AIGAD Holds the 2nd Annual Workshop
Ethiopian Civil Service University College of Leadership and Governance, Africa Institute of Governance and Development (AIGAD) held the second annual workshop on “Regional Integration: Setting Agendas for a Dialogue and Policy Review” on 22 March 2019 at Hiddasse Hall. The main objective of the workshop focuses on Promoting a culture of discourse for sharing best practices and analyses and initiating policy dialogue and strengthening partnership. It also focuses on generating new ideas and strategic approaches and Seek reflections and policy recommendations.
Dr Berhanu Beyene, Director of AIGD, in his opening speech said that ECSU established African Institute of Governance and Development (AIGAD) which has enormous potential of being a national as well as regional flagship higher learning institute besides to its established legacy of civil service capacity - building for the region, beyond chronicled national effort. By this ECSU illustrates the seriousness with which regional public service capacity building and development as pivotal to collective regional socio-economic development to eliminate conflict and peacelessness in the region and strengthen regional integration through knowledgeable and empowered citizens. AIGAD is working on strengthening the culture of academic discourse and dialogue through research in governance, suitable development strategies, regional integration conflict resolution peace development and other similar issues, Dr Berhanu said.
Mr. Abdul Mohammed, Chief of Staff at African Union Commission, High Implementation Panel for Sudan and The Horn of Africa, a speaker on the workshop in his presentation on “The politics of integration in the Horn of Africa” expressed regional integration is a process and needs the commitment of neighboring states. For African integrations is a compulsion. In the case of Horn of Africa realization of peace and security became a major challenge for integration, Mr. Abdul said. He also noted that regional integration cannot be achieved with hard borders and to pursue soft border it requirements a political commitment.
The other speaker on the workshop H.E. Martin Tlapa, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Czech Republic explained system of export promotion and Czech economic diplomacy. He also recommended to do the right things at the right way and forwarded related ideas from the experiences of Czech Republic for Ethiopian.
Prof. Pasztor Sabolcs, National University of Public Service, Budapest, Hungary, presented a paper entitled “Regional Integration: The experiences of the EU and the Central European Countries”. In his presentation he briefly explained the history of regional economic integration in the Central Eastern Europe.
Dr. Getachew Zeru, from Ethiopian Civil Service University, Africa Institute of Governance and Development (AIGD) in his paper entitled “Ethio- Eritrea Rapprochement and Its Implication Towards Regional Peace and Security” mentioned the historic peace agreement between Ethiopia and Eritrea could transform economic, social political and security situations in the Horn of Africa. To avoid a repeat of history of conflict and transform border areas integrative bridges, Ethiopia and Eritrea need to adopt a roadmap that identify all issues and principles, Dr. Getachew underscored.
On the workshop H.E. Martin Tlapa, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Czech Republic donated books written by Czech and international authors to the university library.