Addis Ababa,Feb 06(ENA)--Director General of the British Department for International Development (DfID) said his country was keen to reinvigorate the existing development cooperation with Ethiopia.

Speaking to journalists after conferring with President Girma Woldegiorgis here on Wednesday, Barrie Ireton said Britain had plans to beef up development cooperation and partnership with Ethiopia especially in the areas of capacity building, education and food security.

President Girma said on the occasion that the Governments of Britain and Ethiopia should work hand-in-hand to ensure strong economic partnership, an official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

According to the official, the President and the Director General had dwelt at length on ways of revitalizing the existing development partnership between the two countries.

The British Government had pledged to provide 44 million Pound Sterling in assistance to Ethiopia, the official said, adding out of the stated sum 9 million Pound would be used for the civil service and education sector for a period of one year.

The 30 million Pound Sterling would be made available in a period of three years, and the balance, which is 5 million Pound Sterling, was to be used for Anti-HIV/AIDS program, according to the official.

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