PM Abiy’s Visits in Paris Focus on Technology, Artificial Intelligence

Addis Ababa, May 24, 2025 (ENA) -- Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s industry tours in Paris, France underscore the importance of international engagement and knowledge exchange in accelerating Ethiopia’s digital transformation and positioning the country as a future hub for innovation and technology in Africa.

Office of the Prime Minister said PM Abiy’s visits have focused heavily on technology and Artificial Intelligence.

Accompanied by his delegation, the Prime Minister visited Station F—a private-sector business incubator for tech startups and the world’s largest startup facility.

 

Ethiopia’s startup ecosystem is still in its early stages but demonstrates strong potential, driven by a young, tech-savvy population and growing digital connectivity, Office of the Prime Minister stated.

The government has taken steps to support innovation through initiatives such as the “Digital Ethiopia 2025” strategy, which aims to create an enabling environment for startups, particularly in fintech, agritech, and e-commerce.

Additionally, a comprehensive legislative framework known as the ‘Startup Proclamation’ seeks to establish supportive legal and institutional mechanisms for startups, addressing key challenges like limited access to finance and regulatory barriers.

 

The Prime Minister also visited Nokia France headquarters in Paris, a central hub for research and development in 5G and 6G technologies, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and optical networking.

The tour included a showcase of fiber sensing, power saving and tour of 5G labs, offering valuable insights for Ethiopia in the areas of innovation, infrastructure development, and cross sectoral collaboration.

 

Finally, the Prime Minister visited Thales Research & Technology (TRT) France, a multidisciplinary research center of the Thales Group, serving as a cornerstone for the company’s global research efforts, with a focus on advanced fields such as aerospace, defense, and artificial intelligence.

These visits underscore the importance of international engagement and knowledge exchange in accelerating Ethiopia’s digital transformation and positioning the country as a future hub for innovation and technology in Africa.