March
20, 2013
New
Delhi, March 20 (IANS) Ethiopia, one of the world's most ancient countries, is
broadening its cultural footprint in India, with the opening of the first Ethiopian
Cultural Centre, complete with a traditional coffee shop,
in the capital.
The
centre - a sprawling facility with crafts display rooms, meeting space and an
elegant coffee shop in the diplomatic enclave of Chanakyapuri - will serve the
"purpose of introducing Ethiopian culture to India and to the
international community", Gennete Zewide, the ambassador of Ethiopia to India,
said.
The
centre was inaugurated Tuesday evening by the Ethiopian state minister of
industry Ato Tadesse Haile in the presence of the Ethiopian envoy, Indian
businessmen, a host of dignitaries from African nations, here for the 9th
India-Africa Conclave, and members of the diplomatic corps.
Addressing
the inauguration, Zewide said the major attraction of the Ethiopian Cultural
Centre was an Ethiopian Coffee Shop that will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
and promote the country's rich coffee tradition in India as a symbol of its
cultural bonding. The act of drinking coffee is a ceremonial women's bonding
rite in Africa. Known as the 'Coffee Ceremony', the ritual has a
"cultural, social and economic significance", Zewide said.
"The
women of the community - who work for long hours - sit over coffee to relax and
discuss their problems," Zewide said. The envoy said she was also planning
to add a library for students to study Ethiopian culture and popularise
it".
"There
should be more people to people cultural relationship. We are hoping that the
centre will not be limited to showcasing Ethiopian culture alone. This should
be the seat of other African cultures as well. My other colleagues (from
African nations represented in India) will use it to demonstrate their
culture," the envoy said.
Ethiopia,
the second-most populous country in Africa with 91 million people, and India
share a history of relationship that spans more than 2,000 years, state
industry minister Ato Tadesse Haile said. "Both countries were trading
various items along the Indian Ocean. Currently both Ethiopia and India enjoy
political relations and a fast-growing mutually beneficial economic
cooperation," the minister said.
In
the cultural sector, the two nations engage with the exchange of a large number
of students. "We will be able to play a significant role with the centre
to introduce India to Ethiopian culture," the minister said putting it in
context.
He
said although India and Ethiopia were geographically apart, the centre would
show how close the countries were.
Ethiopia
has inked a new MoU with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) for greater
cooperation in the industrial sector as well. The inauguartion of the centre
was marked by a bouquet of the country's colourful performance traditions.