Ethiopia and EU agree on support for macroeconomic reforms, transport corridor

Addis Ababa, January 28, 2026 (FMC) — Ethiopia’s Minister of Finance, Ahmed Shide, arrived in Mogadishu today to participate in the 27th Ministerial Roundtable of the Horn of Africa Initiative (HoAI).

On the sidelines of the meeting in Mogadishu, Minister Ahmed held a bilateral discussion with Myriam Ferran, Deputy Director-General for International Partnerships at the European Commission. The talks focused on strengthening cooperation on Ethiopia’s macroeconomic reforms and securing EU support for strategic infrastructure under the Horn of Africa Initiative.

Minister Ahmed expressed appreciation for the European Union’s continued backing, including its contribution to the Renewable, Integrated and Sustainable Energy and Digitalization (RISED) program, implemented in partnership with the French Development Agency and the European Investment Bank.

Both officials agreed on EU financing for the Ethiopia–Djibouti transport corridor, a flagship project under the Horn of Africa Initiative. They also reached an understanding to strengthen support for Ethiopia’s ongoing macroeconomic reform programs.

The HoAI Ministerial will additionally focus on accelerating access to reliable and affordable electricity by advancing financing for transmission infrastructure and regional energy interconnections.