Ethiopia’s Government, Private Sector Meet in Addis Ababa to Accelerate Investment Reforms

Addis Ababa, March 10, 2026 (ENA)—Senior officials from the Ethiopian government, private sector leaders, and international development partners convened in Addis Ababa on Tuesday for a high-level Public–Private Dialogue (PPD).

The gathering aimed at reviewing progress on economic reforms and strengthening the country’s investment climate.

The meeting, held at the Ethiopian Skylight Hotel, was organized by the Ethiopian Investment Commission in partnership with the Ministry of Finance of Ethiopia and the Development Partners Group.

Discussions focused on tracking reform implementation, addressing operational challenges, and identifying practical follow-up actions to support investment and economic growth.

In opening remarks, Finance State Minister Semereta Sewasew stressed that sustained economic transformation depends on effective collaboration between government and the private sector.

She noted that Ethiopia stands at a “critical juncture” after seven years of reforms aimed at unlocking the private sector’s potential as a central driver of growth.

Semereta highlighted recent macroeconomic progress, including efforts to bring inflation down to single digits and steps toward foreign exchange liberalization.

She also pointed to fiscal reforms such as modernized tax administration and a new performance-based tax and customs incentive proclamation designed to support genuine investors.

Ethiopia has also advanced its participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area by issuing regulations to implement tariff-reduction commitments.

On his part, Zeleke Temesgen, Ethiopian Investment Commissioner said the PPD initiative has gained momentum since its standalone launch in August 2024.

According to the commissioner, 18 government institutions have so far been engaged in addressing issues raised through the dialogue, with 13 institutions formally assigned to lead resolutions within their mandates.

A key highlight of the event was the launch of a new online tracking platform integrated into the EIC website.

Developed with technical support from Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GiZ) and funded by the governments of Germany and the United Kingdom, the platform will allow investors, chambers of commerce, and development partners to monitor progress on PPD issues in real time, improving transparency and accountability.

“Transparency and accountability are central to the success of PPD initiatives,”  Zeleke said, noting that more than 13 government agencies have already designated focal persons and submitted detailed action plans with implementation timelines.

The dialogue also provided a platform for national and international investors to raise concerns related to tax and customs procedures, investment regulatory frameworks, freight and insurance in capital registration, and the franco valuta policy.

Government representatives highlighted additional structural improvements, including the establishment of specialized commercial and investment benches in federal courts to handle complex business disputes more efficiently.

The meeting serves as a precursor to the upcoming Invest Ethiopia 2026: High-Level Business Forum, building on commitments made during previous engagement sessions.

Participants from both the public and private sectors reaffirmed their commitment to “co-creating solutions” to ensure Ethiopia remains an attractive and predictable destination for investment.

Concluding the session, State Minister Semereta underscored that the ultimate objective is to build a “transparent, predictable, and competitive business environment” capable of generating meaningful employment opportunities for Ethiopia’s rapidly growing youth population.