Addis Ababa, July 13, 2025 (FMC) — Ethiopia is steadily solidifying its status as a preferred destination for major international and continental conferences, a reflection of its growing diplomatic and strategic relevance, according to the Government Communication Service (GCS).
Speaking during a media training session on the broader concept of food systems transformation, State Minister of the GCS Tesfahun Gobezay underscored Ethiopia’s rising profile as a global venue for high-level gatherings.
He pointed in particular to the upcoming Second United Nations Food Systems Conference, which will be held in Addis Ababa from July 20 to 22, 2025, as further evidence of this emerging role.
Tesfahun described the conference as a critical platform for Ethiopia to showcase its national achievements in food self-sufficiency and nutrition transition, while also engaging with global best practices for building sustainable and resilient food systems.
“The food agenda is a matter of sovereignty and must be treated with the seriousness it deserves,” he stated, urging media professionals to approach the event with a sense of national responsibility.
He encouraged the press to deliver accurate, well-structured, and patriotically grounded coverage that promotes and protects Ethiopia’s interests in the international arena.
Echoing his remarks, Mandefro Nigusse, Director General of the Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI), said Ethiopia’s selection as the host country reflects its significant strides toward food sovereignty.
He described the forthcoming conference as a key opportunity to present Ethiopia’s long-term food systems vision to the global community.
The conference is expected to draw high-level participants, including heads of state, senior representatives from international and regional organizations, academic and research institutions, and private sector stakeholders.
Mandefro emphasized the importance of sustained and strategic media engagement leading up to and during the event, noting that its significance extends not only to Ethiopia but to the broader region as well.