Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have held discussions on collaborating to modernize government service delivery and build smart governance.

The meeting, held in Abu Dhabi, was attended by Ethiopia’s Special Envoy and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the UAE, Dr. Jemal Beker, and the UAE Minister of State for Government Development and the Future, Ohood Khalfan Al Roumi.

The discussion primarily focused on establishing partnerships to modernize government procedures and shape future smart governance. The two sides exchanged views on bilateral relations and held extensive consultations on opportunities to further strengthen cooperation, particularly in the fields of good governance, innovation, digital transformation, and capacity building.

Ambassador Dr. Jemal outlined Ethiopia’s comprehensive reform agenda and expressed the country’s interest in leveraging the UAE's advanced experience in modernizing government operations, smart governance, and future-oriented development strategies. He pointed out that this would have a significant impact on enhancing Ethiopia's institutional capacity.

Minister of State Ohood Khalfan Al Roumi, on her part, emphasized that in the era of Artificial Intelligence (AI), governments have an obligation to modernize and prepare themselves for the future. In this regard, she confirmed that the UAE is ready to share its best practices and support Ethiopia’s efforts to enhance institutional development and innovation.

At the conclusion of the discussion, the two parties reached an agreement to organize experience-sharing programs regarding smart government service delivery and to work together on building good governance.