Ethiopia is Shaping Its Future Today Through Digital Transformation, Says GCS

Addis Ababa, September 10, 2025 (FMC) — Ethiopia is actively shaping its future today, the Government Communication Service (GCS) said in a statement issued to mark Future Day, the fifth and final day of the Ethiopian calendar year Pagumen.

The country is observing the five days of Pagumen with special themes dedicated to each day. Today, the last day of 2017 Ethiopian calendar, is being observed as Future Day under the theme “Making Digital Ethiopia a Reality,” highlighting the nation’s ongoing digital transformation and innovation drive.

According to the GCS statement, Ethiopia is celebrating the fifth Pagumen Day with this theme to showcase the country’s efforts in building its tomorrow today and its achievements across multiple sectors.

GCS emphasized that the nation is working to prepare a generation fit for the Fifth Industrial Revolution, provide renewable energy to support industrial growth, develop modern cities, and foster new technologies and ideas. Ethiopia is striving to pass on a legacy of progress, rather than debt, to the next generation.

The statement further highlighted that Ethiopia’s vision extends beyond national borders. The Digital Ethiopia 2025 strategy has achieved its objectives and is now moving into the implementation phase of the next strategic plan.

A key priority in realizing this digital vision, GCS stated, is ensuring full citizen identification, with the National Identity Service (Fayda) cited as a prime example. To date, more than 23 million Ethiopians have registered, and efforts are underway to expand this number significantly, enabling citizens to access faster, fairer, and more impartial services.

The GCS statement also cited the 5 Million Ethiopian Coders initiative as a major milestone in the digital transformation journey. Additionally, trillions of Birr in digital transactions are being processed across the financial sector, further advancing the creation of a digital Ethiopia.

Ethiopia has become an attractive destination for data mining companies due to its reliable renewable energy supply, GCS noted. Mobile subscriptions have exceeded 85.4 million, while internet users number more than 28.6 million.

The statement highlighted the country’s significant achievements in strengthening cybersecurity, supporting its growing digital infrastructure.

The Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institute (EAII), Africa’s first, has been operational for several years, marking a key milestone in the nation’s technological advancement.

Agricultural research centers are also expanding, developing new crop varieties to ensure food sovereignty and sustainably address both permanent and temporary food security challenges caused by natural and human-made factors.

Youth skills development is another focus, with short-term technology and skills training programs equipping young Ethiopians for technology-enabled employment opportunities both domestically and abroad.

GCS emphasized that Ethiopia is not only addressing present challenges but is also taking historic steps in all sectors to lay the foundation for tomorrow.