Addis Ababa, October 29, 2026 (FMC) — Ethiopia has invited Russian enterprises to establish joint ventures in its special economic zones, particularly in the pharmaceutical and machinery industries, as it seeks to expand domestic production and use the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to reach markets across the continent.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed made the call during the plenary session of the Third Russia–Africa Summit in Moscow on Thursday, emphasizing the need to translate innovation into production and trade.
“Africa is building a single market through the African Continental Free Trade Area,” Abiy said, inviting Russian companies to establish joint ventures in Ethiopia’s special economic zones to supply the continent.
The proposal positions Ethiopia as a potential base for Russian enterprises seeking to participate in Africa’s expanding market through local production and industrial partnerships. The focus on pharmaceuticals and machinery also reflects Ethiopia’s interest in strengthening productive capacity and broadening industrial cooperation.
The Prime Minister linked industrial investment to a wider economic agenda in which international partnerships should generate practical benefits. He also called for more efficient payment channels between Ethiopia and Russia to make bilateral trade simpler and less costly.
Agriculture formed another dimension of the economic cooperation agenda. Abiy said Russian collaboration in farm machinery and agricultural processing could help Ethiopia improve its capacity to feed its population and build an agricultural economy that supports long-term prosperity.
The emphasis on production, processing and trade reflects Ethiopia’s approach of connecting international investment with domestic capability and access to wider markets.
By inviting Russian enterprises to establish joint ventures in its special economic zones, Ethiopia is seeking cooperation that extends beyond bilateral trade toward productive partnerships capable of serving demand across Africa.