Ethiopian officials have called on Italian businesses operating in the country to expand into deeper, long-term collaboration from familiar roles in trade and product supply. The call came during the inaugural edition of the Ethio–Italy Business Forum on Construction, Infrastructure and Urban Engineering this week in Addis Ababa, which saw the attendance of the Italian deputy foreign minister and several senior Ethiopian government officials. During the forum, State Minister for Urban and Infrastructure Development Yetemgeta Asrat urged Italian companies to go beyond product supply and embrace partnerships. He noted that while total bilateral trade remains below 300 million euros, Italian manufacturers are showing growing interest in Ethiopian teff and coffee for healthier food products such as pasta, bread, and biscuits. Claudio acknowledged challenges, including financial communication between Ethiopian and Italian banks and issues of collateral and guarantees for private‑sector financing.

Source: Ethiopian News March 28, 2026 08:33 UTC