The Ethiopian Investment Commission secured over 13 billion US dollars in investment agreements at the Invest in Ethiopia 2026 Forum, significantly surpassing its initial target and signaling strong investor confidence in Ethiopia’s economic potential.
According to birrmetrics, the agreements cover manufacturing, agriculture and agro-processing, energy, construction, and other strategic sectors. Officials said they are expected to generate employment, attract foreign currency, and accelerate technology transfer, signalling that investors are betting on Ethiopia’s long-term growth prospects.
Global Future Investment Ltd. plans to commit 2 billion US dollars in a special economic zone, while Liaoning Fangda Group Industrial Co. will invest 500 million US dollars in steel and pharmaceutical manufacturing.
In renewable energy, Gobez Electric Manufacturing Plc is expanding solar-cell production with 150 million US dollars, Sun King is targeting 150 million US dollars in solar equipment manufacturing by 2030, and Ming Yang Smart Energy Group Ltd. is preparing a 10 billion US dollars investment in green ammonia and electrical equipment.
Rashmi Group is entering Ethiopia’s mining sector with 235 million US dollars for extraction and processing operations. The real estate market is attracting international interest as well, with Poland-based Quantum Everest committing 100 million US dollars for property development.
The two‑day forum, held on March 26–27 in Addis Ababa, brought together over 800 international investors, business leaders, policymakers, and development partners from more than 50 countries. The agenda combined high‑level policy discussions, sector‑specific sessions, business‑to‑business matchmaking, networking programmes, and an investment exhibition, culminating in the deal‑signing ceremony.
By comparison, the previous edition secured about 1.6 billion US dollars in investment agreements across mining, energy, and manufacturing.
“The agreements further highlight Ethiopia’s position as a leading investment destination, while the forum served as a solid platform for creating new partnerships and fostering ongoing investment engagements,” the commission said.
Beyond headline figures, the investment outcome reflects a broader strategy to accelerate Ethiopia’s industrialisation and diversify its economy. Central to that strategy has been the expansion of industrial parks and special economic zones, designed as plug‑and‑play hubs for manufacturing and export‑oriented industry.
In the first half of the 2025/26 fiscal year these facilities attracted more than 377 million US dollars in new investment and helped generate over 112 millionUS dollars in export revenue, drawing investors from the United States, China, India, the United Kingdom and other markets. More than 90 percent of 177 manufactured industrial sheds across parks have been occupied, creating in excess of 100 000 jobs for local communities.
East Africa’s fastest-growing economy is cementing its position as an industrial hub with a series of flagship projects spanning multiple sectors. In a landmark partnership, Nigeria’s Dangote Group and Ethiopia’s sovereign wealth fund are developing the $2.5 billion Gode Fertiliser Plant, which will produce 3 million metric tons annually, reduce import dependency, and bolster local agriculture.
Meanwhile, Ethiopian Airlines has commenced construction of the 12.5 billion US dollars Bishoftu International Airport, set to become Africa’s largest aviation hub by 2030, with the capacity to handle more than 100 million passengers annually.
