{"id":9793,"date":"2026-04-21T16:06:43","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T16:06:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dbe.com.et\/?p=9793"},"modified":"2026-04-21T16:19:51","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T16:19:51","slug":"eu-backs-ethiopias-reform-drive-with-budget","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dbe.com.et\/?p=9793","title":{"rendered":"EU Backs Ethiopia\u2019s Reform Drive with Budget"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"9793\" class=\"elementor elementor-9793\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-70db67c e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"70db67c\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f7b9fa3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-vc_custom_heading\" data-id=\"f7b9fa3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"vc_custom_heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\" vc_custom_heading  consulting_heading_font  text_align_left\" ><h2 style=\"text-align: left\" class=\"consulting-custom-title\">EU Backs Ethiopia\u2019s Reform Drive with Budget Support, Unlocking Investment Opportunities\n<\/h2><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-45b5dbd e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"45b5dbd\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7585d32 elementor-widget elementor-widget-stm_spacing\" data-id=\"7585d32\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"stm_spacing.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"stm-spacing\" id=\"stm-spacing-69e803f5a9743\"><\/div>\n<script>\n    (function($){\n        \"use strict\";\n        var spacingID = 'stm-spacing-69e803f5a9743',\n            lgSpacing = '',\n            mdSpacing = '',\n            smSpacing = '',\n            xsSpacing = '';\n\n        function stmSpacing() {\n            if ( window.matchMedia(\"(min-width: 1200px)\").matches && lgSpacing ) {\n                $( '#' + spacingID ).css ( \"height\", lgSpacing );\n            } else if ( window.matchMedia(\"(max-width: 1199px) and (min-width: 992px )\").matches && mdSpacing ) {\n                $( '#' + spacingID ).css ( \"height\", mdSpacing );\n            } else if ( window.matchMedia(\"(max-width: 991px) and (min-width: 768px )\").matches && smSpacing ) {\n                $( '#' + spacingID ).css ( \"height\", smSpacing );\n            } else if ( window.matchMedia(\"(max-width: 767px)\").matches && xsSpacing ) {\n                $( '#' + spacingID ).css ( \"height\", xsSpacing );\n            } else {\n                $( '#' + spacingID ).css ( \"height\", \"\" );\n            }\n        }\n\n        $(document).ready(function() {\n            stmSpacing();\n        });\n\n        $(window).resize(function() {\n            stmSpacing();\n        });\n\n    })(jQuery);\n<\/script>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-46a2ef4 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"46a2ef4\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f965169 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f965169\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 05-08-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<div>EU Backs Ethiopia\u2019s Reform Drive with Budget Support, Unlocking Investment Opportunities<\/div>\n<div>ADDIS ABABA,\u00a0<time id=\"zm-x-zimlet-date-highlighter-d7q9un1w197-April 20\" datetime=\"2026-04-20T05:35:02.218Z\">April 20<\/time>, 2026 &#8211; At the EU\u2013Ethiopia Business Forum 2026, the European Union announced the resumption of budget support to Ethiopia, signaling renewed confidence in the country\u2019s reform trajectory and unlocking new opportunities for private sector investment.<\/div>\n<div>More than 500 European companies are participating in the forum, which is being held at the Hilton Hotel, Addis Ababa, underscoring strong investor interest and a growing pipeline of business opportunities in Ethiopia\u2019s reforming and expanding market.<br \/>EU Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jozef S\u00edkela, confirmed a package of over \u20ac140 million in budget support. The financing will support priority areas including energy, health, connectivity, and improvements to the business environment laying the foundation for increased private investment.<\/div>\n<div>Speaking at the forum, State Minister of Finance Semereta Sewasew emphasized that Ethiopia is entering a decisive phase of economic transformation driven by reforms aimed at enabling private sector growth. With the International Monetary Fund projecting 9.2% real GDP growth in 2026, she highlighted key policy shifts already improving investor confidence.<\/div>\n<div>Central to this transformation is the liberalization of the foreign exchange regime, which is enhancing transparency, improving access to foreign currency, and reducing barriers to doing business\u2014creating a more predictable and competitive investment environment.<\/div>\n<div>Complementing budget support, the EU is scaling up investment under its Global Gateway strategy. A \u20ac150 million Digital Economy Package will expand digital infrastructure, strengthen skills, and improve governance systems, with potential for further expansion.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-960322c e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"960322c\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-844dc3d e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"844dc3d\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1922dd6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"1922dd6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 05-08-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"696\" src=\"https:\/\/dbe.com.et\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/photo_2026-04-20_10-10-30-1024x696.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-9798\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dbe.com.et\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/photo_2026-04-20_10-10-30-1024x696.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/dbe.com.et\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/photo_2026-04-20_10-10-30-300x204.jpg 300w, https:\/\/dbe.com.et\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/photo_2026-04-20_10-10-30-768x522.jpg 768w, https:\/\/dbe.com.et\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/photo_2026-04-20_10-10-30-900x612.jpg 900w, https:\/\/dbe.com.et\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/photo_2026-04-20_10-10-30.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0253604 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"0253604\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a6ca2d9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a6ca2d9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>In the energy sector, the \u20ac269 million RISE program will modernize electricity infrastructure, rehabilitate the Ashegoda wind farm, and deploy 2,500 kilometers of fiber optic cable, improving both energy access and digital connectivity for businesses and households.<br \/>The European Investment Bank also announced new financing operations targeting agriculture and food systems, with a focus on smallholder farmers and women-led enterprises, supporting inclusive and sustainable growth.<\/div>\n<div>Ethiopia\u2019s ongoing reforms are opening key sectors, including telecommunications, finance, and retail, to foreign participation. The entry of Carrefour into the market reflects growing investor confidence and the tangible impact of liberalization efforts.<br \/>Efforts to improve the ease of doing business are also accelerating, with streamlined investment procedures, reduced administrative burdens, and expanded digital public services.<br \/>The forum highlighted Ethiopia\u2019s integration into the African Continental Free Trade Area, providing investors with access to a market of 1.4 billion people.<\/div>\n<div>Secretary-General Wamkele Mene confirmed that Ethiopia is among countries actively trading under AfCFTA rules. Representing Austria, Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger emphasized a shift toward a partnership based on trade, investment, and innovation, highlighting the participation of Austrian companies in sectors such as medical technology, 3D printing, and climate-resilient agriculture.<\/div>\n<div>The four-day forum, held under the theme \u201cUnlocking Global Gateway Potentials,\u201d is expected to catalyze new partnerships and identify flagship investment projects by the end of 2026.<br \/>\u201cThe opportunity is here. The momentum is real. Now is the time to act,\u201d emphasized State Minister Semereta Sewasew, underscoring the importance of translating investor engagement into tangible, job-creating investment projects.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fc95716 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"fc95716\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e16a4e4 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"e16a4e4\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-aafc314 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"aafc314\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/dbe.com.et\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/photo_2026-04-20_21-01-55-1024x682.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-9799\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dbe.com.et\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/photo_2026-04-20_21-01-55-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/dbe.com.et\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/photo_2026-04-20_21-01-55-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/dbe.com.et\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/photo_2026-04-20_21-01-55-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/dbe.com.et\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/photo_2026-04-20_21-01-55-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/dbe.com.et\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/photo_2026-04-20_21-01-55.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-962eeb9 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"962eeb9\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-65b8f3a elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"65b8f3a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"571\" src=\"https:\/\/dbe.com.et\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/photo_2026-04-20_10-10-30-2-1024x571.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-9797\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dbe.com.et\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/photo_2026-04-20_10-10-30-2-1024x571.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/dbe.com.et\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/photo_2026-04-20_10-10-30-2-300x167.jpg 300w, https:\/\/dbe.com.et\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/photo_2026-04-20_10-10-30-2-768x428.jpg 768w, https:\/\/dbe.com.et\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/photo_2026-04-20_10-10-30-2-350x195.jpg 350w, https:\/\/dbe.com.et\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/photo_2026-04-20_10-10-30-2-900x502.jpg 900w, https:\/\/dbe.com.et\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/photo_2026-04-20_10-10-30-2.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>EU Backs Ethiopia\u2019s Reform Drive with Budget Support, Unlocking Investment Opportunities EU Backs Ethiopia\u2019s Reform Drive with Budget Support, Unlocking Investment OpportunitiesADDIS ABABA,\u00a0April 20, 2026 &#8211; At the EU\u2013Ethiopia Business Forum 2026, the European Union announced the resumption of budget support to Ethiopia, signaling renewed confidence in the country\u2019s reform trajectory and unlocking new opportunities<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9794,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[58],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9793","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbe.com.et\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9793","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbe.com.et\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbe.com.et\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbe.com.et\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbe.com.et\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9793"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/dbe.com.et\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9793\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9804,"href":"https:\/\/dbe.com.et\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9793\/revisions\/9804"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbe.com.et\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9794"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbe.com.et\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9793"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbe.com.et\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9793"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbe.com.et\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9793"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}