Japan-Ethiopia Relations 
December 2011
Basic Data
- Diplomatic Relations:
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1933 Ethiopia established an honorary consulate-general in Osaka. 1936 Japan established a legation in Ethiopia. 1955 Japan restored diplomatic relations with Ethiopia. 1958 Both Japan and Ethiopia established embassies in each capital. - Japanese Nationals:
- Number of Japanese nationals residing in Ethiopia:192 (as of December 2008)
- Trade with Japan (2008):
- Exports: 8,578 million yen
- Imports: 3,301 million yen
- Direct Investment from Japan:
- Cumulative total between 1951-74: $6.83 million（No investment after 1974）
- Japan's Economic Cooperation:
- List of Exchange of Notes
- Loans: 3.7 billion yen
- Grants: 75.45 billion yen
- Technical Cooperation: 19.68 billion yen
VIP Visits
- From Japan to Ethiopia:
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Year Name 1984 Minister for Foreign Affairs Shintaro Abe 1985 Multi-party Delegation of the members of the House of Representatives 1998 State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Keizo Takemi 2002 Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi 2002 Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi 2003 State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Tetsuro Yano 2004 Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Katsuyuki Kawai 2006 Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi 2008 Former Prime Minister Kiichiro Mori 2008 Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Yasuhide Nakayama 2008 Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Nobuhide Minorikawa 2009 Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Yasutoshi Nishimura - From Ethiopia to Japan
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Year Name 1992 Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin 1993 Minister of Planning and Economic Development Mohammed Duri 1996 Prime Minister Meles Zenawi (official visit) 1998 Prime Minister Meles Zenawi (TICAD II) 1999 Speaker of House of Federation Almaz Meko 2003 Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin 2003 Prime Minister Meles Zenawi (TICAD III) 2006 Minister of Trade and Industry Girma Biru 2006 State Minister of Foreign Affairs Takeda Alemu 2008 State Minister of Finance and Economic Development Mekonen Manyazewal 2008 Prime Minister Meles Zenawi (TICAD IV and G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit) 2009 State Minister of Trade and Industry Tadesse Haile
Cultural Exchanges
Japanese Embassy in Addis Ababa occasionally organizes exhibitions introducing traditional or modern aspects of Japanese culture. From Ethiopia, in 1999, two traditional dancing teams made tours in Japan.
Cultural Grant (cumulative total fiscal 1975-2008)
213 million yen (Cultural Grant Aid)
Recent Trends
Japan and Ethiopia have a long and friendly relations dating back to 1930s. Such good relations are strengthened by the recent visits in 2006 by then Prime Minister H.E. Mr.Koizumi, in 2003 and 2008 by Prime Minister H.E. Mr. Meles, and mutual visits of VIPs and high officials. Regarding bilateral cooperations, Japan has been providing development assistance as well as humanitarian aids to Ethiopia to support its nation-building efforts.
- Japan-Ethiopia Foreign Ministerial Meeting (December 2011)
- Exchange of Notes for Grant Aid for the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (The Project for Rural Water Supply in Tigray Region [Detailed Design]) (January 2010)
- Statement by Mr. Hirofumi Nakasone, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on the Kidnapping Incident of a Japanese National in Ethiopia (January 2009)
- Grant Assistance for Underprivileged Farmers in the Palestinian territories, Yemen, Sudan, Eritrea, and Ethiopia through the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) (July 2007)
- Statement by the Press Secretary on Pardons for Opposition Leaders and Other Political Criminals in Ethiopia (July 2007)
- Mr. Keitaro Sato, Ambassador in charge of Peace Building in Africa, to Visit the Sudan, Ethiopia and the United Kingdom (October 2006)
- Emergency Assistance to Dire Dawa Region in eastern Ethiopia for Flood Disaster (August 2006)
- Assistance for "Coordinated Rural Development of IDP and Refugee Impacted Communities in the Somali Regional State of Ethiopia" Project (April 2006)
- Assistance for "Establishing a Zone Free of the Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Problem in the Southern Rift Valley, Ethiopia, and Assisting Rural Communities in Agricultural and Livestock Development" Project (February 2006)
- Mr. Keitaro Sato, Ambassador in Charge of Conflict and Refugee-related Issues in Africa, to Visit Africa (March 2005)
- Statement by the Press Secretary on the Acceptance by the Ethiopian Government of the Decision of the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission (November 2004)
- Assistance for supporting "Extension of the Special Programme for Food Security (SPFS)" project in Ethiopia (September 2004)
- Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi's Visit to Ethiopia and Angola and Attendance at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Johannesburg Summit) (August 2002)
- Statement by the Press Secretary on the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission Decision (April 2002)
- Japan Decided to Extend a Contribution to the Trust Fund for Ethiopia and Eritrea (March 2001)
- Emergency Assistance for Conflict-Afflicted Persons in Eritrea (December 2000)
- Statement by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Yohei Kono, on the Signing of a Comprehensive Peace Agreement on the Conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea (December 2000)
- Statement by Foreign Minister Yohei Kono on Ethiopia's Acceptance of the OAU proposal for the Cessation of Hostilities (June 2000)
- Statement by the Press Secretary on the United Nations Resolutions on the border conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea (May 2000)
- Statement by Foreign Minister Yohei Kono on the border conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea (May 2000)
- Emergency Aid for People Affected by the Drought in Ethiopia (April 2000)
- Statement by the Press Secretary on the Dispute between Eritrea and Ethiopia (July 1999)
- Statement by Minister for Foreign Affairs Masahiko Koumura on the Dispute between Eritrea and Ethiopia (July 1999)
- Emergency Aid for People Affected by the Ethiopia-Eritrea Border Conflict (July 1999)
- On the border conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea (Statement by the Press Secretary) (March 1999)
- Statement by Minister for Foreign Affairs Masahiko Koumura on the border conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea (February 1999)
Press Secretary's Press Conference on Ethiopia
| Year | Month | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | November | 7 |
| March | 9 | |
| 2005 | June | 24 |
| 2004 | November | 30 |
| 2000 | December | 15 |
| June | 16 | |
| May | 19 |
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