May 9 , 2025
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel, Gideon Sa’ar, concluded an official visit to Ethiopia from May 5 to 6. The visit focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation in key sectors and reaffirming a shared interest in regional engagement through diplomatic, economic, and security dialogue.
Minister Sa’ar was accompanied by a senior delegation comprising officials and representatives from the political, trade, and investment sectors. During his visit, he held meetings with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos, Abune Mathias—Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church—and other senior government officials.
Discussions with Prime Minister Abiy addressed areas of mutual interest, including agricultural development, technology transfer, and regional peace and security. The Ethiopian side underscored the importance of Israeli expertise in water management and agricultural innovation. Prime Minister Abiy, through official communication, welcomed the engagement and reiterated Ethiopia’s interest in strengthening bilateral ties.
In a separate meeting, Foreign Minister Gedion reaffirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to enhancing cooperation in agriculture, health, education, technology, and cultural exchange. He also emphasized the longstanding religious and historical ties between the two countries. Minister Sa’ar, for his part, described Ethiopia as a key partner for Israel in Africa and recognized its important role in regional stability and development.
Peace and security were central elements of the visit. Both sides discussed shared concerns related to terrorism and transnational crime and stressed the need for coordinated responses. The Ethiopian government reiterated its role in promoting peace in the Horn of Africa and expressed readiness to collaborate more closely with Israel on regional security initiatives. The two ministers also emphasized the importance of maintaining regular dialogue to address global and regional security challenges.
Minister Sa’ar’s decision to select Ethiopia as the destination for his first official visit to Africa since assuming office was acknowledged as a significant diplomatic gesture. Foreign Minister Gedion welcomed the visit as a continuation of ongoing high-level exchanges and a reflection of both countries’ interest in expanding cooperation across various sectors. The Ethiopian side also noted the tangible impact of Israeli technical assistance, particularly in agriculture, citing the development of the horticulture sector and increased avocado exports as successful examples of bilateral collaboration.
At the conclusion of the political consultations, both countries reaffirmed their commitment to advancing cooperation at governmental, business, and societal levels and agreed to sustain engagement through joint initiatives and regular consultations.
Ethiopia-Israel Business Forum Highlights Economic Opportunities
As part of the visit, the Ethiopia-Israel Business Forum was held in Addis Ababa under the theme “Strengthening Bilateral Relations through Innovation” on Tuesday (May 6). The forum brought together representatives from public institutions, state-owned enterprises, and the private sector. It was co-organized by the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ethiopian Investment Holdings, the Ethiopian Investment Commission, the Industrial Parks Development Corporation, the Israel Export Institute, and the Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce.
In his remarks, Foreign Minister Gedion emphasized that economic diplomacy is a central pillar of Ethiopia’s development strategy. He outlined investment opportunities in agri-tech, digital transformation, precision agriculture, pharmaceutical production, mineral development, and healthcare. He encouraged Israeli investors to explore the country’s emerging sectors and engage in mutually beneficial partnerships.
Minister Sa’ar welcomed the outlined opportunities and reaffirmed Israel’s interest in expanding economic collaboration with Ethiopia. He noted the alignment between the two economies and emphasized the importance of creating structured frameworks to support trade and investment.
The forum featured technical presentations from Ethiopian regulatory and investment institutions, including the National Bank of Ethiopia, Ethiopian Investment Holdings, and the Ethiopian Investment Commission. These sessions provided information on priority sectors, regulatory procedures, and ongoing efforts to ensure a transparent and investor-friendly business environment.
Minister Sa’ar’s visit reinforced the commitment of both governments to broadening bilateral relations through sustained political dialogue and concrete economic cooperation.