• Ethiopia secures $13 billion investment pledges at Addis forum

• Deals span manufacturing, agriculture, energy, construction sectors

• Reforms drive inflows, aiming jobs, forex gains, technology transfer

Ethiopia attracted $13 billion in investment commitments at the end of the “Invest in Ethiopia 2026” forum held Thursday and Friday in Addis Ababa.

The deals cover key sectors including manufacturing, agriculture and agro-processing, energy and construction, the Ministry of Finance said.

“These agreements reflect substantial investor interest and long-term commitment to Ethiopia’s development trajectory,” it said.

Authorities said the projects are expected to create jobs, boost foreign currency earnings and support technology transfer, strengthening the country’s economic transformation agenda.

The announcements come as the government implements reforms to improve the investment climate, including exchange rate liberalization, removal of foreign exchange restrictions in special economic zones and a gradual opening to private investors.

Official data show the reforms attracted $2.3 billion in investment in the first half of the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

The previous forum secured $1.6 billion in agreements, which authorities said are now in operation and contributing to economic growth.

Charlène N’dimon