Ethiopia and Japan reaffirm commitment to strengthening economic relations and dev’t cooperation

Addis Ababa, January 12, 2026 (FMC) – Ethiopia and Japan reaffirmed their commitment to deepen bilateral trade, investment, and development cooperation during a high-level meeting between Minister of Foreign Affairs Gedion Timothewos and a Japanese delegation led by State Minister for Foreign Affairs Kunimitsu Ayano.

In the meeting held at MFA Ethiopia here in Addis Ababa, FM Gedion emphasized Ethiopia’s long-standing partnership with Japan, highlighting strong collaboration at both bilateral and multilateral levels. He expressed appreciation for Japan’s continuous development support and underscored the country’s efforts to further expand economic cooperation, particularly in trade and investment.

State Minister Kunimitsu Ayano, for her part, reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to sustaining and enhancing collaboration with Ethiopia, especially in economic and investment initiatives.

As part of the delegation’s visit, FM Gedion briefed 48 business representatives from more than 35 Japanese companies, outlining Ethiopia’s favorable trade and investment opportunities, as well as the benefits of ongoing macroeconomic reforms. The briefing was aimed at encouraging increased Japanese participation in Ethiopia’s growing economy.

The Japanese delegation will also participate in the Ethiopia–Japan Business Forum, scheduled for tomorrow, which is expected to further strengthen economic ties and foster partnerships that support Ethiopia’s development priorities.