In what industry observers are calling a watershed moment for Ethiopia’s agricultural sector, three powerhouse organizations have joined forces to reshape the nation’s food production and processing landscape. The Ethiopian Trading and Business Corporation (ETBC), Soy Afric, and Kazana Group have inked a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding that promises to revolutionize the entire agricultural value chain – from seed to export.
A high-level Ethiopian delegation is participating in the 150th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, this week. The group, led by House of Federation Speaker Agegnehu Teshager, represents Ethiopia at one of the world’s largest gatherings of parliamentarians.
Addressing the international forum, Speaker Agegnehu delivered Ethiopia’s national statement, reiterating the country’s commitment to multilateral cooperation through the IPU framework. He emphasized Ethiopia’s support for international efforts to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
The speaker outlined Ethiopia’s domestic development priorities, noting their alignment with both the UN’s SDGs and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. He referenced Ethiopia’s ongoing national development plan as evidence of this coordinated approach.
In his remarks, Agegnehu highlighted Ethiopia’s environmental initiatives, specifically mentioning the country’s large-scale tree planting program. He presented this as part of Ethiopia’s contribution to global climate change mitigation efforts.
The IPU assembly, which brings together legislators from 178 member states, serves as a platform for parliamentary diplomacy and international cooperation. Ethiopia’s participation underscores its continued engagement with global governance institutions.
The Ethiopian delegation is expected to hold bilateral meetings with other national delegations during the week-long conference. These discussions will focus on strengthening inter-parliamentary relations and sharing legislative best practices.
Ethiopia has reached a major milestone in its import substitution strategy, producing goods worth USD2.7 billion in the first eight months of the current fiscal year, according to the Ministry of Industry.
State Industry Minister Tarekgne Bululta, speaking to the state-run Ethiopian News Agency, highlighted the remarkable growth in domestic production. Just four years ago, the value of import-substituted goods stood at USD 345 million. This figure surged to USD2.9 billion three years ago and reached USD2.8 billion in the last fiscal year, reflecting a sustained upward trend.
In the first eight months of 2024/2025 alone, Ethiopia has already recorded USD2.7 billion in import substitution, underscoring the momentum of this economic policy. The government is now working closely with stakeholders to push this figure to USD3.9 billion by the end of the fiscal year.
The market share of locally produced substitute goods has also expanded significantly, now surpassing 43%. This indicates growing consumer confidence in Ethiopian-made products and increasing competitiveness in the national market.
Tarekgne attributed this success to the government’s strategic focus on reducing reliance on foreign imports and strengthening domestic production. The initiative not only aims to alleviate foreign currency shortages but also seeks to create substantial job opportunities and improve access to affordable goods.
As part of this strategy, the Ministry of Industry has identified 96 key products for domestic substitution, ensuring a structured and targeted approach to import reduction.
Mintesinot Nigussie Asfaw
Ethiopian Business Review