Ethiopian President proposes Pan-African innovation corridor to scale startups across the continent

Addis Ababa, February 16, 2026 (FMC) – Ethiopia’s President Taye Atske-Selassie on Monday called for a Pan-African innovation corridor to enable startups and enterprises to scale across the continent, as he officially opened the Ninth Africa Business Forum at the Headquarters of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) here in Addis Ababa.

Speaking on the Forum’s theme for this year “Financing Africa’s Future: Jobs, Innovations for Sustainable Transformation,” President Taye highlighted Africa’s demographic potential, noting that over 70% of the continent’s population is under 30.

The President said that while 362 million youth will enter the working-age population this decade, the current job market can absorb only 151 million, emphasizing the need to convert Africa’s youth into productive capital and scalable enterprises.

He pointed to a flourishing African growth model across sectors, including agro-processing, transportation, services, value chains, manufacturing, and ICT.

However, he warned that financing alone is insufficient if it does not reach youth- and women-led enterprises, and stressed the need to replicate successful models across borders.

Highlighting Ethiopia’s achievements, President Taye said that in the first half of the country’s 10-year development roadmap, 14.1 million young people were employed, with 84% through youth-led entrepreneurship.

Projects such as the Addis Ababa Corridor and Riverside Development have employed over 30,000 young people in six months, with over 100,000 employed across other cities over the past two years.

He also noted that industrial parks, manufacturing ecosystems, and agro-industrial value chains have created 2.4 million permanent jobs, primarily for youth, while linking smallholder farmers to processing, logistics, and export markets.

The president outlined three key policy areas for Africa’s transformation:

• Agriculture and Youth Development – Agriculture remains central to African economies, and youth participation in value chains can promote sustainability, innovation, and long-term growth. He cited youth-led initiatives such as copper processing and local chocolate production as examples of creating value domestically.
• Institutionalizing Youth and Women – He called for risk frameworks, specialized investment windows, fiscal incentives, and supportive legal environments. He highlighted Ethiopia’s startup proclamation and Digital Ethiopia 2030 program, which provides seed funding, mentorship, and digital skills training, including programs that have trained 5 million coders, envisioning global collaboration hubs to foster co-production between Africa and diaspora markets.
• Harmonization and Continental Integration – President Taye urged alignment of national startup and MSME policies with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). He proposed a Pan-African innovation corridor to allow certified startups and enterprises in Addis Ababa to access markets in Accra, Cairo, Lagos, and other capitals without cumbersome validation or bureaucratic hurdles.

He also called on all stakeholders to commit to Africa’s growth and youth empowerment, officially declaring the forum open.