Addis Ababa Mayor Meets Carrefour Chief to Boost Investment and Modern Retail in the Capital

Addis Ababa, January 14, 2026 (FMC) – Addis Ababa Mayor Adanech Abiebie held discussions on Wednesday with Carrefour Executive Director Patrick Lasfargues and French Ambassador to Ethiopia Alexis Lamek on investment opportunities in the capital.

The meeting focused on potential areas of cooperation linked to Carrefour’s planned retail operations in Addis Ababa. The Mayor indicated that the company’s entry could support efforts to attract additional international brands and strengthen trade linkages in the city.

The city administration said it continues to engage with international investors as part of broader efforts to expand investment opportunities in the capital.

Carrefour, a France-based global retail company, recently entered the Ethiopian market through a franchise and supply partnership with the MIDROC Investment Group. The agreement, formally signed in Addis Ababa yesterday, will see 13 Queens Supermarkets rebranded under the Carrefour name by mid-2026, with an additional 17 outlets planned in major cities including Jimma, Bishoftu, Adama, Dire Dawa, Dessie, and Bahir Dar by 2028.

The partnership is expected to modernize Ethiopia’s retail sector and provide new opportunities for domestic products to reach international markets, reflecting a growing phase in Ethiopia’s economic and trade relations with France.