Ethiopia, Israel eye cooperation in energy and infrastructure

Addis Ababa, March 14, 2025 (FMC) — Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Mr. Gedion Timothewos met with Eli Cohen, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure of the State of Israel, to discuss enhancing bilateral cooperation in energy, infrastructure, mining, and investment.

Minister Cohen reaffirmed the strong ties between Ethiopia and Israel and emphasized the need to deepen economic collaboration.

Foreign Minister Gedion echoed this sentiment, stressing that both nations are committed to forging a robust economic partnership that delivers tangible benefits, complementing their existing political and security cooperation.

He highlighted Ethiopia’s ongoing economic reforms, which have created a more favorable business and investment climate for foreign investors, including Israeli enterprises.

With Ethiopia’s vast renewable energy potential and Africa’s growing power market, both sides explored opportunities for Israeli companies to participate in renewable energy generation, transmission, and distribution projects.

They also discussed investment prospects in Ethiopia’s abundant, yet largely untapped, mineral resources. Recognizing Israel’s technological leadership in irrigation and agricultural technology, the ministers underscored the potential for mutually beneficial partnerships in these areas.

Minister Cohen assured that the Israeli government would actively encourage Israeli businesses to seize investment opportunities in Ethiopia by providing relevant information on feasible projects. He also announced plans to lead a business delegation to Ethiopia in the near future to further explore avenues for collaboration.

It is worth noting that Minister Cohen previously visited Ethiopia in February 2025, where he engaged with various Ethiopian officials to advance cooperation in technology, agriculture, health, research, innovation, and the energy sector.