Addis Ababa: Italy has been instituting multifaceted diplomatic and economic cooperation with Ethiopia as the country is one of its strategic partners, Italian Ambassador to Ethiopia, Agostino Palese remarked. In an exclusive interview with ENA, Ambassador Palese said that the bilateral ties between the two countries are enduring established with economic, political and social sectors. According to the ambassador, being one of its strategic partners, Italy is working to take the current diplomatic and economic cooperation with Ethiopia to new heights. Italy's engagement in Ethiopia aims at accelerating the economic development and job creation, the ambassador noted. 'We are spending almost more than 300 million Euros in Ethiopia in many sectors. We are making a big project in Jimma, we have a nice project in Shire refurbishing the hospital. We are working in Gondar hospital as well and we have projects in Oromia, Afar; all over the country,' he added. Ethiopia and Italy have good bilateral relationship, the Ambassador, stated, and added that there is huge potential to further elevate it. Italy is also supporting the education and health sectors in Ethiopia, Palese pointed out. 'For Koysha (Hydroelectric Power Project on the Omo River in the South West Region of Ethiopia) under construction by Salini Impregilo; we are financing almost 90 million Euros. So we are in many sectors even the Kebena river (part of the river side development in the capital) we are spending 10 million Euros,' he elaborated. We are actively engaged in various sectors all over the country, Ambassador Palese said, and stressed 'I can say that Ethiopia is one of our strategic partners.' Furthermore, the Ambassador pointed out that Italy is also intervening in preserving the iconic Axum obelisk which will play significant role in the country's tourism. Recall that Ambassador Palese recently said that Ethiopian airlines has played irreplaceable role in connecting people-to-people and economic cooperation not only with Ethiopia but als o with the entire continent of Africa over the past 60 years. Source: Ethiopian News Agency