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“OUT
OF AFRICA" IS
OUT-STANDING!
HOUSTON'S
INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL
CELEBRATES AMERICA'S
ETHNIC DIVERSITY WITH AN
OUT OF AFRICA
EXTRAVAGANZA
Houston,
Texas, May 2008:
ETHIOPIA, the cradle of
manking and the
birthplace of coffee,
was in the spotlight for
two fun-filled weeks in
Houston, Texas,
America's 4th largest
city. Thanks to civic
pride, high spirits,
hard work and
initiative, its annual
I-Fest attracts up to
450,000 visitors and is
considered the largest
event of its kind in
North America. This
year's "Out of Africa"
theme featured exhibits
from many African
countries, led by
Ethiopia whose
high-level delegation
included the State
Minister for the
Ministry of Culture and
Tourism, Minister of
Information, Ethiopian
Tour Operators
Association, Ethiopian
Airlines, City
Commissioner, Addis
Ababa and the Ethiopian
Exporters Association,
it was a successful
combined performance.
Many of these
participants provided
copies of Africa Travel
Magazine's new Ethiopia
Millennium edition from
their exhibits. Keynote
speaker for the opening
luncheon was Andrew
Young, former U.S.
congressman, mayor of
Atlanta, Georgia, and
the United States' first
African-American
Ambassador to the United
Nations. The mayor's
gala dinner was an
opportunity for the
Ethiopian delegation to
meet and greet Houston's
leaders in the business
community.-
Continued
Photo
(above) Mr. and Mrs.
Kebede at Mayor's Gala,
Houston, Texas, I-Fest
2008
... Africa
Travel
Magazine.
 His
Excellency Ambassador
Mahmoud
Dirir,
Ethiopia's
Minister of Culture and
Tourism:
By
Seifu Mahifere. As
fascinating and
challenging the world of
journalism is, it is
also clear that,
especially in this era
of globalization, the
rewards that could be
reaped from a proper and
committed application of
the enormous powers of
the profession are
indeed great and
decisive. It was thus
only natural that the
first step Ambassador
Mohammed Dirir took to
contribute his share to
the salvation of the
traditionally
disadvantaged - and
relegated - people of
his home town in the
Somali Region of
Ethiopia was to take
refuge behind the
multifarious effects of
that noble instrument we
call the press.
Continued
.
Google
Score
 PRESIDENT
OF ETHIOPIA, HOUSTON
BUSINESS LEADERS DISCUSS
TOURISM AND
TRADE
.
President
Girma Wolde-Giorgis and
Jeff Moseley at the
Greater Houston
Partnership.
Photo
Credit: David Brown
While
in Houston today to tour
the Houston Museum of
Natural Science (HMNS),
future site of "Lucy's
Legacy: The Hidden
Treasures of Ethiopia,"
Girma Wolde-Giorgis,
president of Ethiopia,
also met with local
business leaders,
including airline and
coffee industry
representatives, to
discuss tourism and
trade between Houston
and Ethiopia. "Many
opportunities await my
country and Houston as
we forge a partnership
based on friendship and
trust," said
Wolde-Giorgis. "Ethiopia
is a stable democracy
with a rich history that
offers many
possibilities for
expanded commerce."
Wolde-Giorgis' itinerary
included a meeting with
local coffee industry
executives; James Hilton
and Leo Vasquez of
Maximus Coffee Group -;
to determine ways to
strengthen Ethiopia's
coffee trade. Houston
boasts one of the
top-ranked coffee
exchange ports in the
world and is home to
approximately 50
coffee-related
companies. Additionally,
the president met with
airline officials to
propose the
establishment of a
direct flight from Addis
Abbaba to Houston via
the country's official
airline, Ethiopian
Airlines. "President
Wolde-Giorgis' visit
reinforces the
Partnership's goal to
position Houston as a
gateway to global
markets," said Jeff
Moseley, president and
CEO, Greater Houston
Partnership. "We look
forward to continuing a
long and
mutually-beneficial
relationship with the
premiere of 'Lucy's
Legacy' at HMNS at the
end of August and
beyond." "Lucy's Legacy:
The Hidden Treasures of
Ethiopia" is scheduled
to premiere at HMNS in
August 2007. Lucy is
thought to be one of
mankind's earliest
ancestors, dating back
3.2 million years, and
her visit to Houston
will mark the first time
ever leaving the
continent of Africa for
exhibition.
Continued
(OUT OF
AFRICA)
A
solid foundation for the
program was established
by the Honorary Consul
General of Ethiopia, in
Houston, Texas the
Honorable Gezahgen
Kebede and President and
founder of EATIC, The
Ethio-American Trade and
Investment Council,
based in Houston. The
Honorary Consul General
of Ethiopia was
instrumental bringing
the event to Houston and
had a major role during
the two week long
celebration in mid
April. He also enlisted
the support of the
Ethiopian Minister of
Culture and Tourism, of
the Federal Democratic
Republic of Ethiopia,
Ethiopian Ministry of
Information, and the
Embassy of Ethiopia in
Washington and Ethiopian
Airlines
The
show was a real eye
opener for Texans and
thousands from
neighboring states, who
enjoyed an authentic
"Taste of Ethiopia" in
the heart of America.
Attractions included a
lifelike replica of a
rock church from
Lalibela in Northern
Ethopia and a landmark
from Harrar in the
Ethiopia's Eastern zone.
Performances by the
Ethiopian National Dance
Group were staged during
the show and at venues
throughout the city.
Ethiopian fashion shows,
arts and crafts
displays, traditional
textile and garments,
Ethiopian coffee and
Ethiopian fresh cut
flowers were available
from the many exhibits.
The result was an
opportunity for
Ethiopians to introduce
their products and learn
that they must be
competitive to succeed
in the US
market.
About
I-Fest
I-Fest
is a massive outdoor
events celebration,
stretching across 16
acres of Houston
downtown parks and
streets. Projected
attendance has been
estimated at 425,000
visits annually with
over $ 7.9 million USD
generated in trade
advertising and
publicity. The
Festival's demographics
include high-ranking
government dignitaries,
business leaders and
general public from
Texas and surrounding
States.
Ethiopia's
Lucy Legacy Wins
Raves
Houston's African
involvement has a solid
base. "Lucy's Legacy:
The Hidden Treasures of
Ethiopia" is drawing
raves from across the
USA. This international
exhibition was organized
by The Houston Museum of
Natural Science in
collaboration with the
Ministry of Culture and
Tourism of the Federal
Democratic Republic of
Ethiopia and the
Ethiopian Exhibition
Coordinating Committee.
Her exhibit has been a
big hit in the USA,
judging by these
comments: "Lucy's worth
more than
diamonds."
"We
have come from Santiago,
Chile to see the
exhibit."
"An
inspiration to go to
Ethiopia."
"All
the way from Argentina
to meet Lucy.
"Please
thank the government of
Ethiopia for this
once-in-a-lifetime
experience!"
"Hey
Lucy! What a joy it was
to get to see you in
person!"
"A
tremendous teaching
opportunity for the
youth of Houston."
"Absolutely
phenomenal! What a
pleasure! What an
education!"
"I
had no idea how much
Ethiopia added to our
civilization!"
"I
have been truly blessed
to have stood and looked
at Lucy."
"Lucy
speaks after 3.2 million
years. Our story must be
heard."
About
EATIC
The
Ethio-American Trade and
Investment Council is a
nonprofit, nonpartisan,
tax-exempt membership
organization dedicated
to strengthening and
facilitating trade and
investment between
Ethiopia and USA. For
the past fifteen years,
EATIC has played an
active role in getting
the word out to many
American business
communities to view the
Ethiopian investment and
tourism opportunity
first hand.
For
more
information:
Ethio
-American Trade and
Investment Council,
9301 Southwest, Freeway,
250, Houston, Texas,
77071
713-271-7567, Web Site:
www.eatic.org
Houston
International
Festival
4203 Montrose Blvd.,
Suite 200, Houston,
Texas 77006,
713.654.8808 E-mail:
contactus@ifest.org
Africa Travel
Magazine
M ember of the Africa
Travel Association
E-Mail:
africa@dowco.com
Website:
http://www.africa-ata.org/bulletins.htm
Tel. 604 681 0718, Fax
604 681 6595
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