Ethiopia’s Finance Minister Ahmed Shide met with senior World Bank officials to strengthen development cooperation as the country pushes forward with economic reforms. The discussions, held with Anna Bjerde, the Bank’s Managing Director for Operations, and Victoria Kwakwa, Regional Vice President for Eastern and Southern Africa, focused on Ethiopia’s energy potential, financial sector reforms, and ongoing investment initiatives.
Ethiopia’s energy sector took center stage, with Shide highlighting the country’s vast renewable resources and the importance of collaboration with the World Bank. Ethiopia remains a key player in the Mission300 initiative, which aims to provide electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030. The World Bank has invested heavily in Ethiopia, with over $17 billion committed across multiple sectors.
Ahmed Shide also outlined Ethiopia’s aggressive macroeconomic reforms, including tax and financial sector restructuring, aimed at improving the investment climate. These measures align with the government’s push to stabilize inflation, attract foreign investment, and modernize key industries.
World Bank officials praised Ethiopia’s economic progress and emphasized the need for deeper reforms to encourage private sector participation. The Bank reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Ethiopia’s development agenda, particularly in areas that promote financial sustainability and job creation.
Both sides agreed on the importance of continued collaboration, signaling that Ethiopia’s partnership with the World Bank will remain a cornerstone of its economic transformation.
