Ethiopia Concludes its Fifth Working Party Meeting on WTO Accession
Ethiopia and Algeria Agree to Enhance Economic Cooperation
Ethiopia Participates in the BRICS Energy Senior Officials Meeting
East Africa Art and Culture Festival Kicks Off in Addis Ababa
NEWS IN BRIEF
Ethiopia
President Taye Atske Sselassie bade farewell to the outgoing Ambassador of Bangladesh to Ethiopia, Sikder Bodiruzzaman on Wednesday (March 26). On the occasion, the President extended his gratitude for Ambassador Bodiruzzaman’s contributions dedicated to strengthening the bilateral relations between the two countries.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed responded to various questions raised by Members of the House of People’s Representatives last Thursday (March 20). The Prime Minister addressed issues pertaining to the economy, sectoral priorities, service delivery, revenues, inflation, the state of political culture, Ethiopia’s continued commitment to good neighborliness and Pretoria Peace Agreement, among others. (See article)
Prime Minister Abiy and First Lady Zinash Tayachew traveled to the Afar Region on Saturday (March 22), where they explored major development projects highlighting the area’s expanding agricultural and industrial capabilities. Their visit included a tour of an iodized salt manufacturing plant that started operations six months ago and is now producing 15 tons per hour. They also visited the Ayrolaaf animal feed bank development center and a wheat farm, where the region has successfully initiated summer wheat cultivation. On the occasion, the Premier noted that the region has made notable progress in wheat production through irrigation.
Prime Minister Abiy on Monday (March 24) encouraged young innovators to create solutions in service of their country. The Premier underscored that Ethiopia’s national aspirations for self-sufficiency and import substitution can only be achieved through continuous innovation and hard work. He said, “I am pleased to see our ambitious youth channeling their talents and ideas into meaningful and practical innovations through the Skill Ethiopia challenge.”
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gedion Timothewos on Tuesday (March 25) held discussions with the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), Claver Gatete. The two sides exchanged views on ways of further strengthening cooperation between Ethiopia and the UNECA.
Ethiopia, after long hiatus, has resumed its WTO accession negotiations with the convening of the 5th Working Party meeting held in Geneva last week. An Ethiopian delegation led by Minister of Trade and Regional Integration and WTO Chief Negotiator Kassahun Gofe Balami, which also included senior government officials from the Steering Committee on Accession and experts drawn from ministries and government agencies. (See article)
The Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with the Ethiopian Seed Platform convened a discussion forum for regional and national seed coordination committees in Adama on Saturday (March 22). Speaking at the forum, Minister of Agriculture, Girma Amente highlighted that digitizing the agricultural sector is a top priority, with the complete rollout of the Ethiopian Seed Platform anticipated in the coming years.
An Ethiopian delegation led by Minister of Planning and Development, Fitsum Assefa took part in Petersberg Climate Dialogue (PCD) 2025 on Wednesday (March 26) in Berlin. The Minister expressed Ethiopia’s commitment to fully implement the outcomes of the 1st Global Stocktake (GST) against the Paris Agreement. She further stressed the need for enhanced and renewed commitment to address the increasing impacts of climate change.
An Ethio-UK Investment Forum Kicked off on Wednesday (March 26) in London, co-facilitated by the Ethiopian Embassy in the United Kingdom and the Institute of Directors (IoD) Africa Group. The event brought together business leaders and stakeholders to discuss investment opportunities and foster stronger economic ties between Ethiopia and the UK. Ambassador Mesganu Arga, State Minister of Foreign Affairs, led the Ethiopian delegation and delivered a keynote address on Ethiopia’s growing and favorable business environment, encouraging UK companies to explore the country’s potential.
A high-level delegation from Algeria led by Mohamed Arkab, Minister of State, Minister of Energy, Mines, and Renewable Energies, visited Ethiopia from March 24-25, 2025. (See article)
The Ministry of Finance and Agence Française de Développement (AFD) signed a financial agreement to support Ethiopia’s economic reform agenda on Tuesday (March 25). State Minister of Finance, Eyob Tekalign and AFD Country Director Louis-Antoine Souchet signed the grant for technical assistance. During the signing ceremony, State Minister Eyob said “the partnership represents another milestone in the longstanding collaboration between Ethiopia and France, reinforcing their shared vision in advancing key economic reform initiatives. It also comes at a crucial time as Ethiopia continues its structural reform efforts”.
State Minister of Finance, Semereta Sewasew, on Tuesday (March 25) met with State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sweden, Diana Janse, along with the Swedish Ambassador to Ethiopia, Ambassador Hans Henric Lundquist to discuss enhanced development cooperation and economic ties between the two countries. The dialogue focused on adapting to global financial constraints and geopolitical shifts while exploring innovative strategies to maximize development impact.
State Minister Semereta held a meeting with John Tomaszewski, Senior Professional Staff Member for Africa Policy on the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, last Friday (March 21), to discuss ways to strengthen economic cooperation and partnership. The State Minister offered a warm welcome and stressed the mutual commitment to creating focused strategies that will boost both economic and political collaboration between the two countries, especially given the shifting global economic environment. She also underscored the United States as a vital strategic partner, with whom Ethiopia has built a strong and enduring relationship.
A high-level Ethiopian delegation led by State Minister of Urban and Infrastructure, Fenta Dejen took part in the 1st Session of the UN-Habitat Executive Board Meeting in Nairobi, Kenya on Wednesday (March 26). The State Minister emphasized that Ethiopia’s ongoing projects, supported by UN-Habitat, align with the national urban development policy and the 10-Year Development Plan. In such score, he urged UN-Habitat to scale up efforts in supporting initiatives aimed at improving urban livelihoods and infrastructure.
An Ethiopian delegation led by Ambassador Hirut Zemene, Permanent Representative of Ethiopia to the AU and UNECA is taking part in an induction program of the peace and Security Council of the African Union in Arusha, Tanzania on Tuesday (March 25). During the program, Ambassador Hirut expressed her gratitude for the union’s confidence in electing Ethiopia as the member of the Peace and Security Council (PSC). She also underlined Ethiopia’s contribution and commitment to the collective security of Africa and the world at large, both in the diplomatic field and in peacekeeping operations.
A delegation led by Mekonnen Gossaye, Director General for Strategic Planning and Monitoring of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, took part in the 10th BRICS Foreign Policy Planning Dialogue in Brasilia on Tuesday (March 25), as part of the programs of Brazil’s BRICS Chairship in 2025. The dialogue created a platform for BRICS members to share best practices on their policy planning strategies. On the occasion, Mekonnen addressed the meeting and presented Ethiopia’s perspective on the current global and regional situations.
Ethiopia participated at the 2nd BRICS Energy Senior Officials meeting held in Brasilia on March 20 and 21, 2025. The meeting chaired by Brazil, the 2025 BRICS Presidency, deliberated on the roadmap for BRICS energy cooperation. (See article)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia on Wednesday (March 26) hosted an Iftar dinner for members of the diplomatic community based in Addis Ababa.
Eritrea
President Isaias on Monday (March 24) received the Foreign Minister of Oman, Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi. The minister conveyed a message from the Sultan of Oman, HM Haitham bin Tariq, where the two sides explored ways of enhancing cooperation on bilateral, regional and global issues of common interest.
Foreign Minister Osman Saleh on Sunday (March 23) conveyed President Isaias’ message to President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi of Egypt. The meeting covered ways of further strengthening bilateral ties and enhancing cooperation on issues of mutual interest.
Kenya
Kenya and the Netherlands signed a trio of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and a Letter of Intent (LoI) aimed at boosting bilateral trade cooperation last week. The agreements were made following the state visit of King Willem Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands to Kenya. During the signing ceremony, President William Ruto said, “The Netherlands’ global leadership in sustainable agriculture, water management, and renewable energy aligns seamlessly with Kenya’s Vision 2030.” King Alexander on his part commended the strong bilateral ties which cover a span of over 60 years.
Somalia
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud paid a working visit to Türkiye on Thursday (March 27). President Hassan Sheikh met with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and held discussions focusing on ways of strengthening the longstanding bilateral ties between the two countries and enhancing cooperation on the fight against terrorism.
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf paid a two-day visit to Somalia earlier this week. The Chairperson made an urgent appeal to the international community, drawing attention to significant funding shortages for the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) and urged renewed dedication to the country’s peace and stabilization efforts. In a joint press briefing with Somalia’s President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, at Villa Somalia, the Chairperson pledged to engage with Somalia’s international partners and emphasized the importance of sustained support.
The AU Commission Chairperson also visited the African Union Stabilization Support Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) base on Monday (March 24). He praised AUSSOM peacekeepers for their courage and sacrifices in bringing peace to Somalia, acknowledging their crucial role in furthering Africa’s stability goals. He reaffirmed the AU’s steadfast commitment and promised to tackle operational challenges and enhance troop welfare to bolster the mission’s effectiveness.
South Sudan
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) expressed alarm over the house arrest of First Vice President, Riek Machar following renewed political tensions in the country. IGAD’s Executive Secretary, Workneh Gebeyehu called on parties to the 2028 agreement to exercise “maximum restraint, prioritise dialogue, and resolve differences through inclusive and peaceful means.”
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), Nicholas Haysom on Monday (March 24) called on all parties to exercise restraint and adhere to the implementation of the 2018 peace agreement. He said, “Tonight, the country’s leaders stand on the brink of relapsing into widespread conflict or taking the country forward towards peace, recovery and democracy in the spirit of the consensus that was reached in 2018 when they signed and committed to implementing a Revitalized Peace Agreement.”
Africa and the African Union
The Second East Africa Art and Culture Festival was held from March 20 to 24, 2025, at the newly inaugurated Addis International Convention Center under the theme “Arts and Culture for Regional Integration”. The festival featured a variety of activities designed to promote regional integration and unity through the rich cultural diversities shared among the East African nations. (See article)
The 3rd African Forum (AFM) on Mines was held in Addis Ababa last week under the theme: “The Africa Mining Vision at 16: Achievements, Challenges and Opportunities”. The forum which was organized by the African Minerals Development Center (AMDC) brought together representatives of member states of the African Union and various continental and international stakeholders in the mining sector.
Prime Minister Abiy Responds to Questions Raised by MPs in a Session at the House of People’s Representatives
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, on Thursday (March 20) responded to various questions raised by Members of the House of People’s Representatives on issues pertaining to the economy, sectoral priorities, service delivery, revenues, inflation, the state of political culture, Ethiopia’s continued commitment to good neighbourliness and Pretoria Peace Agreement, among others.
Regarding the economy, Prime Minister Abiy said major economic indicators have shown significant progress over the past eight months, adding that If this momentum is sustained in the remaining months of the fiscal year, Ethiopia is projected to achieve economic growth exceeding 8.4 percent for the current fiscal year. In his responses to questions related to the agriculture sector, the Prime Minister pointed out that smallholder farmers have cultivated 20.5 million hectares of land, and in wheat production, 4.2 million hectares were planted in the rainy season, while 3.7 million hectares were cultivated through summer irrigation, with an expected yield of no less than 300 million quintals. Equally importantly, he added that significant progress has also been recorded in coffee and tea production. Moreover, notably, in the past eight months alone, coffee exports have generated $1.2 billion in revenue.
With regard to the status of service delivery, the Premier said a steering committee has been established to address bottlenecks in the industrial sector, noting that key challenges, including foreign exchange shortages and power supply issues, have been identified, and efforts are underway to resolve them. For instance, this year alone, power supply to the industrial sector has increased by 50 percent compared to the previous year. Cement production, which faced shortages in the past, is now sufficient to meet domestic demand and is also being exported. Additionally, industrial production capacity has reached 61 percent, and 55 new factories have begun operations this year.
Following the success of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, the Prime Minister disclosed that the country’s next major project is the establishment of a domestic fertilizer factory. He added that efforts have already begun to launch local fertiliser production, with a strong focus on partnerships with the private sector. However, he said, “Ethiopia currently requires 24 million quintals of fertilizer annually. To meet this demand, the country is importing 150,000 quintals of fertiliser per day.”
Dispelling rumours regarding Ethiopia’s potential military showdown with neighbouring Eritrea, Prime Minister Abiy said, “Ethiopia does not have any intention of engaging in conflict with Eritrea for the purpose of gaining access to the sea.” He stated, “Our desire is to engage in dialogue and discussion on this matter instead.” “Access to the Red Sea is nevertheless an existential matter for Ethiopia. What we want is to peacefully address our current challenges,” Prime Minister Abiy stressed in reply.
Speaking of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA) or commonly known as the Pretoria Agreement, the Prime Minister stated the fact that “The Pretoria Agreement has helped restore infrastructure and provide services to the people of Tigray. However, there are still issues that have not been adequately addressed, one of which is the Disengagement and Reintegration (DDR) process. This primarily affects the people of Tigray.” In this connection, he added, “The youth should be redirected from militarisation and engaged in development instead. Billions of dollars that should be spent on development each month are being diverted to this work.”
Touching upon the progress of the DDR as part of the Agreement, he said, “Significant progress has been made in Raya and Tselemt in returning displaced people to their villages, but in other areas, the results have been less successful. This is largely due to the intertwining of humanitarian efforts with politics.”
Despite challenges, Prime Minister Abiy told the parliamentarians that the Tigray Interim Administration has done an excellent job of preventing further conflict over the past two years. As the two-year term of the interim administration has now expired, the Prime Minister mentioned, there is a need for legal reform. Once the law is amended, a review of past performance will follow, he further stated.
Prime Minister Abiy further said, after making the necessary adjustments in line with the Pretoria Agreement, the interim administration will be able to carry out its responsibilities and prepare the people for upcoming elections, and critical discussions are underway with the leaders of the interim administration and other stakeholders on this matter.
Ethiopia Concludes its Fifth Working Party Meeting on WTO Accession
Ethiopia, after long hiatus, has resumed its WTO accession negotiations with the convening of the 5th Working Party meeting held in Geneva on 19th of March 2025. Ethiopian delegation led by Minister of Trade and Regional Integration and WTO Chief Negotiator Kassahun Gofe Balami, which also included senior government officials from the Steering Committee on Accession and experts drawn from ministries and government agencies. The meeting was called to review the Elements of the Draft Working Party Report and documents submitted by Ethiopia including the revised goods and services offer, legislative action plan, and responses to various questions received from Member States pertaining to state trading, import licensing and subsidies among other things. In addition, Ethiopia also reported on the status of the bilateral market access negotiations which it held with eleven countries in a bid to conclude the negotiations by early March 2026.
In the opening session, the Chief Negotiator highlighted the various reforms undertaken by the Government of Ethiopia over the last six years to liberalize the economy and align the trade regime with WTO rules and principles. Minister Kassahun noted that the introduction of a market-based foreign exchange regime, the establishment of a capital market and opening up of key sectors including telecom, finance and logistics to private investment as crucial steps taken to tap the potential of international trade as an engine of economic growth and development. He also discussed the establishment of the Ethiopian Investment holdings as another key step taken to ensure state -owned companies operate on a commercial basis, Further underlining Ethiopia’s commitment to finalize the accession process in the next several months and join the WTO family at the 14th Ministerial Conference, scheduled to take place in Yaoundé, Cameroon on March 2026, he called on WTO members to support Ethiopia’s effort to join the multilateral trading system.
‘’ With its fast-growing economy and historical role in the continent, Ethiopia’s accession to the WTO will be a significant achievement for us, for Africa, and indeed for the WTO itself,” he added. Following, the opening statement, Eyob Tekalign, State Minister of Finance discussed the Home-Grown Economic Policy (HGER 1and 2) by way of elaborating the macroeconomic reform Ethiopia is undertaking since 2018. Eyob noted that HGER 1 and 2 brought a significant achievement in reducing public debt, sustaining high economic growth, addressing fiscal gaps through increased domestic revenue collection and expanding the economic base by focusing on investments on tourism, mining and digital economy among other things. He added that, the economic reform policies enabled Ethiopia to withstand economic shocks and headwinds including the Covid-19 pandemic, major international conflicts that caused disruption of global supply chains and rise in prices globally.
On the other hand, in a statement delivered by 19 countries which includes the US, EU, China, India, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Canada, the UK, Djibouti, Kenya and Tanzania during the opening session, Members welcomed the official resumption of the negotiations in Geneva as a testament to Ethiopia’s strong commitment to re-engage in the accession process. Efforts made by the Ethiopian government over the last year to put the accession process on a solid track were also highlighted. Members further expressed their support for Ethiopia’s efforts to conclude the WTO accession and commended the work done in liberalizing the economy and the trade regime. WTO’s Deputy-Director General Xiangchen Zhang, who chaired the Working Party meeting also appreciated Ethiopia’s ambitious accession commitment and urged the country to utilize it as an opportunity for setting the timeline for coordinating necessary policy decisions for economic reform.
Following the opening session, close to 130 questions were presented from member states seeking further clarifications and commitments to improve the trading regime based on WTO rules. The questions canvassed quite a range of areas including the goods and tariff offers, fiscal and monetary policy, foreign exchange and investment regime, customs valuation, trade remedies, pricing policy, rules affecting import of goods and intellectual property rights among others. In responding to the questions, the Chief negotiator and representatives of different ministries highlighted the various reforms undertaken including the issuance of 130 new laws to reduce WTO inconsistent trade barriers and the opening of the economy to foreign investment as important measures that attest the current trade regime aligns with WTO rules. In addition, while committing to make additional reform measures, Ethiopia also availed itself of privileges for developing countries including transition periods to further streamline work processes, issue new laws, revise its investment regime, adopt additional international agreements particularly in the area of the intellectual property laws. Several countries also emphasized the importance of providing technical assistance to Ethiopia to build national capacity in both pre and post accession phases.
Finally, the Acting Chairperson invited Ethiopia and members to intensify market access negotiations, based on its revised market access offers, with a view to concluding agreements as soon as possible. Members interested in initiating market access negotiations with Ethiopia were urged to communicate their requests by the end of April. The Chairperson further indicated that, the 6th working party meeting could be held come July 2025, depending on the progress of the preparatory work to meet the ambitious target Ethiopia set to conclude the negotiations by March 2025. On the other hand, on the margins of the working party meeting, the Ethiopian delegation also conducted a bilateral market access negotiation meeting with the EU and the US delegations in which agreements were reached on key issues while all parties committed to continue their active engagement with a view to further expedite the negotiation process. In a technical round table held on the 20th of March, several partners including the World Bank, the Government of UK, International Trade Center and others pledged to continue to provide technical support to Ethiopia’s accession efforts.
In conclusion, Ethiopia’s 5th Working Party meeting ended with a significant achievement in moving forward the negotiations that have been dragging for over 23 years. The meeting further unequivocally affirmed that the economic reforms Ethiopia has been undertaking has addressed most of the questions that have so far hindered progress in the process. In addition, the preparations proved the strong political will of the Ethiopian Government to join the multilateral trading system as underlined during the recent meeting of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed with Ngozi okonjo-iweala, Director –General of WTO on the margins of the recently concluded AU Summit. In sum, the meeting has once again affirmed that, unlike the previous efforts, Ethiopia is committed to completing the entire course by the set deadline. That said, the meeting was also a testament to the conviction that, although Ethiopia has ample market access opportunities including through Everything but Arms, COMESA, AfCFTA among others, it’s decision to pursue WTO accession is geared by higher and strategic consideration of improving its international trade and its desire to take part in processes that shape the future of the global trading system. More importantly, Ethiopia’s decision to revive its WTO Accession efforts, despite a rise in protectionism and the concomitant effect of weakening the multilateral trading system shows its unwavering commitment to a rules-based WTO system.
Ethiopia and Algeria Agree to Enhance Economic Cooperation
A high-level delegation from Algeria led by Mohamed Arkab, Minister of State, Minister of Energy, Mines, and Renewable Energies, visited Ethiopia from March 24-25, 2025. The delegation included CEOs from SONATRACH, Algeria’s largest state-owned oil and gas company, and SONELGAZ, the national utility responsible for electricity and natural gas. The visit was organized following discussions between Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, and Abdelmadjid Tebboune, President of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, during the 38th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa in February 2025.
Ethiopia and Algeria have enjoyed diplomatic relations since the 1960s and established a strategic partnership in 2013, making Algeria the only North African nation to hold such a partnership with Ethiopia.
On the first day of the visit, Arkab held bilateral talks with senior Ethiopian officials, including Kassahun Gofe, Minister of Trade and Regional Integration; Engineer Habtamu Itefa, Minister of Water and Energy; and Engineer Habtamu Tegegn, Minister of Mines. The discussions centered on enhancing economic cooperation across various sectors, with a commitment to translating discussions into actionable agreements.
Arkab and Kassahun emphasized the longstanding ties between their nations, emphasizing the importance of enhancing trade relations. They agreed to initiate beneficial technical and training exchanges and discussed ongoing reforms in both countries, committing to collaborate on their implementation.
In meetings with Habtamu Itefa, both ministers acknowledged their cooperation on regional, continental, and international issues of mutual interest. They recognized Ethiopia’s pivotal role in developing energy infrastructure in East Africa and Algeria’s significant contributions in North Africa. The ministers identified investment opportunities for Algerian firms in Ethiopia’s energy sector and vice versa, with Habtamu encouraging Algerian companies to engage in international tenders within Ethiopia’s energy landscape. Arkab expressed the interest of Algerian firms specializing in energy production and distribution to invest in Ethiopia, and they agreed to collaborate on capacity building in the energy sector, allowing for experience sharing and professional training.
Arkab also met with Engineer Habtamu Tegegn, who highlighted Ethiopia’s vast potential in the mining sector, particularly regarding mineral, geothermal, and petroleum resources. He elaborated on the significant deposits of rare earth metals such as Lithium, Tantalum, Cobalt, and Nickel, as well as established opportunities in gold mining, gemstones, potash, base metals, and iron ore. The minister invited Algerian investors to explore opportunities in this sector, and Arkab and his delegation expressed their interest to invest in Ethiopia in the mining sector.
The delegation toured the National Load Dispatch Center of Ethiopian Electric Power, where they commended Ethiopia’s power generation capabilities and agreed to collaborate on power transmission and distribution through shared experiences and professional training.
On the second day, Brook Taye, CEO of Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH), met with Rachid Hachichi, CEO of SONATRACH, and Mourad Adjal, CEO of SONELGAZ, along with their teams. Brook outlined the ongoing economic reforms in Ethiopia aimed at creating a more investor-friendly environment and invited Algerian companies to partner with EIH, particularly in fertilizer production and electricity distribution and transmission. The CEOs agreed to establish a joint technical committee soon to explore collaborative opportunities and implement their discussions into actionable projects.
Ethiopia Participates in the BRICS Energy Senior Officials Meeting
Ethiopia participated at the 2nd BRICS Energy Senior Officials meeting held in Brasilia on March 20 and 21, 2025. The meeting chaired by Brazil, the 2025 BRICS Presidency, deliberated on the roadmap for BRICS energy cooperation.
Representing Ethiopia, Leulseged Tadesse, Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Brazil, delivered a statement focusing on Ethiopia’s policy framework on the energy sector. In his statement, Ambassador Leulseged mentioned Ethiopia’s diverse renewable energy potentials such as hydro, wind, geothermal, solar, and bio-energy. He further explained the national policy targets centered on energy security, energy access, regional energy integration, and energy efficiency.
Existing power capacity across all technologies in BRICS countries totals 4.2 terawatts (TW), with power generation from a mix of sources including coal, oil and gas, as well as renewable sources including solar, wind, hydropower, nuclear, bioenergy, and geothermal.
Through the Ten-Year Development Plan, Ethiopia aims to achieve universal electrification and increase its electricity generation capacity from the current 6 Giga Watt (GW) to over 17 GW by 2030. Its energy diversification strategy also promotes regional energy supply, fostering cooperation through power interconnections. To this end, Ethiopia has been making an effort towards the expansion of energy power infrastructure, including transmission, substations, and distribution networks for national and regional power trade and exchange. These efforts have facilitated energy interconnection and trade with Djibouti, Sudan, Kenya and more recently, Tanzania. By accelerating energy interconnection, Ethiopia aims to foster cross-border collaborations and ensure a reliable and affordable supply of clean energy, serving as a catalyst for continental development and integration across Africa.
While 70 percent of the power generating capacity in BRICS countries is reliant on fossil power, the non-fossil-fueled capacity under construction in BRICS countries stands at 629 GW. Ethiopia’s renewable energy mix which sources over 95 percent of energy from renewables, aims to share its best practices and benefit from technology transfer and energy development financing within the BRICS platform.
During the meeting, the senior officials and representatives of BRICS countries presented their national energy policy priorities and experiences. The meeting concluded in outlining a draft roadmap of Energy cooperation within BRICS framework to be discussed on the upcoming Ministerial meeting scheduled for May 2025.
East Africa Art and Culture Festival Kicks Off in Addis Ababa
The Second East Africa Art and Culture Festival was held from March 20 to 24, 2025, at the newly inaugurated Addis International Convention Center under the theme “Arts and Culture for Regional Integration”. The festival featured a variety of activities designed to promote regional integration and unity through the rich cultural diversities shared among the East African nations.
Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Tiruneh presided over the opening ceremony, emphasizing the role of art as a unifying force among countries. Highlighting the importance of shared cultural values and traditions in fostering greater cooperation and integration across borders, the Deputy Prime Minister stated, “Art is not merely entertainment; it serves as a crucial bridge between nations”.
During a press briefing, Ethiopian Culture and Sports State Minister, Nafisa Al-Mahadi underscored the significance of the East Africa Art and Cultural Festival in enhancing regional integration and people-to-people interactions among East African nations through cultural exchanges. Al-Mahadi noted that the festival has successfully achieved its goals of fostering cultural and trade integration among East African nations.
Among the notable participants, Minister of Youth, Sports, and Culture of Burundi, Ambassador Gervais Abayeho, remarked that the diversity of cultural heritage serves as a unifying factor across East Africa. He pointed to similarities in traditional dances across various nations, stating that “the diversity in our cultural heritage is something we can be proud of as it serves as a bridge linking peoples within the continent.”
Ngabo Braive, Permanent Secretary at Rwanda’s Ministry of Youth and Culture, emphasized the importance of such festivals in fostering cultural exchange and enhancing regional integration.
At the conclusion of the event, Ethiopian Minister of Culture and Sports, Shewit Shanka, underscored Ethiopia’s successful participation by introducing its ancient and contemporary rich cultural heritage to neighboring countries and reaffirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to hosting the festival regularly.
This year’s festival has brought together cultural groups from Ethiopia, Rwanda, Burundi, Djibouti, Uganda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Kenya, showcasing the diverse artistic heritage of the region. Featuring a wide range of events, including symposia, cultural exhibitions, circus performances, traditional cuisines, fashion shows, music, films, theater, and book fairs, the festival served as an occasion to foster cooperation and solidarity among participating countries.
Initiated in 2022, the East Africa Art and Culture Festival plays a vital role in celebrating the region’s artistic and cultural richness while promoting regional integration.
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