Abu dhabi: Taye Atske-Selassie, President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and guest of honour at AIM Congress 2026, expressed his sincere thanks and appreciation to President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and the UAE government and people for their generous hospitality and warm welcome. In his address to AIM Congress, President Taye said the rapid transformations taking place in the global economy, technological developments and the reshaping of global value and supply chains require countries of the Global South, particularly in Africa, to strengthen their ability to shape their own future and build stable and inclusive partnerships based on mutual benefit.
According to Emirates News Agency, President Taye highlighted Ethiopia and Africa's promising investment opportunities across five key sectors: clean energy, agriculture, critical minerals, infrastructure and strategic corridors, and human capital. He emphasized the importance of leveraging these opportunities to support industrial transformation, sustainable development, and greater economic integration across the continent.
President Taye noted Ethiopia's renewable energy potential of about 60,000 megawatts, with a target of reaching 13,000 megawatts by 2030. The country plans to allocate around 1,000 megawatts to data centres and mining projects, enhancing its appeal for investment linked to the digital economy. He also shared that Ethiopia has transitioned from a wheat-importing nation to Africa's largest wheat producer, presenting international investment opportunities in agro-processing, packaging, re-export, as well as in coffee, avocados, sesame, and livestock.
He underscored Africa's potential in critical minerals and the need for sector development in line with sustainable development principles, increasing local value addition to build balanced and sustainable global value chains. President Taye reviewed infrastructure and strategic corridors' roles in strengthening African economic integration, citing the African Continental Free Trade Area's market of about 1.3 billion people with a combined gross domestic product exceeding US$3.4 trillion.
Additionally, he highlighted major projects in Ethiopia, such as a US$12.5 billion international airport designed to handle 110 million passengers and around 4 million tonnes of cargo annually. He pointed out Africa's young population as a strategic asset for development and innovation, appreciating the UAE's support for human development in Ethiopia, notably through the '5 Million Coders' initiative.
President Taye reiterated Ethiopia's openness to business and investment and its readiness to form sustainable, high-value partnerships with investors who believe in Africa's future and potential. He called for stronger international partnerships contributing to a future of prosperity and development for all.
For his part, Dawood Al Shezawi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of AIM International, stated that the AIM Investment Summit 2026's launch comes amid the accelerating movement of global capital towards new markets and investment opportunities capable of generating transformative impact and sustainable value. He added that the summit gathers decision-makers, investors, capital managers, corporate leaders, and innovators over three days to identify the next global growth zones, assess the evolving investment landscape, and pinpoint promising sectors and markets.