April 17, 2025
The Ethiopia–Vietnam Trade and Investment Forum was held successfully in Hanoi on Tuesday (April 15), on the sidelines of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s official visit. The event brought together senior officials, business leaders, and key stakeholders from both countries to explore practical ways to strengthen bilateral trade, investment, and economic cooperation.
In his opening address, Ambassador Negus Kebede, Director-General for Middle Eastern, Asian, and Pacific Affairs at Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, described the event as “a historic milestone in the bilateral relations between our two countries.” He emphasized the shared attributes of Ethiopia and Vietnam—resilient, reform-oriented economies with youthful populations and strategic regional positions—as a solid foundation for an enduring economic partnership.
“This roundtable is more than a dialogue—it is a bridge to opportunity,” said Ambassador Negus, highlighting key sectors with strong potential for cooperation. He also stressed Ethiopia’s transformation into an attractive investment destination through the implementation of its bold Homegrown Economic Reform Agenda and 10-Year Development Plan.
Citing successful Ethiopian-Vietnamese ventures, Ambassador Negus spotlighted MKDSS—a joint venture between Ethiopia’s Neuronet PLC and Vietnam’s MK Group specializing in digital security authentication—and TOYO Solar’s growing presence in Ethiopia’s renewable energy sector. These ventures were presented as clear demonstrations of the synergy between Vietnamese innovation and Ethiopian market potential.
A virtual presentation by Habtamu Simachew , Senior Legal Advisor at the Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC), offered a comprehensive overview of Ethiopia’s evolving investment landscape. He highlighted the country’s vast natural resources, youthful and cost-competitive labor force, growing access to regional and global markets, and the government’s ongoing sectoral reforms. Habtamu emphasized Ethiopia’s strategic advantages, including preferential trade access through COMESA, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and other international initiatives. He also pointed to the country’s modern industrial infrastructure—comprising industrial parks, integrated agro-industrial clusters, and Special Economic Zones—as key enablers for investment. Furthermore, he underscored Ethiopia’s leadership in renewable energy, positioning it as an emerging hub for green industrial development.
Speaking on behalf of Vietnam’s private sector, Nguyen Quang Vinh, Vice President of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), noted that Vietnam’s annual trade volume reached USD 786 billion, with a GDP of USD 476 billion. He pointed to Ethiopia’s rapid economic growth and reform momentum as a significant opportunity for Vietnamese enterprises. Vinh urged private companies to capitalize on the growing diplomatic ties and political will between the two nations. VCCI, he noted, represents over 200 industry associations with a total membership exceeding 200,000 enterprises.
Kenenisa Lemi, Secretary-General of the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations (ECCSA), underscored ECCSA’s strategic mission to promote trade and investment and foster a vibrant, business-friendly environment in Ethiopia. He affirmed ECCSA’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with government entities, the private sector, and development partners to elevate Ethiopia’s economic profile globally, including in Vietnam.
Officials from Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade expressed growing interest in engaging with African economies, particularly in building resilient value chains and diversifying international markets.
The forum also hosted business-to-business and government-to-business sessions, providing a dynamic platform for Ethiopian and Vietnamese companies to explore joint ventures, technology transfer opportunities, and supply chain integration. Over 40 Vietnamese enterprises participated in the forum.
Special recognition was given to MKDSS and TOYO Solar as successful case studies of bilateral cooperation and as symbols of the robust and enabling policy environment Ethiopia offers to foreign investors.
Participants agreed on the importance of sustaining momentum through the creation of joint implementation mechanisms, regular institutional dialogue between chambers of commerce, and high-level business exchanges.
The Ethiopia–Vietnam Trade and Investment Forum signaled the beginning of a new chapter in the partnership between two dynamic, rapidly developing economies. It reaffirmed both countries’ shared vision for economic transformation, sustainable development, and strengthened South–South cooperation.
The forum concluded with optimism and a shared commitment to further enhancing trade and investment ties, emphasizing Ethiopia’s macroeconomic reforms and infrastructure development and Vietnam’s readiness to collaborate in agriculture, energy, textiles, ICT, education, and green growth sectors.