The 7th edition of Agrofood and Plastprintpack Ethiopia opened today at Millennium Hall, Addis Ababa, drawing 158 exhibitors from 16 countries, a clear signal of growing international interest in Ethiopia’s agro-industrial potential.

The launch ceremony welcomed prominent figures such as State Minister of Industry Hassen Mohammed, Brazilian Ambassador Jandyr Ferreira dos Santos, Turkish Ambassador Berk Baran, Prana Events Managing Director Nebeyu Lemma, and fairtrade Messe Managing Director Paul März.

Held alongside the Ethiopia Food Show and the Ethiopica Coffee Show, this year’s expo presents a rare convergence of food, agriculture, packaging, and coffee industry leaders. Participating countries include major exporters and industrial players such as Brazil, Germany, Türkiye, and the United Arab Emirates.

At the opening, State Minister of Industry Hassen emphasized that the expo “mirrors the transformation underway,” where agriculture is no longer confined to subsistence, but instead fuels industrial growth. “Innovation in farming and processing is now central to Ethiopia’s industrial agenda,” he said.

Ambassador Berk Baran of Türkiye echoed this shift, citing Ethiopia’s “transformative projects and consistent GDP growth” as catalysts attracting foreign direct investment, especially in food processing and packaging sectors.

Organized by fairtrade Messe with local partner Prana Events, the Expo enjoys active support from national and international ministries, authorities, and trade associations—and underscores Ethiopia’s drive toward economic diversification and industrial modernization. Nebeyu Lemma, Managing Director of Prana Events, noted that the event is “the outcome of shared ambition and belief in Ethiopia’s capacity to lead in agro-industry and coffee value addition.” He added that the plastics on display are not single-use, in compliance with the new proclamation that bans such products. “There’s a widespread misconception in Ethiopia that plastic itself is harmful, but that’s not the case. Plastic is part of everyday life, from household items to aircraft components. The real issue lies in how we manage plastic after it has been used,” he told EBR.

Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tasew has been awarded the Girma Wake Lifetime Achievement Award, a distinguished recognition celebrating his far-reaching contributions to African aviation and route development.

The honor was conferred during the AviaDev Africa 2025 summit held in Zanzibar, which brought together more than 500 delegates from across the continent and beyond. The award is named after Girma Wake, a towering figure in African aviation and former CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, whose legacy continues to shape the industry.

Mesfin, who took the helm of Africa’s largest airline group during a period of post-pandemic recovery and sector-wide transformation, was recognized not only for his leadership at Ethiopian Airlines but also for his broader influence in advancing connectivity and operational excellence across Africa.

“This award carries deep personal meaning,” said Mesfin. “It’s named after my mentor and the father of African aviation, Girma Wake. More than a personal accolade, this is a tribute to the collective achievements of the Ethiopian Airlines team and our shared commitment to a better-connected Africa.”

Under Mesfin’s leadership, Ethiopian Airlines has solidified its role as a continental aviation powerhouse—expanding its network, investing in modern infrastructure, and driving regional integration through strategic partnerships. The airline continues to set benchmarks in operational performance, sustainability, and digital innovation in aviation.

The award highlights Mesfin’s enduring role in shaping policy, fostering cooperation among aviation stakeholders, and promoting the idea of air travel as a vehicle for economic growth and unity in Africa.

Hosted annually, AviaDev Africa serves as a critical platform for dialogue and collaboration among the continent’s aviation leaders. It facilitates route development by connecting airlines, airports, tourism boards, and government representatives, reinforcing aviation’s role as a driver of Africa’s development agenda.

ArifPay, an Ethiopian fintech company, has announced the appointment of Rediet Tsigeberhan as its new Chief Executive Officer, replacing Bernard Laurendeau.

With over 15 years of expertise in technology and product development, Rediet brings a wealth of experience from executive roles such as Chief Technology Officer at Kifiya and Elnet Business Group, as well as Technology Delivery Director at Excellerent, one of Africa’s prominent technology outsourcing firms.

Since joining ArifPay in October 2022, Rediet has been instrumental in developing the company’s core digital payment platforms, which now underpin a significant share of its operations. He also spearheaded the creation of a high-performing product team focused on rapid innovation, customer-centric design, and scalable solutions.

As CEO, Rediet is poised to accelerate ArifPay’s growth by expanding its service offerings, launching new financial products, and strengthening partnerships and infrastructure to support Ethiopia’s vision of a digitally inclusive economy.

Bernard Laurendeau, who led ArifPay through a pivotal phase marked by the introduction of interoperable POS and mobile POS technologies, successfully doubled the company’s capital and established it as a key player in the country’s fintech landscape. Laurendeau’s tenure was defined by strategic innovation and strong leadership grounded in his extensive background in technology and business.

Visa, a global digital payments platform, successfully concluded a comprehensive one-day training event in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, aimed at strengthening risk management capabilities and enhancing operational excellence among its partners in the region.

The session brought together professionals from leading financial institutions, fintechs, and digital banking teams across the country. The training was designed to address the evolving challenges and opportunities in the digital payments ecosystem.

Yared Endale, Country Manager for Visa Ethiopia, highlighted the strategic importance of the initiative; “This training reflects Visa’s unwavering commitment to supporting Ethiopia’s financial ecosystem. By equipping our partners with the knowledge and tools to manage risk effectively, we are laying the groundwork for a more secure, resilient, and inclusive digital economy. As Ethiopia continues to embrace digital transformation, Visa remains committed to supporting the country’s financial institutions with secure, innovative, and forward-thinking solutions that drive sustainable growth.

The event was tailored specifically for digital banking professionals, particularly those working in risk, compliance, and operations. It also served as a platform for peer-to-peer learning, industry networking, and the exchange of best practices in a rapidly evolving financial landscape.

Basil Kithinji, Director of Risk for Visa East Africa, emphasized the broader impact of the session: “Risk management is not just a back-office function—it’s a strategic enabler of trust and growth in digital finance. Today’s training empowered our clients with practical insights and fostered collaboration across the ecosystem. We’re proud to be a trusted partner in their journey.”

Participants praised the session for its relevance, depth, and practical value, noting that the training provided actionable strategies they could immediately apply within their organizations.