Finance Minister meets Israeli Counterpart, SFD CEO

Addis Ababa, October 21, 2025 (ENA) - Finance Minister Ahmed Shide met with Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to expand investment linkages and technology sharing in areas like digital finance and water management, while also holding a productive session with the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) CEO Sultan Abdulrahman Al-Marshad.

Ethiopia's ambitious economic agenda received a dual boost on the sidelines of the 2025 World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings, as Minister of Finance Ahmed Shide engaged in high-level talks that promise to deepen both bilateral and development cooperation.

According to the press release sent to ENA, Ahmed’s meeting, with Bezalel Smotrich, provided an opportunity to discuss ways to further strengthen the longstanding ties between Ethiopia and Israel through enhanced economic and investment cooperation.

Minister Ahmed Shide reaffirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to deepening mutually beneficial relations and highlighted key areas for potential collaboration in Ethiopia’s national priorities.

Bezalel Smotrich commended Ethiopia’s ongoing economic reforms and expressed Israel’s readiness to expand cooperation by promoting investment linkages and sharing expertise in technology innovation, digital finance, water resource management, irrigation, and agricultural modernization.

Both ministers reaffirmed their shared commitment to advancing economic and development cooperation to strengthen the partnership between Ethiopia and Israel for mutual growth and prosperity.

In related development Minister Ahmed also , held a productive meeting with Sultan Abdulrahman Al-Marshad, Chief Executive Officer of the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD).

The meeting underscored the strong and growing development partnership between Ethiopia and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Minister Ahmed Shide expressed appreciation for SFD’s continued support to Ethiopia’s development efforts and emphasized the importance of deepening collaboration to advance shared economic priorities.

He particularly highlighted Ethiopia’s key investment needs in the energy and infrastructure sectors, including the new international airport mega project.

Sultan Abdulrahman Al-Marshad reaffirmed SFD’s commitment to further strengthening collaboration with Ethiopia through enhanced concessional financing for priority projects aligned with the country’s sustainable development agenda.

He also conveyed the Fund’s readiness to explore new areas of cooperation—such as financing the new airport project—that promote economic integration, job creation, and social welfare.

The two leaders also exchanged views on enhancing private sector engagement and fostering stronger investment linkages between Ethiopia and Saudi Arabia.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to deepen the strategic partnership between the two countries in support of mutual prosperity and sustainable development.