Ethiopia positioned as model for green industrialization in Africa, says ACCPA Executive Director

Addis Ababa, July 16, 2025 (FMC) — Ethiopia’s efforts to integrate green finance into its industrial development strategy are gaining continental recognition, with experts identifying the country as a potential model for Africa’s green industrialization future.

This was highlighted during the Green Finance Workshop – Addis Ababa 2025, held on today.

The high-level event was organized by the Africa-China Centre for Policy and Advisory (ACCPA) in partnership with the African Climate Foundation (ACF) and brought together government officials, financial institutions, industry leaders, civil society actors, and international observers.

The workshop is part of a broader initiative under the Sino-Africa Green Finance Alliance, which is currently focused on Ethiopia and Ghana as pilot countries for scaling green finance solutions that support low-carbon, climate-resilient industrial growth across the continent.

Speaking on the occasion, Paul Frimpong, Executive Director of ACCPA, said Ethiopia has shown strong policy momentum and institutional commitment that position it as a continental frontrunner in the emerging green finance space. “We are excited about Ethiopia’s potential. The country has shown strong policy momentum, and we believe its experience can serve as a blueprint for green industrialization in Africa,” he noted.

Frimpong explained that ACCPA has conducted six months of in-depth local research in Ethiopia to map out green finance flows and identify opportunities for sustainable industrial development. He said the workshop was designed to validate those findings and gather insights from local stakeholders to further inform policy and investment direction.

“We invited decision-makers from the financial sector, government ministries, private enterprises, civil society, and international partners to ensure that we generate workable plans rooted in local realities,” he said. “Ethiopia is already taking important steps, and this process helps consolidate those efforts into a cohesive roadmap.”

During the workshop, participants explored issues such as innovative green finance tools, including green bonds and ESG investments, climate risk management in project financing, public-private partnerships for sustainable manufacturing, and policy incentives that promote resource-efficient production. Ethiopia’s experience was also discussed as a case study in developing scalable green industrial finance models for the wider African region.

The event also drew observers from multilateral institutions, including representatives from the African Union and the Chinese Mission to the AU, underscoring Ethiopia’s growing role as a hub for green development dialogue and diplomacy.

Frimpong said the project aims to generate success stories from both Ethiopia and Ghana, which can then be replicated in other African countries. “This is not just research or dialogue—it’s about activating finance, connecting it with real projects, and ensuring Ethiopia takes its rightful place in the green industrialization agenda,” he concluded.

The workshop concluded with forward-looking recommendations for strengthening policy frameworks, catalyzing investment pipelines, and expanding Ethiopia’s leadership in sustainable industrial transformation on the continent.