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Ethiopian Transportation Minister, Houston Mayor Sign Cooperation Agreement

As the result of the recent successful Ethiopian Reverse Trade Mission to the USA, organized by Ethio-American Trade & Investment Council (EATIC) and The Embassy of Ethiopia in Washington DC., Houston's Mayor, the Hon. Lee P. Brown, and Ethiopia's Minister of Transportation, H.E Mohamoud Dirir, has signed an airport cooperation agreement between the Bole International Airport of Ethiopia and the Houston Airport System (HAS).

According to Mr.Gezahgen Kebede, President of EATIC, "The goal of the cooperation agreement is to share information and expertise, and establish a relationship that could eventually lead to air service between the two international cities." More than 1,000 Houston area companies trade with African countries, and air cargo trade with Africa accounts for 4.4% of the Houston Airport System's present international cargo market. In 1999 air cargo trade between Houston and Africa totaled 4 million kilograms (1.8 million US pounds). Trade between the Port of Houston and Africa totaled over $2.6 billion in 1999.

The airport cooperation agreement will enable representatives from both George Bush International and Bole International airports to exchange information concerning operations, concessions, finance and human resources. Ethiopia has been active in the Airports Council International's African region familiarization visits to Houston. The Houston Airport System sponsors annual visits for representatives from African airports to share information concerning all areas of airport operations.

Bole International Airport is located at Addis Ababa, and serves as headquarters for Ethiopian Airlines, Ethiopia's national airline and flag carrier. Ethiopian Airlines has recently announced plans to triple its service over the next ten years to make Bole International a major international air transport hub. With 850 daily passenger airline departures, the Houston Airport System is the fourth largest multi-airport system in the nation and the sixth largest in the world.

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