Addis ababa: Ethiopia’s Minister of Finance Ahmed Shide met with Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bayer AG, Bill Anderson, and CEO of Africa50, Alain Ebobiss© to discuss ways of strengthening collaboration and partnership with Ethiopia.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, the Minister of Finance and the CEO of Bayer AG explored potential partnerships and investment opportunities in Ethiopia’s rapidly expanding pharmaceutical sector. During the discussion, Ahmed highlighted Ethiopia’s strong economic fundamentals and competitive advantages, noting that the country is among the fastest-growing economies and populations in Africa.
He emphasized the government’s commitment to fostering a supportive investment environment that encourages international partnerships in high-impact sectors such as pharmaceuticals. The meeting also covered areas of collaboration to strengthen local production of essential medicines.
Minister Ahmed underscored Ethiopia’s strategic location and logistical advantages, including Ethiopian Airlines’ extensive cargo network and Addis Ababa’s role as host of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), which position Ethiopia as an ideal hub for regional pharmaceutical manufacturing and distribution. He further outlined the government’s investment incentives, including the Kilinto Industrial Park dedicated to pharmaceutical manufacturing, substantial tax exemptions, and a robust regulatory framework that ensures quality and investor confidence.
CEO of Bayer AG, Anderson, commended the Ethiopian government’s vision and readiness for collaboration. He expressed Bayer’s interest in further exploring potential investment opportunities to support Ethiopia’s efforts in expanding access to essential medicines and strengthening its pharmaceutical capacity.
In a similar development, Minister Ahmed also met with the CEO of Africa50 to discuss collaboration on high-impact infrastructure development. The Minister emphasized that infrastructure development remains a top national priority and the critical need to secure adequate financing to deliver impactful projects. He underscored the importance of innovative and blended financing solutions to bridge this gap.
Mentioning the energy sector, the Minister highlighted the potential of green energy investments and regional initiatives such as Mission 300, which aim to expand access to sustainable power and drive economic transformation across Africa. For his part, Ebobiss© reaffirmed Africa50’s commitment to working closely with the Government of Ethiopia to structure and implement impactful infrastructure projects that accelerate the country’s growth and enhance regional connectivity.