Outgoing Indian, Finnish ambassadors Praise Ethiopia’s Reform Momentum

Addis Ababa, August 1, 2026 (ENA—The outgoing ambassadors of India and Finland praised Ethiopia’s reform momentum and its rising global investment appeal.

The diplomats said they had witnessed Ethiopia’s economic transformation firsthand during their tenure, noting that the country’s expanding infrastructure and institutional reforms are strengthening its position as an increasingly attractive destination for international investment and long-term strategic partnerships.

Speaking to ENA, the ambassadors highlighted Ethiopia’s progress in economic modernization, democratic governance, and peace-building, expressing confidence that the country’s reform trajectory will continue to deepen.

They also expressed confidence that Ethiopia’s reform trajectory would continue to deepen engagement with global investors and development partners.

India’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Anil Kumar Rai, said Ethiopia’s ongoing reforms and major infrastructure projects are laying the foundation for sustained economic growth and enhanced international competitiveness.

Drawing on India’s own development experience, Rai said Ethiopia’s rapid urbanization and large-scale infrastructure expansion, including the construction of the new international airport in Bishoftu. He considered it vital  mega project to significantly strengthen the country’s attractiveness to foreign investors, particularly in high-value sectors such as information technology, artificial intelligence, and financial technology.

 

He revealed that additional Indian investments are already in the pipeline, reflecting growing business confidence in Ethiopia’s economic prospects.

Rai also described Ethiopia as one of the more stable countries in the Horn of Africa and credited it with playing an important role in promoting regional peace and security.

On Ethiopia’s democratic progress, the ambassador commended the strong voter participation in the June 1 general election, particularly the active engagement of young people. He also welcomed the National Dialogue process, describing it as a credible institutional mechanism for resolving differences through peaceful, inclusive, and nationally owned engagement.

“The National Dialogue witnessed broad participation from people across all walks of life,” Rai said.

He added that: “It demonstrates Ethiopia’s commitment to addressing differences peacefully while preserving national unity and sustaining its development trajectory.”

He further recalled the close cooperation between Ethiopia and India at the United Nations during the challenging period between 2020 and 2023, noting that the two countries consistently shared common positions on major international issues.

Rai added that Ethiopia’s membership in BRICS has created new opportunities for strategic cooperation between Addis Ababa and New Delhi, with leaders of both countries maintaining close engagement through BRICS platforms.

On her part, outgoing Finnish Ambassador Sinikka Antila also praised Ethiopia’s transformation during her three-year diplomatic assignment, saying the scale of change has been both visible and significant.

“Ethiopia is opening. Ethiopia is modernizing. We can physically see the transformation. During my three years in Addis Ababa, the city has changed remarkably,” she said.

 

Antila said Finland sees expanding opportunities to deepen cooperation with Ethiopia beyond traditional development assistance, particularly in trade, investment, innovation, digital technology, and entrepreneurship.

She noted that Finnish companies, including Nokia and Vaisala, are already operating in Ethiopia and emphasized the potential for stronger collaboration in technology, startups, innovation ecosystems, and green economic development.

The ambassador also reaffirmed Finland’s support for Ethiopia’s development priorities, including preparations for hosting the 32nd United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP32) next year.

She disclosed that the Nordic countries are planning to organize a Nordic Electric Vehicle Summit in Ethiopia, further expanding cooperation in sustainable mobility and green technology.

While underscoring Finland’s continued support through development cooperation and humanitarian assistance, Antila said future engagement would increasingly focus on business partnerships, private-sector investment, and technology-driven collaboration.