By Adel Elbahnsawy
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 of ALMASRYALYOUM)