Fitsum Arega Gebrekidan (Amharic: ፍፁም አረጋ ገብረኪዳን) is an Ethiopian diplomat who is the current Ethiopian Ambassador to Canada.[1] He was the Director General of the Ethiopian Investment Commission and the Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister of Ethiopia[2] and also served as Ethiopia's Ambassador to the United States. He presented his credentials to Governor General of Canada Mary Simon in September 2022.[1]
Fitsum Arega | |
|---|---|
ፍፁም አረጋ | |
 Fitsum in 2020 | |
| Ambassador of Ethiopia to Canada | |
| Assumed office September 2022 | |
| Prime Minister | Abiy Ahmed |
| Director General of the Ethiopian Investment Commission | |
| In office 5 November 2018 – 24 December 2018 | |
| Succeeded by | Abebe Abebayehu |
| Chief of Staff of Prime Minister of Ethiopia | |
| In office 26 April 2018 – 5 November 2018 | |
| Succeeded by | Shimelis Abdisa |
| Director General of the Ethiopian Investment Commission | |
| In office February 2013 – 25 April 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Belachew Mekuria |
| Succeeded by | Belachew Mekuria |
| Ambassador of Ethiopia to the United States | |
| In office 10 April 2019 – September 2022 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia |
| Education | University of Manchester (M.A.) Open University (M.B.A) University of Birmingham (PgD) |
Early life and education
editFitsum was born and raised in Addis Ababa, and received his higher education in the United Kingdom. He attended the University of Manchester, where he received a master's degree in Development Economics and Policy Management. He later received an MBA degree from Open University (OU) Business School, as well as a PgD from the University of Birmingham.[3]
Diplomatic career
editGrand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD)
editIn 2020, Fitsum opposed reported plans by the United States government to cut funding to Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). He described the dam as a project that "will pull Ethiopia out of darkness".[4]
Fitsum celebrated reports that the U.S. would restore aid to Ethiopia in February 2021, reiterated his support for the GERD. Fitsum claimed it would help provide electricity to 60 million people and boost environmental efforts.[5]
American Ethiopian Public Affairs Committee (AEPAC)
editIn 2021, Fitsum announced the establishment of the American Ethiopian Public Affairs Committee (AEPAC). The stated purpose of the newly-formed organization is to entrench the bilateral relationship between the United States and Ethiopia.[6]
References
edit- ^ a b General, Office of the Secretary to the Governor (2022-09-22). "Presentation of Letters of Credence". The Governor General of Canada. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
- ^ Fortune, Addis. "Investment Commission Gets New Head".
- ^ "Ambassador - Embassy of Ethiopia". 2019-04-10. Retrieved 2021-10-09.
- ^ "Ethiopia seeks US clarification on reported aid cut over dam". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-10-09.
- ^ "US Restoration of Foreign Aid to Ethiopia Signals New Course". VOA. Retrieved 2021-10-09.
- ^ Editor, Embassy Content (2021-04-05). "American-Ethiopia Public Affairs Committee Established (April 4, 2021) - Embassy of Ethiopia". Retrieved 2021-10-09.
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