Eritrea
PresentationbyAmbassador Estifanos Afeworki
August 22, 2006

Brief Profile of Eritrea
Languages: Afar, Arabic, Bilen, Hedareb, Kunama, Nara, Saho, Tigre, and Tigrigna languages arespoken;
Religions: Islam, Orthodox Christianity, Catholicism, Protestantism, Judaism and Anna religions
are practiced;
Capital: Asmara
Climate : Eritrea’s topography and climate includes variations in the entire continent of Africa
including the hottest, lowest sites in the planet (Kober Sink -75m) as well as the highest rain in East
Africa (Filfel)
Area: 124,300 sq. kmsPopulation: about 4.2 million
Government: Constitutional republic
Currency: Nakfa
Agriculture: Cereals, edible oils, lentils, vegetables, cut flowers, cotton, coffee, sisal, livestock,fishIndustries: Food processing, beverages, leather products, clothing, textiles, glass making, ceramics
International Ports: Massawa and AssabInternational Airports: Asmara, Massawa and Assab
Duty Free Zone: Massawa
News & Events: Eritrea participated in Aichi Expo 2005-Japan and received Global 100 EchoTech Award

Significance of Eritrea to Africa and the world
TRADE CORRIDOR :between Africa and thecommercial centers of
the Red Sea, the Mediterranean
and the Indian Ocean (startingfrom the 3rd millennium BC
Phoronic and Hellenistic period
for incense, ivory, animal skins,slaves, obsidian, gold andother precious materials)

Significance of Eritrea to Africa:
COASTLINE (1200km)
Most heavily trafficked maritime
route (Europe-Middle/Far East).
Ideal for transiting maritime trafficand settling free zones for exportoriented goods
Easy access to land, sea and air linkto and from the hinterlands of Africa
Abundant natural resources
Endowed with 360 Virgin Islands
for eco-tourism
Populated by open, honest andhardworking people who are proudof their history and heritage

Significance of Eritrea to the Horn:
Strategic geographic
location
Fertile agriculturalland
More than adequate
potential of water
resources
Good basis of humanresources
Massive displacementof population
Nationalism /self-reliance
Women’s unique role
New economic policy

Eritrea’s economic potential:
AGRICULTURE
Potential(crop , fruit
cultivation
and animalhusbandry
practicedfor millennium)
FISHING
Potential
70,000 tons/year
fish harvest(FAO estimates)

Eritrea’s natural resources:
Mineralssalt, gold, silver,sulpher,potash, zinc, copper, lead,iron ore, granite, marble,
limestone, etc
Deposits of oil and natural
gas commercially recoverable
along the Red Sea coast is
believed to be substantial;
and a potential for developing
thermal and other alternate
sources of energy are
indicated in studies andsurveys madePeace and stability in the region:
Peace treaty between Ethiopia andEritrea made on border conflict(December 2000)
Sudan is actively engaged in peace
and political reform
Ethiopia is actively engaged inpolitical reform
Kenya is actively engagedin political reform
Somalia is actively engaged inpeace process“Customs Union" of East Africa
Community (EAC) (Kenya, Tanzaniaand Uganda) founded (January 2005)
Member states of Inter Governmental
Authority for Development (IGAD)
NB
The indicated (figure ) regional routes
are important to the activities of foreign andregional trade, investment and tourism operators

Location of Eritrea

What is the ancient history of Eritrea?
The Adulite Era ( 9th century BC – 5th century AD) centered in the city –state of Adulis functioned as a major regional center for commerce andtrade. For nearly 1,400 years, the Red Sea coastal city-state of Adulis
functioned as a major regional center for commerce and trade.
The Axumite Empire ( 1st – 9th Century AD) centered in the Eritrean
highlands and what is now known as Tigray in Ethiopia flourished fornearly thousand years. The domain of this Empire included the present day
Yemen. At times this kingdom allied with the Byzantine Empire.
Christianity penetrated to North east Africa in the 4th Century. Mohamed
also sent fifteen of his prophets in 615 to Eritrea before he succeeded inMecca.
Much of Axum Empire was later conquered by the Bejas who wereexpanding southward from Sudan.

Who are the inhabitants of Eritrea?
The earliest hominid remains found in Eritrea date back from two million
years
Stone tools and settlements discovered in Eritrea indicates the earliest
human occupation of a coastal marine environment
The legendary Land of Punt referred to by the Egyptian Pharaohs ispresumed to be in Eritrea
The earliest inhabitants of Eritrea were probably related to the Central
African Pygmies which later co-mingled with the Nilotic, Cushitic andSemitic peoples who migrated here from as far away as the Nubian lowlands
and the Arabian peninsulaWhat is the old history of Eritrea?
nnnn

The five distinct Kingdoms but interrelated Beja kingdoms ( 8th – 13th CenturyAD) stretched from Southern Egypt to north-central Eritrea. An off-shot,known as the Bellou Kingdom, flourished from the 13th to the 16th century inparts of Western Eritrea and Eastern Sudan.
The Bahre Negash Kingdom (14th – 18th centuries) arose in highland Eritrea inthe 14th Century . Its ruler, confirmed by a council of elders, presided over alose federation. This authority declined with advent of the Italians in the 1880
The Ottoman Turks (15th -19th centuries) arrived in the Eritrean coasts at thestart of the 16th century and for the next 300 years controlled the shorelines.
The Egyptian Empire ( 1846-1941) took control of the Ottoman Habesh
Empire until they were defeated by the Mahadist uprising in 1888 in Sudan.

What is the modern history of Eritrea?
Italian Colonization ( 1881 – 1941)
Following the defeat of Italy in World War II, Eritrea was put
under the Protectorate of Britain ( 1941 – 52).
The disposition of Eritrea was given to the new formed UN
which federated Eritrea with Ethiopia ( 1952- 61)
This federation was unilaterally dissolved by Ethiopia in 1961
Thirty years war was fought in Eritrea for independence(1961 – 1991)
Eritrea got its independence in 1993

What is the significance of the history ofEritrea to Japan?
Eritrea has been a center and tributary of many civilizations inAfrica
Events of history in this area before and after the opening ofthe Suez Canal and the Cold War do merit researches andstudies from many angles and perspectives (social, politicaland economic)
The present diversity of culture, religion, ethnic groups,
languages tolerance and strong nationalism that vividly exists
in Eritrea is part and parcel of this long history
This treasury awaits a discovery by governments, development
partners, academicians, students and researchers
Japan should participate in this discovery

Who are the inhabitants of Eritrea ?

What is the local dish in Eritrea?

ArigatoDialogue