Addis Ababa, March 9, 2026 (FMC) — Ethiopia is positioning itself to become a manufacturing hub in Africa by leveraging high-quality industrial development as the foundation of its economic transformation, according to the country’s ambassador to China, Tefera Derbew.
Ambassador Tefera shared his insights during a recent interview with People’s Daily at China’s Two Sessions, highlighting the growing scope and depth of Ethiopia-China relations.
He emphasized that the collaboration spans multiple sectors, including industrial development, technology transfer, agricultural processing, and digital transformation, aiming to create jobs, increase value-added production, and accelerate Ethiopia’s journey toward economic modernization.
On the significance of China’s domestic policies for Ethiopia, he said, “Regarding alignment with Ethiopia’s development needs, the core themes of the 2026 Two Sessions are not merely domestic Chinese policies. For us, they are the gears that will drive our bilateral cooperation forward. High-quality industrial development is the cornerstone of Ethiopia’s goal to become a manufacturing hub in Africa.”
He explained that China’s focus on new quality productive forces aligns with Ethiopia’s transition from simple assembly to value-added production. The Ambassador highlighted Ethiopia’s plan to integrate Chinese expertise into industrial parks to process agricultural goods, such as coffee, locally before export. He also noted that the digital economy and artificial intelligence are priorities under the country’s Digital Ethiopia 2030 strategy.
Ambassador Tefera underlined the broader scope of Ethiopia-China cooperation, pointing to technology transfer, agricultural processing, e-commerce, and AI as key areas that can accelerate industrialization, create jobs, and strengthen value-added production nationwide.
He added, “We are prioritizing e-commerce and artificial intelligence. China’s 15th Five-Year plan emphasizes the digital ecosystem, providing a roadmap for Ethiopia to leapfrog traditional development barriers through smart infrastructure, FinTech, and digital trade platforms.”
Looking ahead, he said 2026 — the inaugural year of China’s 15th Five-Year plan — is a landmark moment not only for China’s domestic rejuvenation but also for the stability and prosperity of the global economy.
Ambassador Tefera further noted “The Two Sessions review of this draft outline clearly signals a visionary shift toward high-quality development, emphasizing technological innovation, green energy, and further opening up of the Chinese market. For Ethiopia, prosperous and modernizing China represents a vital partner in our own journey towards prosperity.
Asserting his country’s commitment to its bilateral ties with China, the Ambassador added that Ethiopia stands ready to work hand-in-hand with China to ensure that the dividends of this new era of development translate into tangible growth, job creation, and sustainable development for both our peoples.”