From: Biniam Tekle (biniamt@dehai.org)
Date: Mon May 10 2010 - 08:28:20 EDT
http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/40367
Mon, 10/05/2010 - 12:37
Head of exports council: Chinese in Ethiopia are threat to Egypt
In line with Egypt's policy of increasing investments in Ethiopia, a number
of Egyptian businessmen have recently established a consulting firm in
Ethiopia, said Mohamed Shaker el-Marqabi, member of the Egyptian-Ethiopian
Business Council and head of the Export Council for Construction.
El-Marqabi told Al-Masry Al-Youm that Egypt faces danger not in the form of
Israel's presence in Ethiopia, which is limited, but rather from China,
which is funding major projects in Ethiopia and other parts of Africa.
Chinese investors are currently sponsoring a big dam in Ethiopia--Juba
3--which, when completed, will be the biggest hydroelectric station in
Africa.
El-Marqabi also said Egypt should not be so concerned about dams on the Nile
River, as many assume, as the real danger lies in attempts by central
African states to change the Nile's flow. According to el-Marqabi,
hydropower projects shouldn't concern Egypt because they will not affect
water distribution quotas.
"The Egyptian government should think seriously of going into partnership
with Ethiopia in this field by studying a project on electricity linkage, to
exchange electricity during rush hours," el-Marqabi said.
"Ethiopia can generate 11,000 megawatts of electricity from hydroelectric
stations and only 200 megawatt are used so far," he added, referring to
Ethiopia's plans to sell its extra electricity to neighboring countries.
"Egyptian companies have great investment opportunities in the field of
distributing and transferring electricity," el-Marqabi said. "Egyptians
should prove their good faith in cooperation with Ethiopia over the long
term."
The export council chief also said Egypt should deal with Ethiopians as
people of "intelligent brains," noting that "most of them have received
their education at western universities."
"The main reason for a successful relationship between Egypt and Ethiopia is
to have common interests," he added.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
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