Addis Ababa: Heads of Ethiopian Diplomatic and Consular Missions overseas, who have gathered in Addis Ababa for the annual retreat, visited the Institute of Foreign Affairs (IFA) this afternoon. State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Mesganu Arga, remarked that the think tank plays a crucial role in helping bring about an institutional shift towards a foreign policy implementation guided by research and development, continued capacity development of Foreign Service personnel, and projection of Ethiopia's positive image in tandem with championing the strategic interests of Ethiopia, in particular. He also called upon the ambassadors to solicit practical support from fellow think tanks in the respective countries they are based in to further strengthen IFA's executive capabilities. At the IFA, the envoys were given a brief highlight and tour of the facilities by the Executive Director of the Institute, Jafar Bedru. A veteran researcher and current Director General of the Diplomatic Think Tank at the Institute, Melaku Mulualem, also made a presentation on the history, current standing and future trajectory of the institution. Director General for African Affairs at the Institute, Wuhibegzer Ferede, provided a brief summary of potential areas of cooperation, including research and development, capacity building, knowledge management and facilitating policy discussions, among others. Afterwards, the envoys reflected on ways of further strengthening the capacity of the institute through collaboration with similar entities and key takeaways from their visit. IFA is an independent foreign policy research institution affiliated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs designed to foster diplomatic excellence through research, policy dialogues, and career advancement in the country's foreign service. Source: Ethiopian News Agency