Ethiopia and Colombia convened a high-level business roundtable today at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Addis Ababa, bringing together senior government officials, business leaders, and institutional representatives from both countries to explore avenues for enhanced economic cooperation.

The Ethiopian delegation was led by State Minister of Trade and Regional Integration, Yasmin Wahabrebi, and included representatives from the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce, the Ethiopian Investment Commission, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and members of the private sector.

The Colombian side was headed by Vice Minister for Foreign Trade, Felipe Quintero Suarez, accompanied by Colombia’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Yeison Arcadio Meneses Copete, as well as representatives from ProColombia, Fondo Mujer, MinComercio, and Ella Exporta a África.

In her opening remarks, State Minister Yasmin Wahabrebi underscored Ethiopia’s wide-ranging economic reforms, noting macroeconomic and structural adjustments, the liberalization of the telecommunications and banking sectors, and the modernization of trade directives. She further emphasized Ethiopia’s active engagement in continental and global frameworks, including the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and ongoing World Trade Organization (WTO) accession negotiations, stressing the importance of translating these reforms into stronger trade and investment linkages with Colombia. (FMC)

Ethiopia’s Finance Minister Ahmed Shide has described the fertilizer investment agreement signed with the Dangote Group as a historic milestone that will usher in a “new economic renaissance” for the country by advancing agriculture, industry, and mining.

Addressing the signing ceremony in the presence of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Ahmed said the $2.5 billion agreement is designed to end Ethiopia’s dependence on fertilizer imports, save close to $1 billion in foreign exchange annually, and transform the country into a regional hub for fertilizer production.

The fertilizer complex, to be established in Gode, Somali region, will utilize natural gas from the Calub and Hilala fields through a dedicated pipeline.

Mr. Ahmed emphasized that this strategic integration of Ethiopia’s domestic resources will not only boost agricultural productivity but also stimulate industrial and mining growth.

He noted that the plant will initially supply Ethiopia’s domestic market before scaling up to serve neighboring countries.

“This investment agreement reinforces our import-substitution strategy while positioning Ethiopia as a regional economic player,” the Minister stated. (FMC)

The 2025 edition of the “Buy Ethiopian” National Trade Week Expo has officially opened at the Quality Village in Addis Ababa, showcasing locally made products and services as part of a broader effort to boost domestic industries and strengthen Ethiopia’s position in global trade.

The six-day event, organized by the Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration (MoTRI), features both an exhibition and a bazaar highlighting agricultural produce, manufactured goods, handicrafts, and emerging brands from across the country. The program also includes recognition for outstanding business performers of the 2017 Ethiopian fiscal year.

FDRE President Taye Atske-Selassie inaugurated the expo and toured the exhibition halls, where regional states and city administrations are presenting diverse Ethiopian products.

On the occasion, Minister of Trade and Regional Integration Kassahun Gofe (PhD) emphasized that Ethiopia’s growth and prosperity rest on the strength of its institutions, noting that institutional reforms are underway to make the business landscape more accessible, predictable, competitive, and fair. He said these reforms are enabling the country to fully harness its economic potential and secure its rightful place in the global market. (FMC)

More than 1,000 people were killed in a landslide in western Sudan on Sunday, according to a rebel group that controls the area. The landslide, which followed heavy rain, destroyed a village in the Marra mountains area of western Sudan and left only one survivor, said the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM). “Initial information indicates the death of all village residents, estimated to be more than 1,000 individuals, with only one survivor,” its statement said. The movement, which controls the area located in the Darfur region, appealed to the UN and international aid agencies to help recover the bodies of victims. The village “has now been completely levelled to the ground”, the statement said. Footage shared by the Marra Mountains news outlet showed a flattened area between mountain ranges and a group of people searching the area. … The Marra Mountains area has turned into a hub for displaced families fleeing fighting in and around El Fasher. The SLM has mostly stayed out of the fighting but controls parts of Sudan’s tallest mountain range. … Much of Darfur – including the area where the landslide occurred – remains largely inaccessible to international aid organisations because of ongoing fighting, severely limiting the delivery of urgent humanitarian assistance. (Guardian)