AMN Plus -January 22/2026
The world’s largest German multinational pharmaceutical company, Bayer, along with other German companies operating in solar energy, logistics, trade, and machinery, have expressed strong interest in investing in Ethiopia.
A high-level discussion forum aimed at further strengthening investment and trade relations between Ethiopia and Germany was convened by the Ethiopian Investment Commission.
The forum brought together a business delegation comprising six major German companies, led by Israng(PhD), Commissioner for Economic Security and Deputy Director-General at the German Federal Foreign Office.
The delegation held extensive discussions with senior officials from the Ethiopian Investment Commission, the Ministry of Health, and Ethiopian Investment Holdings to explore concrete investment opportunities across priority sectors.
Speaking at the forum, Zeleke Temesgen (PhD), Commissioner of the Ethiopian Investment Commission, highlighted the long-standing, trust-based development partnership between Ethiopia and Germany. He noted that Ethiopia has undertaken comprehensive macroeconomic and structural reforms to attract quality foreign direct investment.
The commissioner further emphasized the critical role German companies can play in realizing Ethiopia’s vision of becoming a regional hub for industry, transport, and logistics, and encouraged investors to take advantage of the country’s increasingly conducive investment climate.
Addressing opportunities in the health sector, State Minister of Health W/o Frehiywot Abebe stated that the pharmaceutical industry presents significant investment potential. She noted that Ethiopia’s strategic location enables investors to serve not only the domestic market but also the wider African market through local production.
Biruk Taye(PhD), CEO of Ethiopian Investment Holdings, expressed EIH’s readiness to collaborate with German investors through public–private partnerships and joint ventures, particularly within government development enterprises.
The forum concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session, during which German investors received clarifications from senior government officials. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to advancing practical investment initiatives aligned with Ethiopia’s priority development sectors and Germany’s foreign economic policy objectives.
Bayer AG is a major German multinational life-sciences company with a global footprint, operating in approximately 80 countries through around 291 consolidated companies and employing about 92,000–99,000 people worldwide. Its core business is organized into three main divisions Pharmaceuticals, Crop Science, and Consumer Health with a broad portfolio of products ranging from prescription medicines and over-the-counter health brands to seeds and crop protection technologies, serving markets worldwide as Ethiopian Investment Commission reported it.
