Addis Ababa (TDI): The “Invest in Ethiopia 2026” Forum concluded on Friday, with the signing of investment agreements totaling $13.1 billion across priority sectors, such as manufacturing, agriculture and agro-processing, energy, and construction.
According to the Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC), this marks one of the country’s most significant investment achievements in recent years and signals strong investor confidence in Ethiopia’s economic future.
The new projects are expected to generate substantial jobs, increase foreign exchange earnings, and support technology transfer.
This outcome significantly surpasses last year’s forum, which produced $1.6 billion in agreements all of which are now fully operational and contributing to national growth.
A major milestone achieved by Ethiopia as the investment deals worth $13.1 Billion signed during “Invest in Ethiopia 2026” Investment Forum that concluded today in Addis Ababa.#InvestInEthiopia
Courtesy: @EthioInvestment @MFAEthiopia @ObaOumer pic.twitter.com/olKG335Vlu— Ethiopian Embassy Islamabad (@ETEmbassyISB) March 27, 2026
The two-day event from March 26-27 at the Skylight Hotel in Addis Ababa, themed “Ethiopia: Ready for Business”, attracted over 800 participants from more than 50 countries. It featured policy discussions, sector sessions, B2B matchmaking, and a high-level signing ceremony.
Ethiopian Investment Commissioner Zeleke Temesgen and other senior officials emphasized that the forum is more than an annual event, it’s a mechanism to strengthen partnerships and drive shared prosperity.
Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen also addressed participants, describing the gathering as a moment to connect vision with actionable steps toward economic transformation.
Ethiopia has been strategically positioning itself as one of Africa’s most promising investment destinations. The government has focused on regulatory reforms to create a more competitive, predictable, and investor-friendly environment.
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Key initiatives include the development of modern industrial parks, expansion of infrastructure such as roads, power, and logistics, and targeted promotion of high-potential sectors.
These efforts are supported by Ethiopia’s competitive advantages: a large and youthful population, abundant natural resources, strategic geographic location connecting major regional markets, and access to preferential trade agreements. The forum served as a practical platform to translate policy commitments into concrete investment projects.
This landmark achievement is expected to bolster Ethiopia’s economic trajectory amid its broader goals of sustainable growth, job creation, and industrialization. It also aims to attract significantly higher levels of quality foreign direct investment in the coming years
Muhammad Usman Hashmi
Muhammad Usman Hashmi is a researcher in International Relations, focusing on climate diplomacy, global governance, and political economy in the Global South. He has contributed to policy dialogues with the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia and serves as a Senior Research Fellow at the International Council on Human Rights, Peace and Politics. He is also associated with Rethinking Economics Islamabad, contributing to research on development and sustainability. He can be reached at musmanhashmi99@gmail.com
