The Ethiopian Government received more than 57 MT of rice provided by the Japanese government as part of its “Food Assistance Program” on 16 May 2023 through Ethiopian Trading Businesses Corporation. The handover ceremony of the 300 million ETB worth Japanese rice was carried out in the presence of HE Ms Ito Takao, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Ethiopia; Semerta Sewasew, State Minister of Ministry of Finance and Ato Acha Demisse, CEO of ETBC.

During the event it was stated that the aid aims to help increase food stock to be supplied to people affected by such as internal displacements, drought and floods. Ambassador Ito stated the aid will be distributed for the public at affordable prices.

“Food security is not only a concern for Ethiopia, but it has now become one of the largest global challenges. Soaring energy and food prices, climate change, biodiversity loss, and armed conflicts, especially Russia's war of aggression, have disrupted global food systems, including production, as well as fertilizer and energy supply chains, exacerbating food insecurity and worsening malnutrition, particularly in Africa and the Middle East” she said. She also expressed her belief that the aid would help reduce the need to import rice from abroad.

HE Semereta Sewasew stated during the event that the two countries have had long ties and that the provided aid helps strengthen the current relationship between the two countries.

Acha demise, CEO of ETBC, on his part stated that the corporation is fully prepared to distribute the provided aid within a short period of time.