Invest in Ethiopia – High-Level Business Forum Takes Place in Ethiopia

Invest in Ethiopia – High-Level Business Forum 2025 took place from May 12 – 13 at the Skylight Hotel, Addis Ababa. Under the theme “Ethiopia: The Next Frontier for Investment Unlocking Untapped Potential”, the forum brought together the Government of Ethiopia (GoE), global investors, private sector leaders, and development partners. With Ethiopia’s historic macroeconomic reform in July 2024, a $3.9 billion foreign direct investment (FDI) in the same year, other overarching reforms that has been taking place since 2018, and an average GDP growth rate of 7.1% from 2019 to 2023, the country is positioning itself as a strategic hub for investment in Africa.

The Forum comes at a pivotal time as Ethiopia undertakes far reaching macroeconomic reform aimed at rebalancing the economy and unlocking private sector growth. Reforms include the introduction of a market-based foreign exchange regime and the opening of key sectors such as finance, banking, and logistics to foreign direct investment (FDI). These steps reflect a new policy direction focused on long-term resilience, job creation, and structural transformation.

Over the two days, participants engaged in a series of insightful panel discussions and breakout sessions exploring investment opportunities and challenges across priority sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, mining & energy, ICT, and service sectors. Pre-event Public-Private Dialogues (PPDs) on legal predictability, taxation, and customs created space for open exchange, surfacing key concerns and actionable pathways forward. Pre-event public-private dialogues on legal predictability, taxation, and customs created space for open exchange, surfacing key concerns and actionable pathways forward.

The Development Partners Group (DPG), co-organizer of the event along with Ministry of Finance and Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC), has been represented by its current co-chairs. Léandre Bassole, Co-Chair of the DPG Ethiopia, commended the government’s efforts to tackle structural challenges. “Thanks to the Government of Ethiopia’s leadership, the country has embarked on an ambitious macroeconomic reform path with the support of the international development community. These reforms aim to improve the business climate and grow the economy” he said, urging participants to engage deeply in the forum’s deliberations.

Representing the DPG, Ambassador Joshua Tabah of Canada acknowledged the steps Ethiopia is taking to address investor concerns. “We know investors are concerned about security, property rights, taxation, and logistics”, he said. “We appreciate the government’s commitment to addressing them. Development partners stand ready to work with Ethiopia and the private sector to unlock Ethiopia’s full potential” added Ambassador Tabah.

The event concluded with a deal signing ceremony, where different agreements valued at nearly $1.6 billion in capital investment were signed between the EIC and various investors. Notably, three of these agreements involve solar cell manufacturing, signaling growing interest in Ethiopia’s renewable energy potential.

Commissioner Zeleke Temesgen of the EIC reaffirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to improving the investment climate. “With a predictable regulatory framework and institutional support, going forward, there are ample opportunities for both new and existing investors” stated the Commissioner.

As Ethiopia redefines its economic landscape and business environment, Invest in Ethiopia – HLBF 2025 marks a significant milestone in its journey toward becoming an investment hub in Africa. Actionable next steps and continued dialogue will be critical to turn the promise of reform into tangible results for businesses and communities alike.