SL, Ethiopia partner China for South-South cooperation

• a workshop to promote this concept was held on july 31 under un patronage

Sri Lanka and Ethiopia are partnering China on a trilateral South-South Cooperation programme to promote sustainable energy solutions focused on bio-gas and solar technology in Sri Lanka and Ethiopia with a three-year project duration, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said yesterday.    

A workshop to promote South-South Cooperation on Renewable Energy among Sri Lanka- Ethiopia and China, was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia under the patronage of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Ethiopia’s Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy on July 31, 2019.   
In his welcome address, Resident Representative of UNDP for Ethiopia, Turhan Saleh said the project was being financed by the Chinese Government with a provision of US$2 million, which will be equally shared between Sri Lanka and Ethiopia.   

In his address, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to African Union, Sumith Dassanayake acknowledged the contribution made by the UNDP and Development partners to develop power and energy sector in Sri Lanka. He explained the achievements Sri Lanka had made in the power and energy sector during the past two decades, and the successful involvement of the private sector in renewable energy sector in Sri Lanka.   

The Ambassador said Sri Lankan companies have invented cost effective and reliable power generating plants including solar power units for industrial and domestic use and they have gained high recognition internationally including in the African continent. He invited the participants to obtain the products and services of Sri Lanka’s private sector to fulfil the renewable energy requirements of African countries. 

Sri Lankan companies have invented cost effective and reliable power  generating plants including solar power units for industrial and  domestic use and they have gained high recognition internationally  including in the African continent