ISLAMABAD: Ethiopia and Pakistan on Thursday agreed to collaborate across various educational realms, spanning science and technology, agriculture, health, and Information and Communication Technology.
The consensus was reached during a meeting between Ethiopia’s Special Envoy and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Jemal Beker Abdula, and the Chairman of Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission (HEC), Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed.
They discussed means of enhancing mutual cooperation in education, aiming to facilitate the exchange of knowledge, skills, and expertise.
Ambassador Jemal Beker emphasized Ethiopia’s eagerness to bolster the already thriving bilateral relations through educational diplomacy. He underscored the significance of educational collaboration in fostering enduring and sustainable ties between the two nations, highlighting the enthusiasm of Ethiopian medical experts.
Ambassador Beker also highlighted a significant visit by a delegation from a prominent Ethiopian university to Pakistan in 2023, indicating Ethiopia’s strong interest in establishing institutional collaborations between the two countries.
Furthermore, the Ambassador briefed Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed on a joint plantation campaign spearheaded by the Ethiopian Embassy in tandem with Pakistan’s Ministry of Climate Change, universities, civil society, and the business community. This initiative, under Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed’s Green Legacy Initiative, aims to strengthen the bond between the two nations.
Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, on his part, apprised the Ambassador of advancements and digitalization efforts within Pakistan’s education sector, such as the establishment of digital libraries and smart classrooms. These initiatives aim to broaden access to education for millions of students, both domestically and internationally. He assured full support for bolstering cooperation in the education sector between Ethiopia and Pakistan.
Moreover, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed extended an invitation to the Ambassador to visit the HEC Headquarters and proposed facilitating delegation exchanges to further enhance collaboration in education. He emphasized mutual assistance in the education sector as a means to collectively build strong nations for global prosperity.
Moreover, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed informed the Ambassador about the inauguration of the Global Engagement Department at HEC, which includes a dedicated desk for Africa, with a special focus on Ethiopia.
