Training of Instructors from Ethiopia

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Shona McKenzie
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1 Speech Of Hon ( Mrs) L. D. Dookun-Luchoomun Minister Of Education & Human Resources, Tertiary Education & Scientific Research Launching Ceremony Training of Tourism and Hospitality Instructors Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Wednesday 22 July 2015 Mr Raj BUSGEETH, Ambassador Designate of Mauritius in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Mr. Francois de Grivel, CBE, Chairperson MITD Board Mr Ravi MEETTOOK, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education and Human Resources, Tertiary Education and Scientific Research Mr Jemal Kedir BIADGLIGNE, National Project Coordinator, Ethiopian Sustainable Tourism Development Project (ESTDP) Mr Dawit Hailu GEBRATSADIK, Director, Catering and Tourism Training Centre, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia MITD Board Members Mr Pradeep Kumar JOOSERY, Officer in Charge, MITD Participants Members of the press MITD staff Distinguished guests Ladies and gentlemen Ladies and gentlemen Good morning. 1

Ethiopia Wednesday 22 July 2015 Mr Raj BUSGEETH, Ambassador Designate of Mauritius in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Mr.

2 It indeed gives me great pleasure to be amongst you this morning for the launching Ceremony of the training of Instructors from the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. I am given to understand that this training will focus on the field of tourism and hospitality and that it is being undertaken under the Ethiopian Sustainable Tourism Development Project (ESTDP), financed by the International Development Association, World Bank. I obviously extend a warm welcome to the 1 st batch of 20 Instructors in Food Preparation, Food & Beverage Service, Pastry Making and Housekeeping. I also recognize the presence of Mr Jemal Kedir BIADGLIGNE, National Project Coordinator, Ethiopian Sustainable Tourism Development Project (ESTDP) and Mr Dawit Hailu GEBRATSADIK, Director, Catering and Tourism Training Centre from the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Ladies and gentlemen, It is interesting that our friends from Ethiopia should have chosen Mauritius for their training programme. Mauritius has a reputation for the peaceful co-existence of an ethnically and racially diverse population and a multiplicity of languages and creeds. And it is this diversity that also characterises the Tourism and Hospitality industry. Indeed, it has been said of that industry that it is one where the tourists, the guests, inevitably come from a diversity of cultural environments; the employees in the sector similarly often have different nationalities. It goes without saying that there is an enrichment of both: both do stand to gain from the opportunity to understand and appreciate new cultural experiences. 2

financed by the International Development Association, World Bank.

3 Indeed, I am tempted, dear participants, ladies and gentlemen, to say that this is what has made Mauritius a prized destination for tourists. Tourism, as the third pillar of the economy after the Export Processing Zone, contributes significantly to economic growth and has proved to be a key factor in the overall development of Mauritius. Some figures would probably help here. For the first five months of 2015, cumulated tourist arrivals in Mauritius increased significantly by 8.9% compared to the same period last year. The one million tourist arrival milestone was finally reached in For 2015, the May forecast is 1.1 Million tourist arrivals or a growth of 5.9% compared to In 2014, the contribution of the tourism sector to national GDP reached 7.2%. Total direct employment in the sector is estimated at 40,400 in According to the survey of large establishments, i.e., those with 10 or more employees, 28,718 people were employed in hotel, restaurant and travel & tourism activities. In fact, Tourism will be called to play an even more important role with the budget of the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority having increased to Rs 560 million and with Government taking a more liberal approach to open air access so as to gear up the tourism sector in Mauritius. Ladies and Gentlemen I would consider this training program for Tourism and Hospitality Instructors from the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to be a symbol of the recognition of Mauritius as a major tourist destination. Which is to say, dear Participants, that the Programme that has been worked out for the 40 or more Instructors from your country carries 3

Some figures would probably help here. For the first five months of 2015, cumulated tourist arrivals in Mauritius increased significantly by 8.9% compared to the same period last year.

4 the qualities that will certainly help to take the norms of hospitality and tourism in your country to new heights. A value-added dimension is included in the training programme because this is a domain where quality and service--delight have to prime. And quality and service- delight are what have typically characterized the MITD Ecole Hôtelière Sir Gaëtan Duval. This Training Centre has, over the years carved a reputation for itself as a Centre of Excellence. In fact, its reputation has gone beyond the local shores in that it has systematically serviced the region and beyond by carrying out different training assignments for foreign nationals from Madagascar, Djibouti, Vanuatu and Comoros, among others, in the last ten years. Distinguished guests, As you are fully aware, one major idea is being regularly canvassed on practically all international platforms and in Conferences. This relates to the building and development of human resource capability through the sharing of good practices and learning also from these practices that haven t worked. This is seen as fundamental to the regional integration process, a process that goes beyond the purely commercial and embraces issues of social policy. Indeed, many of our national policies in Africa, for example, are being framed in regional terms primarily because we all have common goals. Mauritius is all too keen to implement the policy of mutuality of support and believes that national institutions like the Catering and Tourism Training Centre of the Federal Democratic Republic of 4

And quality and service- delight are what have typically characterized the MITD Ecole Hôtelière Sir Gaëtan Duval.

5 Ethiopia and the MITD should be helping each other to attain their common goals. Ladies and Gentlemen, Mauritius has poised itself to assume the new responsibility spearheaded by the African Union to support the African Renaissance. It is a sacred mission that we have tasked ourselves with. And that responsibility is fully operational within the education and training fields. This is why I am therefore confident that the MITD will do its utmost to enrich your learning experience in the field of Hospitality and Tourism. It is also clearly in line with the policy orientation spelled out in the Government Programme to the effect that the MITD will be called upon to position itself as a Regional Training of Trainers Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training in Southern and Eastern African, COMESA and SADC. Without being too immodest about it, Mauritius is positioning itself into a leading regional knowledge hub in the region, and is already crafting its reputation as a reliable and trusted provider of quality education and training. It cannot be otherwise. Let me share with you the fact that Government intends to infuse our country with a new development dynamism with the setting up of 13 employment rich mega projects. 8 of these will be designed on the smart city concept. Such a vast domain relies both on knowledge and 5

It is a sacred mission that we have tasked ourselves with. And that responsibility is fully operational within the education and training fields.

6 innovation-- but also on substantial appropriately- trained labour force, especially at the skilled and middle management level. Again, tourism will maintain its pride of place. New Polytechnics campuses are being set up with emphasis on the provision of middle level professional and technical skills and one of these Polytechnics will offer courses in Tourism and Hotel Management, including Cruise Tourism. I believe, dear participants that both of our countries are condemned to raise the level of tourism which is poised to grow and remain a major generator of revenue. And since we all want to maintain a regional form of tourism, the level of training has to be raised as well. That is always going to be the step in the right direction I am therefore very confident that the MITD Ecole Hôtelière Sir Gaëtan Duval will rise up once again to its responsibility and meet the demands of this new training programme successfully. Ladies & gentleman, on this note, I wish all participants a successful and rich transfer of learning experience with us and a pleasant stay in Mauritius. It gives me great pleasure now to declare this training session open. 6

SPEECH FOR THE SIGNING OF BILATERAL AIR SERVICE AGREEMENT (BASA) WITH BOTSWANA, ETHIOPIA AND MAURITIUS IN GABORONE, BOTSWANA

REPUBLIC OF BOTSWANA SPEECH FOR THE SIGNING OF BILATERAL AIR SERVICE AGREEMENT (BASA) WITH BOTSWANA, ETHIOPIA AND MAURITIUS IN GABORONE, BOTSWANA BY HONOURABLE NONOFO E. MOLEFHI M.P, MINISTER OF TRANSPORT