneurs for taking up commercial farming in Ethiopia. He said that India can provide technical expertise in the area of watershed development and standardization of various food products. The Bureau of Indian Standards and ICAR are already providing training to experts from Ethiopia. Areas for such trainings and cooperation will be explored further, he said.
India is the largest foreign investor in Ethiopia with approved investment of US $ 4.4 billion, out of which 40 per cent investment is in the field of commercial agriculture. Ethiopia will also hold Indian Africa Forum Summit in May 2011 to strengthen cooperation with India.