Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has announced that Ethiopia expects its economy to grow by 10.2% by the end of this year, positioning the nation as a leader in Africa's rapid economic convergence with global markets. Speaking to a distinguished assembly including UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the prime minister detailed a 25-year roadmap to transform Ethiopia from a low-income economy into a globally competitive powerhouse.

Central to this transformation is the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which the Prime Minister highlighted as a symbol of "African ingenuity" currently powering local industry and exporting electricity to neighboring states. He further emphasized that Ethiopia is moving from dependency to production, citing achieved wheat self-sufficiency and large-scale industrial investments.

To anchor this growth, the prime minister revealed plans for Africa’s largest airport, designed to integrate the continent into global value chains via Ethiopian Airlines. He also addressed regional stability, stating that "reliable access to the sea through peaceful cooperation" remains fundamental to Ethiopia's economic future and the long-term prosperity of the Horn of Africa.