Ethiopia and the World Bank have agreed to strengthen and sustain their partnership following discussions today between top officials. Finance Minister Ahmed Shide and National Bank Governor Dr. Eyob Tekalign met with Anna Bjerde, the World Bank's Managing Director of Operations, alongside Ndiamé Diop, the Bank's Vice President for Eastern and Southern Africa.

During the talks, Ahmed Shide expressed his gratitude for the World Bank's continuous partnership with Ethiopia, highlighting its ongoing budget support. He provided an extensive briefing on the government's current economic reform agenda, detailing the growth observed in domestic revenue collection, the specific measures taken to improve the business environment, and the initiatives underway to bolster private sector development.

In response, World Bank Managing Director Anna Bjerde commended the Ethiopian government's commitment and the tangible results achieved in driving private-sector-led growth and encouraging job creation through its economic reforms. She affirmed that her institution is prepared to support the country's development priorities under the new partnership framework and to assist in the transition toward enhanced, private-sector-led growth.

The two sides agreed to further deepen their cooperation across key focus areas, including Mission 300, the Agri-Connect Compact, the E-Mobility Program, and the Water Forward Initiative. Furthermore, they held extensive discussions on the critical need for Ethiopia to access additional financing options to build its resilience against climate change and external shocks. They also explored strategies to improve implementation efficiency to ensure the public sees tangible benefits.

The dialogue reaffirmed the strong, ongoing partnership between Ethiopia and the World Bank, underscoring their shared dedication to advancing the nation's economic transition and fostering sustainable, inclusive growth driven by the private sector.