Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed and Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong held a joint press conference following bilateral discussions in Addis Ababa, emphasizing a strategic shift in global engagement with Africa and announcing Singapore's plan to open an embassy in the Ethiopian capital.
Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed stressed that now is the opportune time for developed nations to "turn their attention to Africa," urging global cooperation to address shared challenges. He stated that no country is immune to current global geopolitical and economic difficulties. While developed nations possess capital and skilled labor, he argued that Africa offers untapped opportunities, making a partnership essential to "create a better world" by combining these unique strengths.
PM Abiy praised Singapore's transformation through innovation and good governance, noting that Ethiopia is poised to learn from these experiences, particularly in expediting its progress in institutional building, inclusive growth, and digital administration. He called on Singaporean investors to explore the significant potential in Ethiopia's logistics, manufacturing, aviation, and tourism sectors, as well as mining and urban development. The Prime Minister expressed Ethiopia's readiness to elevate the bilateral relationship and acknowledged the signing of agreements in areas like skilled manpower and service delivery.
In his first bilateral visit to an African country, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong reaffirmed the relationship as a "partnership of equals," thanking PM Abiy for the warm welcome and reciprocating the Ethiopian leader's visit to Singapore last year. PM Wong announced Singapore's plan to open its first embassy in East Africa—and third on the continent—in Addis Ababa. He called this a "tangible demonstration" of commitment, adding that its location in the African Union headquarters city will strengthen Singapore's engagement with Africa as a whole.
The Prime Minister contrasted Singapore's identity as a small island nation that transformed through struggle with Ethiopia's "ancient civilization" and "tremendous potential," stressing that the partnership is not about one country offering lessons but rather a mutually beneficial relationship. He highlighted that both nations will work together on skill development, trade, investment, and sustainability.
PM Wong offered Singapore's readiness to share its expertise as Ethiopia prepares to host the 32nd UN Climate Change Conference (COP32) in 2027. He emphasized that both countries, serving as hubs in their respective regions, will work to foster greater cooperation between Southeast Asia and Africa. Singapore also pledged to provide opportunities for African nations to benefit from its expertise in human resource development.
The leaders confirmed that discussions during the working visit culminated in agreements to deepen cooperation across various sectors, including trade, investment, and capacity building.
