Addis Ababa, March 1, 2026 (FMC) — The recent official working visit of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and his high-level delegation to Azerbaijan marks a decisive step in cementing the enduring and multifaceted partnership between the two nations, according to Foreign Minister Gedion Timotheos.
In a detailed briefing following the diplomatic mission, the Foreign Minister highlighted that the bilateral relationship between Ethiopia and Azerbaijan has experienced significant upward momentum and an expanding scope of cooperation in recent years.
He emphasized that the Prime Minister’s leadership-level visit, complemented by the signing of several key agreements across diverse sectors, is instrumental in ensuring that Ethio-Azerbaijan ties remain comprehensive and sustainable. The two countries, he noted, have reached mutual understanding to forge partnerships in new and emerging fields.
Acknowledging Azerbaijan’s successful hosting of the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference, the Foreign Minister remarked on Baku’s expertise in organizing high-stakes international forums and its commitment to sharing this experience in collaboration with Ethiopia.
He further revealed that Azerbaijan views Ethiopia as a strategic gateway to Africa and has expressed strong interest in utilizing Ethiopia’s geopolitical position to expand investment and trade across the continent. Both nations have consequently agreed to intensify cooperation in trade and investment frameworks.
Minister Gedion also underscored the potential benefits Ethiopia could derive from Azerbaijan’s success in digitizing public services. Azerbaijan’s integration of technology into governance, he said, provides a valuable model as Ethiopia advances its own digital transformation initiatives.
Describing the overall mission as highly productive, the Foreign Minister concluded that the visit has laid a solid foundation for future cooperation and created favorable conditions for mutual growth and regional integration.