Ambassador Jirru highlighted the active collaboration between Ethiopia and Russia within the BRICS framework as a model for future endeavors.
He emphasized Ethiopia's focus on its current macroeconomic reforms, which include privatization of key institutions like the telecommunications sector and opening up for direct investment, including foreign direct investment. Highlighting the increasing trade between Ethiopia and Russia in local currencies, Jirru underscored the benefits of this approach.
"Trading with national currencies has its advantages," he explained, citing both a price advantage for buyers and a reduction in foreign exchange rate risk for exporters.
On the subject of nuclear technology, Ambassador Jirru expressed Ethiopia's keen interest in cooperating with Russia for peaceful applications of nuclear technology in areas like health, agriculture, and energy. He indicated that the two countries are in the initial stages of implementing a roadmap signed at the Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg last year.
The diplomat, a graduate of a former Soviet Union university, also emphasized the need to expand the scholarship opportunities for Ethiopian students in Russia, which he believes should reflect the historical ties between the two nations.
Peace and Security
Ambassador Jirru, highlighted the role of BRICS in achieving peace and security in the Horn of Africa. He also reiterated Ethiopia's commitment to peace and security in the region, highlighting the country's role in peacekeeping missions.
"One of the pillars of BRICS is politics and security. It is one of the potential areas that we will look into with our cooperation with the Russian Federation. … So our collaboration with BRICS and Russia in peace and Security of Marine security of the coastal area is very important," the diplomat told Sputnik Africa.
As a recent member of BRICS, Ethiopia aims to leverage its membership to attract investment, increase trade volume, and strengthen economic ties with BRICS countries, especially Russia, the diplomat said. He highlighted the potential for increasing trade volume and attracting Russian investors to establish economic zones or industrial parks in Ethiopia.
With the upcoming BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, in late October, Ambassador Jirru expressed Ethiopia's active engagement in the group's processes and expectations for a successful summit. He emphasized Ethiopia's commitment to participating in the New Development Bank and contributing to the group's overall agenda.
Speaking about urban development, Ambassador Jirru acknowledged the ongoing renovations and redevelopments in Addis Ababa and other major Ethiopian cities. He expressed a keen interest in learning from the urban planning and development experience of Moscow
"From Russia and from Moscow we can learn a lot because, Moscow is a city of, almost 900 years old. So it is a very planned and well-organized city," he stated, emphasizing the importance of smart and sustainable city planning for the well-being of residents.
Commenting on the opening of Sputnik's regional office in Ethiopia, Ambassador Jirru stressed the importance of diverse media sources in a multipolar world.
"Having different media sources would make audiences able to get adequate information of different sources," he stated. "It will be good that the other side of the story will be told… I think it is also good to have the balanced information. In that I think Sputnik would play a very important and positive role."