Ethiopia’s Minister of Finance, Ahmed Shide, hosted Mark Mitchell, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Africa, today for talks focused on Ethiopia’s ongoing economic reforms and strategies to deepen bilateral investment and commercial cooperation.

During the meeting, Minister Ahmed outlined the Ethiopian government's macroeconomic and structural reform agenda. He highlighted recent strides in fostering a more competitive business climate designed to boost private sector growth and attract foreign direct investment. The Minister also reaffirmed the government's commitment to sustaining these reforms to expand opportunities for international investors.

In response, Mitchell commended Ethiopia’s progress under its reform program and acknowledged the efforts being made to improve the local investment landscape. He underscored the importance of deepening commercial ties, reaffirming the U.S. Department of Commerce's dedication to facilitating greater engagement between American enterprises and the Ethiopian market.

The discussions also explored broader opportunities to expand bilateral trade, strengthen private sector partnerships, and promote business-to-business initiatives. A key focal point of the meeting was Ethiopia's new airport development project, with both sides noting the interest of U.S. financial institutions in backing the major infrastructure initiative.

The meeting concluded with both officials reaffirming their commitment to advancing U.S.-Ethiopian economic relations and exploring practical steps to drive trade and investment cooperation in the years ahead.