The Ethiopian Embassy in Tokyo, in collaboration with JOGMEC, JETRO, and other Japanese partners, hosted the Ethio-Japan Investment Forum on Thursday (December 18). The event drew approximately 80 participants from Japan’s mining and energy industries.
Organized as part of the Embassy’s business diplomacy strategy, the forum aimed to promote Ethiopia’s rich mineral resources, including gold, natural gas, potash, and tantalum, and to highlight new opportunities arising from recent government reforms. Japanese institutions responded enthusiastically, helping to mobilize strong industry attendance.
Ambassador Daba Debele opened the forum by emphasizing the longstanding diplomatic relations between Ethiopia and Japan. He highlighted Ethiopia’s rapid economic growth, the government’s prioritization of the mining sector, and increasing foreign investor interest. Ambassador Daba encouraged Japanese companies to explore Ethiopia’s expanding mining landscape and thanked partner institutions for their support.
In a video address, Minister of Mines Habtamu Tegen outlined Ethiopia’s considerable mineral reserves and the government’s commitment to supporting credible foreign investors. He noted significant growth in gold production following recent policy reforms.
Hiroshi Kubota, Vice President of JOGMEC, reaffirmed Japan’s interest in Ethiopia’s mining sector and pledged institutional support, particularly through public-private partnerships that promote technology transfer and job creation.
Dagato Kumbe, Deputy Commissioner of the Ethiopian Investment Commission, presented Ethiopia’s mineral profile, investment incentives, and competitive advantages. Key strengths include a young workforce, a reliable energy supply, and transparent incentive structures tailored to attract foreign enterprises.
Ambassador Daba and Deputy Commissioner Dagato responded to questions raised by participants during the Q&A session, concluding the event.