Addis Ababa, August 17, 2025 (ENA) -- The Ethiopian Water Technology Institute (EWTI) said that it has been enhancing national and regional capacity in water technology. Speaking to ENA, Tamene Hailu, Director General of the Institute, said that the institute has been providing effective, hands-on training in water technology to participants from more than fifteen African countries. He underscored the institute's growing role in improving Ethiopia’s water access through practical and affordable solutions. EWTI has been implementing low-cost technologies that enable communities to extract and sustainably utilize groundwater. Last Ethiopian fiscal year, the institute introduced these technologies across various regions, making groundwater more accessible to local populations. Tamene stressed that the institute’s priority is equipping water technology experts with practical skills to solve local challenges. He recalled that water losses caused by minor technical faults had long plagued many areas. Thanks to EWTI’s training programs, experts are now able to effectively address these issues, helping to reduce shortages and improve community water supply. Beyond its national impact, the institute also conducts capacity-building programs for international participants. Countries such as Sudan, Somalia, Nigeria, and other East and West African nations have sent representatives for specialized training, particularly in groundwater drilling. According to Tamene, the demand for EWTI’s programs continues to rise, reflecting their effectiveness and acceptance across the continent. He affirmed the institute’s ambition to become a continental center of excellence in water technology. Trainees commended the practical nature of the courses, noting that the skills gained would help them expand water access and better respond to water scarcity challenges in their respective regions.

Addis Ababa, August 16, 2025 (ENA)— The International Solar Alliance (ISA) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening support toward fulfilling the huge potential of solar development in Ethiopia. Commending the nation's macroeconomic reform for creating an enabling ecosystem, International Solar Alliance Director-General Ashish Khanna told ENA that the alliance is here in Ethiopia to support its ambition in developing the huge potential of solar development. “We are here in Ethiopia, to help Ethiopia fulfill its potential for a huge solar development. We signed a country partnership framework which will allow us to work over the next three years on how to help Ethiopia develop projects, policies and an ecosystem.” Accordingly, “we have signed an agreement to help produce 400 megawatts of a large grid utility.” Noting that such projects can bring in a lot of important private investment into the country, the director-general said a 100-kilowatt solar rooftop has been built on the premises of Ministry of Water and Energy. Stressing the need to build the capability of Ethiopians, Khanna added that Ethiopians must take charge of their own programs on solar power development. ISA's center of excellence, the Solar Technology Application Resource Center is already training Ethiopians at the Addis Ababa University, he said. Ethiopia is implementing significant macroeconomic reforms focused on creating a more business-friendly environment, and attracting foreign investment. With regard to this, the director general noted that “once a country undertakes big microeconomic reforms, it is quite important that a lot of private sectors led growth and investment starts happening, because the government will have its own resources.” For the director-general, solar power development is a sector that can attract a lot of private investment, and the timing is absolutely right. After having undertaken the macroeconomic reforms, the right policy environment and the right ecosystem allow a lot of private sector investment in the solar development sector, he pointed out. “So this enabling ecosystem, because of the timing, is absolutely the right time for Ethiopia to have detailed programs to now attract private sector investment.” Water and Energy State Minister Sultan Welle recently affirmed that Ethiopia is uniquely positioned to leverage solar energy not only to meet domestic needs but also to become an energy hub. Ethiopia is actively working in creating an enabling environment for sustainable energy projects, empowering local communities, and ensuring clean energy for all Ethiopians as developing solar energy is one of the priorities of the government.

Addis Ababa, August 16, 2025 (ENA)— Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said the "Dine for Generations" projects underway in Arba Minch will enable the city to host large conferences and become a leading tourist destination. After inspecting completed and ongoing development projects in the city today, he noted that the initiative is grand in scope. With continued effort, the city renowned for its natural beauty, abundant springs, and lush landscapes, is poised to become a significant source of revenue for Ethiopia's tourism industry, the premier added. During his visit, Abiy toured key projects including the Dine for Generations projects, the Arba Minch Riverside project, and ongoing corridor developments, all aimed at enhancing the city's appeal and tourist-friendliness. The PM expressed his admiration for the "Dine for Generations" project, describing it as a "huge" and "proud" undertaking. He visited facilities, which include large conference venues, syndicate rooms, a unique restaurant, and approximately 100 guest rooms, making the city ideal for hosting major international conferences and receiving guests. Moreover, the Prime Minister highly praised the Arba Minch Riverside project, drawing a comparison to Addis Ababa's riverside developments. Unlike the urban scenery along the Addis Ababa riversides, Arba Minch offers a unique experience with abundant banana and mango trees flanking the riverbanks, creating an ideal environment for nature walks and cycling, he said. Abiy underscored the vast potential of the riverbanks for future development, including the construction of dams, and expressed satisfaction that 100 percent of the raw materials for the gabion works along the riverbanks were sourced locally. Regarding the corridor development, the PM acknowledged significant progress since his last visit, stating that the "results are visible." Furthermore, he expressed pleasure with the initial stages of the walkways, bike routes, and green areas, and commended the city's residents for maintaining Arba Minch's cleanliness, which he said instills hope for further development. Guests staying at hotels on the mountains can now directly access Arba Minch and its forests via a new hiking road. The premier described the unique confluence of forests, water, and mountains in Arba Minch as "God's ultimate manifestation of kindness," requiring only "a little human effort" to enhance its esthetics, provide excellent services, and make it a truly remarkable destination. Prime Minister Abiy stressed that Ethiopia possesses unparalleled natural beauty and resources, if developed, can serve as havens for future generations, fostering creativity, relaxation, and economic prosperity. "(We) Ethiopians must recognize what we have been given. We are rich. We have everything; we are not a people who talk about problems," he stated emphatically. He finally urged all Ethiopians to visit and enjoy Arba Minch, affirming that "Ethiopia is being built, both left and right," and that the era of visible and tangible development is now undeniably present.

Addis Ababa, August 16, 2025 (ENA)— Various improved hybrid seeds notably wheat and barley have yielded increased production and productivity, according to the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR). In an exclusive interview with ENA, EIAR Director General Prof. Nigussie Dechassa said that the institute is playing crucial role to boost production by releasing improved hybrid crop varieties of wheat and maize barley among others and disseminating to farmers across the country. He mentioned that some 10 wheat hybrid varieties have been released through research. Hence, these hybrid varieties played significant role in enhancing the productivity and production of wheat crop both through summer wheat cultivation and meher crop season over the last seven years, he said. Citing that 14-15 quintals of wheat on average was obtained per hectare 20 years ago, the professor said that the yield now has increased to 36 quintals on average and maximum 80 quintals per hectare. With the hybrid varieties of barley, we can fully address the demands of malt for breweries by producing excessively. He recalled that Ethiopia used to import barley for malt as an input for breweries but now, we have attained our consumption barley by local harvesting over the last 10 years. The maize production has also boosted production through research, registering 50-70 quintal per ha. and maximum 130 quintals, he underlined. Though Ethiopia’s agro-ecology is favourable to produce soybean extensively, the cop has yet to be given attention, Prof. Nigussie stated. By now, research has been conducting on soybean, he said. According to the professor, 26 varieties of soybean have been identified, with the potential of increasing the output from the previous 17-23 quintals per hectare to 20-26 quintals per hectare. Beyond its significance of household food nutrition value, soybean can also be commercialized for export trade, he underlined.

Addis Ababa, August 16, 2025 (ENA)—During his recent visit to Arba Minch, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed reviewed the progress of the ‘Dine for Generations’ project and other local developments. In a social media post, he praised the city, describing it as naturally beautiful. “We recently undertook a review of the Dine for Generations project while visiting developments in the city. This initiative is grand in scope and will enable Arba Minch to host large conferences,” he said. The Premier further noted that the Kulfo Riverside development is also a remarkable addition to the city’s unique attributes, while corridor works have expanded significantly since his last review. At the Arbaminch Forest, new access routes have been developed, opening the way to the mountain, waterway, and surrounding forests, Abiy pointed out. “These improvements, along with similar works we’ve seen in multiple cities outside of Addis, demonstrate that we have many options and untapped potential. This progress is a clear sign that when we commit our efforts, we can achieve great things collectively,” he underscored.

Addis Ababa, August 15, 2025 (ENA) -- Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed asserted that Ethiopia holds advantages over many other countries in terms of solar panel manufacturing sites. Today, the Prime Minister visited the Toyo Solar Power Plant, which has been constructed within the Hawassa Industry Park. He recalled that during his visit to the Toyo Solar Power Plant in Vietnam, he reached an agreement with the company’s president to produce solar power plants in Ethiopia. “Following our visit to the Vietnam Toyo Solar site and our discussion with the President, who had promised they would begin producing solar panels, we are pleased to see that they are now producing solar cells at their plant within the Hawassa Industry Park,” Abiy said earlier today on social media post.   The facility boasts impressive quality, large-scale capacity, and a highly automated system, he added. This operation is expected to contribute a significant share to manufacturing exports. While two additional facilities are still under construction, Abiy said “today we reviewed the one that has already become operational. This aligns strongly with our investment strategy, which focuses on value-added projects that meet our set targets and policies, representing truly game-changing investments.” According to Abiy, the current strategy of the government is to attract investors who possess experience and expertise. Skilled and knowledgeable investors are arriving to engage their expertise and financial resources, he said, emphasizing that these investors possess adequate funding and experience, which can be effective when combined with the substantial support extended to them.   He mentioned that similar initiatives will persist in other sectors, such as the Toyo Solar Power Plant, revealing that two additional factories are currently under construction and are expected to be completed in the next month. Abiy asserted that Ethiopia holds advantages over many other nations regarding solar panel manufacturing sites, as there are numerous competitive factors, including energy pricing, the availability and quality of educated human power, geographical convenience, and supportive government policies. The Prime Minister underscored that the Ethiopian government is concentrating on game-changing projects aimed at achieving the country’s established goals and policies.

Addis Ababa, August 15, 2025 (ENA)—Some 148 rural kebeles across the country have gained access to electricity during the 2017 Ethiopian fiscal year, according to Ethiopian Electric Utility. Ethiopian Electric Utility CEO Getu Geremew briefed the media on the performance of the just concluded Ethiopian budget year and the plan of the present fiscal year. According to him, various initiatives were undertaken to enhance service delivery and expand electricity access over the past year. These efforts included upgrading distribution lines, improving customer service, increasing electricity availability, and addressing power quality challenges. In this regard, the CEO pointed out that 148 rural kebeles were electrified, with more than 500,000 new customers accessing electricity. Through these, Ethiopian Electric Utility generated 63.12 billion Birr in revenue from energy sales and other sources during the fiscal year, marking a 20.65 percent growth compared to the previous year.

Addis Ababa, August 15, 2025 (ENA) --- Russian enterprises have expressed interest in various sectors, including the production of fertilizers, food processing and the assembly of agricultural machinery, according to Ethiopian Embassy in Moscow. The Embassy of Ethiopia in Russia, in collaboration with the Moscow City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, hosted a manufacturing-focused investment forum bringing together the Chamber’s leadership and representatives from 29 Russian companies eager to explore opportunities in Ethiopia. Moscow Chamber President Vladimir Mikhailovich Platonov praised the deep-rooted ties between Ethiopia and Russia and underlined Russia’s growing engagement with African and Asian nations. He highlighted the Chamber’s training programs for African partners, its role in connecting businesses, and its commitment to boosting two-way trade and investment. Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Russia, Genet Teshome, called the forum a key step in strengthening both diplomatic and commercial links.   He outlined Ethiopia’s vast trade and investment potential, invited Russian companies to seize emerging opportunities, and pledged the embassy’s full support for future business ventures. Deputy Head of Mission, Ambassador Roza Yerukneh, detailed Ethiopia’s manufacturing strengths, from agro-processing and pharmaceuticals to textiles and engineering, alongside government incentives in special economic zones. On the occasion, Russian companies signaled interest in sectors including fertilizer production, food processing, agricultural machinery assembly, waste recycling, and construction materials.

Addis Ababa, August 15, 2025 (ENA) – Botswana and Ethiopia have been building strong bilateral ties, with both countries expressing renewed commitment to strengthening existing cooperation in key areas, including agriculture, aviation, trade, and peacebuilding, according to Botswana’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Tebelelo Boang. In an exclusive interview with the Ethiopian News Agency, Botswana’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Tebelelo Boang, described the relationship between the two countries as “excellent,” rooted in shared values such as respect for the rule of law, African unity, and multilateralism. “We are people who share common values... and we firmly believe in African unity,” said Ambassador Boang, highlighting the warmth and openness that define both societies. Agriculture stands at the forefront of this growing partnership. Ambassador Boang confirmed that Ethiopia and Botswana are finalizing a memorandum of understanding to boost collaboration in agricultural development. Botswana, widely recognized for its high-quality beef and veterinary services, sees strong potential in working with Ethiopia, which has made notable progress in both livestock and crop production. The Botswana Vaccine Institute, accredited by the World Organisation for Animal Health, manufactures veterinary medicines that could support Ethiopia’s livestock health initiatives and food security efforts. He also praised Ethiopia’s advancements in soil mapping and its leadership in the leather industry. Botswana is eager to draw from Ethiopia’s experience to develop its own leather production and agricultural value chains. Connectivity between the two nations has grown, notably through Ethiopian Airlines, which operates daily flights to Gaborone and launched a new route in June 2024 to Maun, Botswana’s key tourism hub. A partnership between Ethiopian Airlines and the Botswana Meat Commission enables the air transport of Botswana’s premium beef to global markets, boosting trade. Tourism and cultural exchange are also seen as promising areas of cooperation. Ambassador Boang noted that both countries, rich in natural beauty and heritage, could benefit from stronger collaboration in the sector. On the diplomatic front, Boang highlighted the shared commitment of the two countries to regional peace and security. “Both countries currently serve on the African Union Peace and Security Council and share a strong commitment to promoting peace and stability across the continent,” he said. Ambassador Boang also commended Ethiopia’s peacekeeping role, particularly in Somalia, and reaffirmed Botswana’s support for Ethiopia’s leadership in the region. He emphasized that both nations are committed to a rules-based multilateral system and continue to work closely in forums such as the United Nations, the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), and the Group of 77. With expanding cooperation and shared priorities, Ethiopia and Botswana are advancing a model of intra-African collaboration for sustainable development, peace, and prosperity.

Addis Ababa, August 15, 2025--Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has visited solar cells facility at the Hawassa Industrial Park. Prime Minister Abiy wrote on his social media post: "The facility boasts impressive quality, large-scale capacity, and a highly automated system. This operation is expected to contribute a significant share to manufacturing exports."   The Premier recalled “Following our visit to the Vietnam Toyo Solar site and our discussion with the President, who had promised they would begin producing solar panels, we are pleased to see that they are now producing solar cells at their plant within the Hawassa Industry Park.”   While two additional facilities are still under construction, today we reviewed the one that has already become operational, Abiy said, adding this aligns strongly with our investment strategy, which focuses on value-added projects that meet our set targets and policies, representing truly game-changing investments.

Addis Ababa, August 15, 2025 (ENA) – Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan will, for the third time, host the BRICS and SCO Young Leaders Award – an international competition aimed at identifying talented young people and recognising the contribution of young leaders to the development of socially significant spheres. The event is scheduled to take place from 17th to 19th August 2025 with TV BRICS designated as the international media partner for this occasion. According to TV BRICS, this year, representatives from nine countries – India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Russia – will participate in the final. The participants will be winners in five categories: "Research & Innovation Project of the Year", "Social Solution of the Year", "Public Diplomacy Project of the Year", "Eco-Initiative of the Year", and "Young Media Influencer of the Year". In 2025, approximately 45 people competed for each competitive place, with over 450 applications submitted in total. Interest in the award was shown not only by BRICS and SCO countries but also by other nations. The finalists are the authors of large-scale projects: media initiatives promoting national culture, tourism and science; educational platforms based on artificial intelligence; developments in the field of high technology, including systems for early diagnosis of oncological diseases and solutions for human-drone interaction; social innovations; public diplomacy programmes; and environmental projects. The award is organised by the Academy of Youth Diplomacy, with the support of the Ministry for Youth Affairs of the Republic of Tatarstan, as well as the SCO National Centre for Public Diplomacy, the Project Office of International Youth Cooperation "Russia – BRICS" and others.

Addis Ababa, August 15, 2025 (ENA) -- Ethiopia has officially gazetted its Provisional Schedule of Tariff Concessions (PSTCs), marking a significant step toward the full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement. The gazetting process serves as an official government announcement, enhancing transparency and ensuring that businesses, organizations, and citizens are informed about new trade regulations coming into force, , according to Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In a statement on social media, the AfCFTA Secretariat emphasized that this move provides traders with clarity and legal certainty, confirming that Ethiopia will grant preferential tariff treatment to eligible goods in line with its commitments under the AfCFTA framework. By formalizing its PSTCs, Ethiopia joins other member states in operationalizing AfCFTA provisions aimed at boosting intra-African trade, reducing tariff barriers, and fostering economic integration across the continent. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a flagship project of Agenda 2063, Africa's development framework. The initiative was adopted during the 18th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in January 2012.

Addis Ababa, August 14, 2025 (ENA) -- Ethiopia has created a better business environment for the private sector in the energy sector and other areas in general by opening up its economy and revising investment policies, Water and Energy State Minister Sultan Welle said. Addressing a panel discussion organized by the Ministry of Water and Energy and International Solar Alliance on Ethiopia’s solar energy today, the state minster said Ethiopia has abundant renewable energy. “I can definitely say without any doubt that all renewable energies available in the world are also available in Ethiopia, even though the extent and the locations and the generation might matter.” So far, in comparison with the potential the nation has, the power it generated is actually quite limited, he pointed out. Noting that the country has been implementing a national electrification program, he said the main objective of this program is actually to fully electrify Ethiopia using all alternative sources. According to him, the plan is to electrify 65 percent of the people from the main grid, and the remaining from the off-grid technologies. “Just a couple of years ago, we used solar mainly for cooking and lighting alone, but now we go beyond that.”   Solarization doesn't only stand for generating electricity for lighting and cooking, but also for productive use too, he noted, urging domestic and international private sectors to come and engage with Ethiopia. For the state minister, transforming the agriculture sector, which plays a significant role in supporting the nation’s economy, is essential. He stressed the need to use the abundant ground and surface resources the country has, since shortage of power is the limiting factor to transform the nation’s agricultural resources.   “There is a better environment for the private sector to carry out every kind of development activity in Ethiopia. We opened up our economy mainly to boost our production and to realize the prosperity of the country.” The state minister pointed out that Ethiopia has already revised its investment policies, not only the agriculture or energy sector, but also in every sector which has created a better environment for the private sector. On his part, International Solar Alliance Director-General Ashish Khanna said Ethiopia has huge renewable energy potential, which is still underutilized.   He underscored that Ethiopia is already undertaking big economic reforms, noting that the timing is right for the sector is to move ahead at a faster pace. Khanna reaffirmed the alliance’s commitment to provide support based on the priorities of the Ethiopian government, including advancing Ethiopia's solar transformation.

Addis Ababa, August 14, 2025 (ENA)— The Africa50 General Shareholders Meeting (GSM) is currently underway in Maputo, Mozambique, brings together a high-level network of investors to discuss infrastructure development in the continent. Africa50 is a platform that brings together a high-level network of investors, multilateral institutions and government leaders to shape the future of infrastructure development in Africa. This year's General Shareholders Meeting, hosted by the Government of Mozambique, is taking place under a heightened global uncertainty and shifting geopolitical dynamics. The gathering is pushing for infrastructure roll-outs in key sectors on the continent. As the world grapples with geopolitical issues, Africa is on a drive to mobilize its resources to cushion against the repercussions of the global uncertainty. It’s a crucial moment as the Africa50 is hosting its general shareholders meeting in the Mozambican capital Maputo. The entity says more countries are coming on board, it was stated. Africa50 CEO, Alain Ebobisse said the continent is capable of mobilizing its resources and engage in intra-trade to mitigate the global economic hurdles. “In the past five months, we have witnessed growing geopolitical uncertainties, an economic nationalism, retreat of financial development,” says Ebobisse. The African Continental Free Trade Area Secretary General, Wamkele Mene, says member states should look within in to tackle persistent challenges. “Many countries in Africa closed to 30 countries are beneficiaries of African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) and with these tariffs, we have seen nullification of Agoa. Markets access to the United States is now gone. For example, Lesotho has lost about $780b worth of the exports to the US because of the tariffs,” says Mene. On his part, outgoing African Development Bank President, Dr Akinwumi Adesina said the meeting discussed an important component of running the continental economy. “Infrastructure is a major thing for Africa. Infrastructure if you don’t have it, your economy cannot run. And Africa has an infrastructure financing gap,” he adds. This, while delegates are cautiously optimistic that Africa will overcome its challenges and boost infrastructure in a very harsh geopolitical environment.

Addis Ababa, August 14, 2025 (ENA) -- Ethiopia’s Minister of Water and Energy, Habtamu Ittefa, is participating in the Africa Water Investment Summit in Cape Town, South Africa. The summit, organized by the African Union and hosted by the Government of South Africa, follows the decisions made during the 34th African Union Summit.   The summit aims to address the 30 billion USD annual investment gap of Sustainable Development Goal 6 and is attended by Heads of States, Sector Ministers, development partners, financing organizations, the private sector, and beyond. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his opening address, said, "This summit is a landmark moment not only for Africa, but for the global movement for access to safe water for all."   Over the next three days, the conference will cover a diverse array of significant topics. Ethiopia’s Minister is set to engage in several high-level forums to showcase the country’s successful experiences and contributions in the water sector. He will also hold bilateral discussions with development partners and like-minded organizations that have strong ties with Ethiopia.

Addis Ababa, August 14, 2025 (ENA) -- The inaugural Africa Water Investment Summit kicked off in Cape Town, South Africa, with a call to secure safe water for all across the continent. The conference, convened by South Africa as part of its G20 presidency and jointly organized with the African Union (AU), the AU Development Agency, and the African Union-Africa Water Investment Program (AU-AIP) International High-Level Panel on Water Investments, aims to mobilize at least 30 billion U.S. dollars a year to close Africa's water investment gap. The primary objective of the Summit is to accelerate investments in African water and sanitation programs by promoting a pipeline of investible projects, creating an enabling environment for landmark investment partnerships, and facilitating transformative financing. The three-day event brings together African heads of state, G20 representatives, investors, ministers, and development institutions under South Africa's G20 Presidency theme of "Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability." South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his opening address, said, "This summit is a landmark moment not only for Africa, but for the global movement for access to safe water for all."   Ramaphosa took the opportunity to launch the Global Outlook Council on Water Investments, a G20 presidential legacy initiative. "The launch of the Global Outlook Council on Water Investments will see the AIP scaled up into a global water investment platform," he said. "The Global Outlook Council and the Global Water Investment Platform will serve as the world's premier high-level political and investment platform on water," he noted. Ramaphosa underlined four ambitions of the summit: to endorse a summit declaration that commits to scale up investments, improve governance and increase accountability in the water sector; to showcase a pipeline of 80 priority water investment projects from 38 countries; to facilitate matchmaking between governments, finances, and partners; and position water at the highest levels of global political and financial agenda. "The Council will guide the transition from fragmented water investments to a coherent, coordinated, and capitalized global effort through the Global Water Investment Platform," he added.   The Continental Africa Water Investment Programme (AIP) was adopted by African Union Heads of State in 2021 as part of the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa, as an initiative to transform the investment outlook for water and sanitation in Africa. During the summit, delegates will engage in high-level dialogues, project matchmaking sessions, and work toward a Declaration on Water Investments to be adopted at its conclusion, according to Xinhua.

Addis Ababa, August 13, 2025 (ENA) -- Ethiopia is uniquely positioned to leverage solar energy not only to meet domestic needs but also to become energy hub, State Minister of Water and Energy Sultan Welle said. Ethiopia and International Solar Alliance (ISA) have signed Solar Mini-Grid and Solar Park projects in Addis Ababa today. During the occasion, State Minister of Water and Energy Sultan Welle said energy is the driver of growth for any country, emphasizing that Ethiopia has given due attention to properly exploit its energy sector. The State Minister also underscored the significance of development partners in supporting priority areas of the country in developing and transforming solar energy.   For the state Minister, the agreed initiatives exemplify Ethiopia's unwavering commitment to harnessing solar power and improving rural electrification and creating opportunities for socio-economic development. "Our collaborations with the ISA and partner organization will undoubtedly accelerate Ethiopia's energy transition, foster innovation and stimulate investments," he affirmed. With an abundance of solar resources, Ethiopia is uniquely positioned to leverage solar energy not only to meet domestic needs but also to become an energy hub, Sultan underscored. Furthermore, he noted that Ethiopia remains committed to creating an enabling environment for sustainable energy projects, empowering local communities, and ensuring that clean energy reaches all Ethiopians. Director General of the International Solar Alliance Ashish Khanna, on his part, said ISA is mainly supporting Ethiopia in areas of agriculture and mini-grid in rural areas, providing capacity building training, and policy regulatory support, among others.   The Director General also noted that ISA is here to provide support based on the priorities of the Ethiopian government, including advancing Ethiopia's solar transformation.

Addis Ababa, August 13, 2025 (ENA)—The outgoing German Ambassador to Ethiopia Jens Hanefeld hailed Ethiopia’s ongoing homegrown economic reform as a brave, courageous, and highly encouraging step toward the nation’s development. President Taye Atske Selassie recently bid farewell to Ambassador Jens Hanefeld expressing gratitude for the efforts he exerted in deepening the bilateral relations of the two countries. In an exclusive interview with ENA, Ambassador Hanefeld stated that as the two countries mark 120 years of diplomatic relations, Germany regards itself one of Ethiopia's closest allies in Africa. “This is a very special year, as we are celebrating 120 years of diplomatic relations between our two countries. Germany has always considered itself to be a very good friend of Ethiopia, and I think we have had bilateral relations which reflect this in many ways. I myself have had the privilege of being ambassador to Ethiopia,” he underscored. Reflecting on his tenure in Ethiopia, Ambassador Hanefeld noted that the East African nation has been undertaking a far-reaching homegrown economic reform. Particularly, he commended its ongoing macroeconomic and financial sector reforms. “Frankly speaking, the economic reforms, the homegrown economic reform, which is still being implemented in Ethiopia, is a very brave, courageous and encouraging development. This is something which we strongly support, not only through our membership in the international financial institutions like the IMF and the World Bank, but also in a bilateral sense,” the ambassador stated. Currently, Ethiopia has initiated significant economic reforms that have earned global acclamation, particularly from international financial institutions like the IMF and World Bank. These reform, part of a Homegrown Economic Reform Agenda of the nation, aims to transition Ethiopia towards a more inclusive and private sector-led growth model, it was learned. Recognizing Ethiopia as Germany’s largest development partner, Hanefeld elaborated his country’s continued commitment to advancing Ethiopia’s journey toward a prosperous future. “Ethiopia is the biggest development partner of Germany in the world. And I think this is a highlight of the fact that we are engaged in helping Ethiopia develop towards a future which will serve all of its people in a peaceful and prosperous manner,” the ambassador revealed. He finally emphasized the importance of the bilateral relationship, its strength and the good prospects for the two countries’ future.

Addis Ababa, August 13, 2025 (ENA) -- A High-Level Consultation and Validation Workshop aimed at strengthening fisheries governance and establishing a Fisheries Forum Agency and a Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) Coordination Centre under the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) opened in Addis Ababa today. Opening the three-day event, Agriculture State Minister Fikru Regassa said Ethiopia’s landlocked status has not hindered its fisheries potential, with significant opportunities in aquaculture and freshwater resources from Transboundary Rivers and diverse lake systems. “Our 10-year master plan for fisheries and aquaculture, coupled with the Yelemat Turufat (The Bounty of the Basket) initiative, has already tripled fish production and introduced innovative technologies such as mono-sex male tilapia fry production,” he noted.   The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) also holds vast potential for fisheries and aquaculture, alongside the nation’s broader water harvesting programs, he added. According to the State Minister, the establishment of the IGAD Fisheries Coordination Center would be a “thoughtful approach” to tackling overfishing, fragmented governance, climate change impacts, and IUU (illegal, unreported, and unregulated) fishing. “We remain committed to the IGAD Blue Economy Agenda and the Sustainable Fisheries Strategy 2021–2025, ensuring that our collaborative efforts today benefit both current and future generations,” Fikru affirmed. IGAD Agriculture and Environment Division Director Daher Elmi stressed the vast but underutilised fisheries potential in the region, which currently produces only around 1 million tonnes of fish annually out of an estimated potential of 3.5 million tonnes. “Over 85 percent of our fish is from inland waters, yet marine resources in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Western Indian Ocean remain largely untapped for trade and food security,” he said.   The Director identified weak governance, inadequate infrastructure, and rampant IUU fishing—particularly in Somalia’s waters —as major obstacles. “We must act collectively, drawing lessons from successful regional mechanisms such as the SADC MCS Coordination Centre in Mozambique to build a robust system that protects our resources and enhances regional trade,” he said. The workshop focuses on building consensus on institutional design, governance arrangements, and financing models for the IGAD Fisheries Forum Agency and the MCS Coordination Centre, adopting a “common but differentiated” approach to address both inland and marine fisheries, it was learned. Expected outcomes include a detailed operational roadmap, resource mobilisation strategies, and strengthened regional cooperation, drawing on lessons from other African and Indian Ocean regional bodies.   Participants include senior technical officials from IGAD Member States, representatives from regional economic communities such as COMESA, EAC, and SADC, African Union institutions, development partners, the private sector, and civil society. By the end of the workshop on August 14, organizers aim to have a clear, actionable plan to transform the region’s fisheries sector into a key driver of food security, employment creation, and regional integration, in line with Africa’s Agenda 2063 and the IGAD Vision 2050.

Addis Ababa, August 13, 2025 (ENA) -- The Ministry of Finance, in collaboration with the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority (ECTA), convened a key meeting to discuss Ethiopia’s progress toward meeting the European Union’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) requirements for coffee exports. The gathering brought together representatives from government agencies, development partners, coffee farmers’ cooperatives and unions, exporters, and coffee buyers’ associations, including participants from GIZ, the German Embassy, and UNDP. State Minister of Finance, Semereta Sewasew reaffirmed the government’s commitment, alongside its partners, to building a resilient and compliant coffee supply chain that not only safeguards this vital sector’s role in Ethiopia’s economy but also meets international sustainability standards.   Ethiopia has made significant strides in developing a robust system for geolocation data, traceability, and compliance throughout the coffee supply chain. A unified national platform has now been established to track coffee from the farm all the way to export, extending far beyond the dispatch point. To overcome remaining challenges and keep the initiative moving forward, stakeholders agreed on clear next steps, starting with the immediate creation of an EUDR Working Group. Director General of ECTA, Adugna Debela emphasized the government’s strong commitment to ensuring EUDR compliance. He announced that ECTA will issue a directive to associations and regional authorities, stressing the importance of centralizing all collected geolocation data within ECTA’s national system. This approach will create a single, reliable source of information, avoid duplications, and streamline processes for exporters. All geolocation data gathered by stakeholders will be submitted to ECTA for validation and verification before being made accessible to coffee buyers in Europe.   With the EUDR compliance deadline fast approaching, the meeting highlighted the urgency of implementing these initiatives efficiently and effectively. Moreover, it was agreed that support from all partners, including development agencies, should be scaled up to ensure Ethiopia’s coffee sector not only meets EUDR requirements but also flourishes in the global market. All participants pledged to intensify their efforts to help Ethiopia achieve full compliance. In closing, State Minister Semereta stressed the critical importance of meeting the EUDR compliance deadline by the end of 2025 to further solidify the strong coffee trade relationship between Ethiopia and Europe. She expressed optimism about the collaborative spirit and solid systems developed so far and underscored the need to complete the geolocation data and other essential requirements moving forward, according to Ministry of Finance.