Ethiopia advanced its World Trade Organization (WTO) accession after concluding the sixth Working Party meeting, Trade Minister Kassahun Gofe said. The country completed bilateral negotiations with six of 18 partners, marking a milestone in its 23-year bid launched in 2003. WTO membership will expand market access, attract investment, and align Ethiopia’s trade laws with global standards.

Ethiopia and China reaffirmed plans to deepen industrial cooperation, citing policy reforms, infrastructure investment, and incentives that have positioned Ethiopia as a light manufacturing hub. Industry Minister Melaku Alebel welcomed Chinese investment, while Minister Li Lecheng praised Ethiopia’s progress and pledged stronger engagement in technology transfer and industrial integration. Both governments said the partnership will drive industrialization and attract sustainable foreign investment.

Ethiopia began formal talks in Paris with investors to restructure its $1 billion Eurobond, which defaulted in 2023. The move follows a July deal with bilateral creditors that secured $3.5 billion in relief. Ethiopia proposed a 20% haircut, citing debt sustainability concerns, while bondholders argued the issue is liquidity. The bond gained 2.6 cents to 94.88 cents on the dollar after news of the talks.

The US State Department’s 2025 Investment Climate Statement praised Ethiopia’s reforms, including the currency float, a $10.5 billion IMF-World Bank package, the relaunch of the Ethiopian Securities Exchange, and foreign bank entry. But it cited insecurity in Amhara and Oromia, weak property rights, corruption, and forced displacement under “corridor development” projects as major risks undermining investor confidence and rule-of-law protections.

Ethiopia and Italy signed a €4.1 million agreement to upgrade Shire Hospital in Tigray and Gondar Hospital in Amhara, aiming to restore healthcare services for more than 15 million people. Finance Minister Ahmed Shide said the project reflects Ethiopia’s push for a resilient health system. The funding forms part of a €250 million Ethio–Italian Cooperation Framework, which combines soft loans and grants to support essential services and sustainable development.

The Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority opened a Coffee Quality Inspection and Certification Center in Dilla, Gedeo Zone, to strengthen Ethiopia’s position in global coffee markets. Funded with 17 million birr from the Gedeo Zone Coffee Suppliers Association, the center will cut transport costs, streamline trade, and improve efficiency. It will focus on premium Yirgachefe coffee while offering research and training to help farmers and suppliers expand foreign market access.