Macroeconomic Reform Drives Strong Economic Performance Across Key Sectors: Prime Minister Abiy

Addis Ababa, April 17, 2026 (FMC) — Ethiopia’s comprehensive macroeconomic reform has delivered significant improvements across key sectors of the economy, strengthening productivity, external trade performance, and fiscal management, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) has said.

In the second part of his interview with the Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC) under the theme “The Heart of Sovereignty,” the Prime Minister said the reform program launched in recent years has fundamentally reshaped the country’s economic structure by opening up markets and expanding private sector participation.

He explained that the reform process is designed to create a competitive economic environment in which both public enterprises and private businesses operate under similar market conditions, reducing reliance on preferential treatment and directed financing.

According to him, this shift has improved efficiency in public enterprises, with state-owned institutions increasingly required to compete within market systems. He cited the Ethiopian Electric Utility as an example, noting that it has recorded profitability for the first time in its history following the reforms.

The Prime Minister also pointed to significant improvements in financial sector operations, including the expansion of digital payment systems that have simplified money transfers and improved efficiency in financial transactions.

He further noted that capital market reforms are beginning to improve government revenue and expenditure management, strengthening overall fiscal discipline and transparency.

On external sector performance, the Prime Minister said Ethiopia has recorded notable growth in export earnings, with $7.6 billion generated in the past nine months despite global economic pressures.

He added that export revenue stood at $8 billion in the previous fiscal year, with projections indicating potential growth to around $10 billion if current performance continues.

He also highlighted savings achieved through domestic production of previously imported goods, estimating that import substitution efforts have reduced foreign exchange outflows by approximately $3.6 billion.

The Prime Minister said the combined impact of these reforms demonstrates the effectiveness of the macroeconomic restructuring program, while acknowledging that further work is required to sustain and deepen the gains achieved so far.