Ethiopia stands out as one of the most attractive destinations for Kuwaiti investors in Africa

By Reaven D’Souza
Executive Managing Editor

In a recent exclusive interview with The Times Kuwait, Ambassador of Ethiopia H.E. Dr. Sied Muhumed Jibril spoke in depth about Ethiopia’s centrality to unity and multilateralism on the African continent, and its growing influence and leadership in promoting African issues on international and regional fora.

He spoke about Africa increasingly becomes a hub for investment and innovation, and Kuwait’s engagement not only as a gesture of solidarity but also a strategic move to diversify its partnerships and secure long-term interests in areas like agriculture, renewable energy, and logistics.

He also elaborated on Ethiopia’s upcoming hosting of the Second African Climate Summit, and its credentials as a pioneer in large-scale greening projects, such as the Green Legacy Initiative, which aims to plant 50 billion seedlings over the coming years to build a climate resilient future for the country.

How do you view Kuwait’s role in developing the African continent? What are your most important investment opportunities and your message to Kuwaiti investors? Can we say that Ethiopia can contribute to Kuwait’s food security?

Kuwait plays a growing and strategic role in supporting Africa’s development, both through bilateral engagement and via institutions such as the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED). For decades, Kuwait has been an active development partner across the continent, financing critical infrastructure projects in energy, agriculture, transport, and water. This long-standing commitment is driven by a recognition of Africa’s vast economic potential, its young population, and its importance as a partner in global food and energy frameworks. As Africa increasingly becomes a hub for investment and innovation, Kuwait’s engagement is not only a gesture of solidarity but also a strategic move to diversify its partnerships and secure long-term interests in areas like agriculture, renewable energy, and logistics.

Ethiopia stands out as one of the most attractive destinations for Kuwaiti investors in Africa. With its population of over 120 million, rapid urbanization, and ongoing economic reforms, Ethiopia offers significant opportunities across multiple sectors. The most prominent areas for investment include agriculture. and agro-processing, renewable energy, manufacturing, real estate, and logistics. Ethiopia’s fertile land, abundant water resources, and favorable climate make it particularly suitable for large-scale agricultural ventures. Moreover, Ethiopia’s participation in regional integration projects, including the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), provides investors access to a much larger market beyond its borders. With government initiatives focused on improving infrastructure and easing investment procedures, Kuwait’s private sector has a unique opportunity to tap into Ethiopia’s fast-growing economy.

Ethiopia has the potential to become a strategic partner in supporting Kuwait’s food security agenda. Given Kuwait’s limited agricultural capacity and its reliance on imports, ensuring a stable and sustainable food supply remains a pressing challenge. Ethiopia, by contrast, is endowed with vast fertile land, favorable agro-ecological conditions, and an experienced agricultural workforce. Kuwaiti investment in Ethiopia’s agricultural sector covering crops, livestock, and horticulture could create dependable supply chains that directly serve Kuwait’s domestic market. This partnership would not only safeguard Kuwait against global market fluctuations but also drive Ethiopia’s economic growth through enhanced infrastructure, technology sharing, and employment opportunities.

My message to Kuwaiti investors is clear: Ethiopia is a country of opportunity, resilience, and long-term growth potential. With its strategic location connecting.

Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, Ethiopia is not just an investment destination but also a gateway to wider markets. Kuwait’s capital, expertise, and development partnerships, when matched with Ethiopia’s resources and ambition, can create mutually beneficial outcomes that contribute both to Africa’s transformation and Kuwait’s food and economic security. Now is the right time for Kuwaiti investors to deepen their presence in Ethiopia and to be part of the continent’s remarkable growth story.

How would you assess Ethiopia’s role and representation at the Second African Climate Summit?

As the host country, Ethiopia plays a central and highly prominent role in the Second African Climate Summit (ACS2), which is being convened by the African Union Commission (AUC) in our capital Addis Ababa from 8–10 September. The hosting of ACS2, positions Ethiopia not only as a venue provider but as a key leader and symbol in Africa’s climate action journey.

Ethiopia plays a central role by providing the diplomatic and political platform of Addis Ababa, which serves as the diplomatic hub of Africa and a symbol of continental unity and multilateralism. It highlights its own climate achievements, notably the Green Legacy Initiative, as a model of indigenous African solutions that promote climate resilience, food security, and sustainable development through large-scale tree planting.

Ethiopia also showcases practical technology and innovative approaches to climate change mitigation, aligning with the summit’s themes of green growth, adaptation, and climate finance reform. In close collaboration with the African Union, it contributes to shaping the agenda and program of the summit, including official national statements, high-level panels, and innovation showcases.

Moreover, Ethiopia will leverage the event to drive a new climate narrative for Africa—one that emphasizes practical, African-led solutions rather than framing the continent solely as a victim of climate change.

To ensure inclusivity and broad ownership, it also engages media, civil society, youth, and marginalized groups in the preparatory phases of the summit. Additionally, Ethiopia’s hosting of the concurrent UNFCCC second Climate Week right before ACS2 enhances its influence in setting the tone for the continent’s climate discourse and global positioning heading into COP30.

Overall, Ethiopia’s role and representation at ACS2 are not merely logistical but strategic and symbolic as a champion of Africa-led, home-grown climate solutions, a convening power for pan-African climate action, and a leading voice in the push for climate justice and financing reforms on the global stage

What are the key outcomes expected at the summit that align with Ethiopia’s national climate agenda?

Ethiopia’s expected outcomes from ACS2 are closely aligned with its national climate strategy, which is anchored in the 10-Year Development Plan and the long-term vision of achieving a climate-resilient green economy with net-zero emissions by 2050. Central to this strategy are large-scale reforestation efforts through the Green Legacy Initiative, the expansion of clean and renewable energy projects, and the promotion of sustainable urbanization and food systems transformation.

By hosting ACS2 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia seeks to move the continental conversation from ambition to concrete action, positioning the summit as a platform for advancing practical solutions, strengthening partnerships, and mobilizing climate finance. This approach not only reinforces Ethiopia’s own accelerated green transition and resilience agenda but also underscores its commitment to shaping Africa’s collective response to the global climate crisis.

How is Ethiopia positioning itself as a leader in climate diplomacy on the continent?

By co-hosting the ACS2 with the African Union, Ethiopia is positioning Addis Ababa as the epicentre of Africa’s climate diplomacy. The country’s leadership is marked by a combination of political commitment, regional collaboration, ambitious climate targets, and active engagement in global forums.

Ethiopia plays a central role in shaping unified African positions through the African Union and the Conference of African Heads of State on Climate Change (CAHOSCC). Its ambition is reflected in its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), pledging to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 64 percent by 2030 compared to business-as-usual and to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 under its Long-Term Low Emission and Climate Resilient Development Strategy.

Domestically, initiatives such as the Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) strategy and the Green Legacy reforestation program illustrate its commitment to sustainable growth,

In the context of ACS2, Ethiopia is amplifying its diplomatic role by highlighting African climate leadership, advancing renewable energy solutions, and pushing for climate finance reforms aligned with Africa’s development realities. The summit serves as a platform to engage diverse stakeholders—including youth, indigenous communities, and civil society—in shaping inclusive climate policies.

By doing so, Ethiopia seeks to unify Africa’s voice ahead of global negotiations such as COP30 and shift the continent’s focus from ambition to investment and implementation of African-led solutions. This leadership underscores Ethiopia’s broader vision of aligning regional climate action with its national agenda of green growth and resilience while advocating globally for equity and justice in climate finance and governance.

How does the African Climate Summit contribute to amplifying Africa’s unified voice ahead of COP summits?

ACS2 plays a pivotal role in amplifying Africa’s unified voice ahead of COP summits by providing a platform for leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders to consolidate and articulate a collective continental position. The summit seeks to unify Africa’s voice to influence global climate negotiations at COP30 and beyond by framing shared priorities on finance, adaptation, mitigation, and green development, with an emphasis on Africa-led solutions. It pushes for reforms in global climate finance systems to better reflect Africa’s realities, particularly in areas such as renewable energy access, adaptation, and resilience, thereby positioning Africa as a strong negotiating bloc with clear demands.

ACS2 also strengthens Africa’s leadership by advancing coordinated messaging rooted in justice, equity, and fairness, in line with the African Union’s 2025 theme of climate justice and reparations. By fostering collaboration among member states, regional bodies, youth, indigenous communities, and civil society, the summit consolidates African unity and ensures the continent speaks with one voice in international forums. Furthermore, it catalyzes partnerships and South-South cooperation, enhancing Africa’s global engagement with resilience and innovation at the forefront.

Crucially, by taking place shortly before COP30, ACS2 equips African negotiators with coherent, consensus-driven positions, replacing fragmented voices with one powerful bloc that carries greater diplomatic weight. Beyond rhetoric, the summit also focuses on actionable solutions and mobilizes the political and financial support necessary for African nations to effectively implement their Nationally Determined Contributions.

Overall, ACS2 reinforces Africa’s collective diplomatic power by uniting diverse national interests into a strong, shared agenda that demands equitable climate financing and global cooperation, thereby marking Africa as a central actor in upcoming COP30 negotiations.

How does Ethiopia balance its development goals with the pressing need for climate resilience?

Ethiopia balances its development goals with the pressing need for climate resilience primarily through its Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) strategy and its Long-Term Low Emission and Climate Resilient Development Strategy (LT-LEDS). These strategies, which integrate sustainable growth with climate action to ensure economic progress, do not come at the expense of environmental degradation or increased vulnerability.

Building on the CRGE, the LT-LEDS sets an ambitious vision of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, aligning Ethiopia’s development trajectory with the Paris Agreement while enhancing climate resilience. Central to this approach is the prioritization of investment-ready green growth projects.

By seeking to decouple economic growth from carbon emissions, Ethiopia aims to limit absolute emissions while simultaneously improving livelihoods, addressing both poverty reduction and environmental sustainability. Implementation is supported by climate finance mechanisms, institutional coordination through the CRGE Facility, and the integration of resilience measures into national development plans, ensuring both technical and financial backing.

Overall, this holistic strategy transforms climate risks into opportunities for sustainable development, leveraging natural resources for clean energy, strengthening adaptation capacities, and embedding resilience across economic planning to safeguard long-term growth in a rapidly changing climate.

The Green Legacy Initiative has drawn global attention—could you share some recent milestones or achievements? Major recent milestones?

The Green Legacy Initiative has become a landmark project, earning significant international recognition for Ethiopia’s commitment to environmental sustainability and climate resilience. Since its inception in 2019, the initiative has achieved remarkable milestones that underscore Ethiopia’s leadership in large-scale reforestation and climate action.

Ethiopia has long faced severe environmental challenges, including widespread land degradation, deforestation, and recurring droughts. These challenges have severely threatened the livelihoods of a large portion of the population, which is heavily reliant on agriculture. Climate change impacts, including increased frequency of extreme weather events, have further exacerbated these vulnerabilities, causing loss of life and property.

In response, the Ethiopian government launched the Green Legacy Initiative (GLI), a nationwide effort personally championed by Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali. The initiative aims to mobilize the entire nation in a massive tree-planting campaign to combat desertification, improve water security, and enhance climate resilience. Through this effort, Ethiopia seeks to position itself as a global leader in sustainable development.

A key milestone was achieved on 31 July, during a high-profile, one-day national tree-planting campaign. In just 12 hours, 714 million seedlings were planted. Approximately 27 million citizens participated, including government officials, community groups, diplomats, and refugees. The broader campaign aims to plant around 8 billion seedlings during the rainy season, supported by over 8.4 billion seedlings prepared nationwide.

This massive mobilization has created over 767,000 green jobs, with a focus on women and youth, and led to the establishment of more than 120,000 nurseries across Ethiopia. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has emphasized the initiative’s moral significance, framing it as a responsibility to both present and future generations. If Ethiopia continues to meet its annual planting targets, it could reach 48 billion trees, coming close to its ambitious 50 billion-tree goal, positioning the country as a global leader in reforestation.

Beyond environmental restoration, the Green Legacy Initiative has contributed to socio-economic development by promoting green jobs, sustainable agriculture, and climate resilience. Forest cover in Ethiopia has increased from 17.2 percent in 2019 to approximately 23.6 percent in 2023, reflecting substantial progress toward reversing land degradation. The initiative has also fostered regional cooperation, with Ethiopia donating saplings to neighboring countries such as Djibouti and South Sudan under its ‘Green Brotherhood’ vision.

How has the initiative impacted local communities in terms of employment, water conservation, and food security?

Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative has brought notable benefits to local communities by creating jobs, conserving water, and enhancing food security. The initiative has generated extensive employment opportunities, particularly for youth and women, with millions engaged in nursery management, seedling production, distribution, and tree planting.

Tens of thousands of young people have secured livelihoods by nurturing seedlings, preparing planting sites, and ensuring their distribution. At the same time, reforestation efforts have improved water conservation by restoring degraded lands, enhancing soil moisture retention, reducing erosion, and supporting the recharge of groundwater and protection of watershed areas critical for agriculture and community water supplies.

In addition, the introduction of fruit-bearing trees such as mangoes, avocados, papayas, and coffee has diversified agricultural production, strengthened food availability, and boosted soil fertility through agroforestry practices. These efforts not only support food self-sufficiency but also generate household income and export revenues, making the initiative a cornerstone of sustainable rural development.

What are some of the challenges faced during implementation, and how is the government addressing them?

The Ethiopian Green Legacy Initiative faces several implementation challenges, which the government is actively addressing through various measures. These include eEnsuring the availability of quality seedlings in sufficient numbers remains a major obstacle, as poor-quality seedlings and the selection of unsuitable tree species often reduce survival rates. Environmental and technical constraints such as shallow soils, water scarcity, and untimely planting further compromise success, particularly in degraded and drought-prone areas.

Weak institutional coordination and the absence of clear legal frameworks for land tenure and forest management also create delays and inefficiencies in execution. In addition, limited and unstable funding poses a significant challenge, as long-term financing and adequate resource allocation are critical to ensure proper post-planting care and sustainable management of the initiative.

To mitigate and overcome these challenges the government has undertaken several critical measures, including institutionalizing the initiative and turning it into a nationwide movement rooted in the collective mindset. Environmental stewardship is now framed as a shared moral responsibility across all sectors of society, fostering stronger commitment and participation. Central to this effort is enhanced inter-sectoral collaboration, where government institutions, communities, the private sector, and civil society work together to improve implementation and maximize impact.

At the same time, tree planting is being integrated with soil and water conservation programs to boost seedling survival and promote sustainable land and watershed management. Capacity building and community empowerment are also prioritized, with local institutions, youth, women’s groups, and associations actively engaged in managing and maintaining plantations beyond planting seasons, ensuring long-term sustainability.

Complementing these efforts, the government is strengthening the legal and policy framework through clearer guidelines, benefit-sharing mechanisms, and land tenure security, thereby improving governance while creating incentives for sustainable forest management.

Overall, Ethiopia’s approach resolves to tackle these challenges by fostering a culture of environmental responsibility, coordinating multi-sectoral efforts, inclusivity in participation, and reinforcing institutional and financial frameworks to ensure the Green Legacy Initiative’s long-term success and resilience.

Has the international community contributed technically or financially to the Green Legacy Initiative?

The international community has indeed contributed both technically and financially to the Ethiopian Green Legacy Initiative (GLI). Norway has provided long-standing support for Ethiopia’s forest conservation since 2011, including collaboration on community afforestation and forest preservation projects. The bilateral agreement between Norway and Ethiopia on environmental protection complements the GLI’s progress, reflecting significant international technical cooperation.

Additionally, financial aid and cooperation have been fostered through various mechanisms, including efforts to mobilize international resources alongside Ethiopia’s own budget contributions. For example, a special fund for the initiative has been established in Ethiopia to attract international financing and ensure sustainability, which allows more investment from development partners, civil society, and private sectors.

The initiative also benefits from co-financing from international organizations such as the Global Environment Facility (GEF), which supports scaling up best practices of the Green Legacy Initiative with multi-million-dollar grants. The European Union Delegation to Ethiopia has also participated in GLI tree planting activities, reflecting EU participation in technical support.

Furthermore, countries like Nigeria have contributed seedlings and seeds, symbolizing regional cooperation in support of the initiative. These efforts underline strong international cooperation supporting Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative both technically and financially. Overall, the GLI enjoys a blend of international technical assistance, financial support, and partnership engagements that enhance its impact on climate resilience and sustainable development in Ethiopia.

As Ethiopia prepares to welcome the year 2018 in the Ethiopian Calendar (EC), what key message would you like to share with Ethiopians abroad?

Ethiopia follows a unique calendar system with 13 months, twelve of 30 days and a short month of five or six days making it about seven to eight years behind the Gregorian calendar. It is one of the few nations in the world to preserve its own ancient way of counting time. The Ethiopian New Year (Enkutatash), falls on September 11 (or 12 in a leap year) and coincides with the end of the rainy season and the start of renewal.

The New Year is a time of joy, gatherings, and new beginnings, reflecting Ethiopia’s rich cultural heritage and resilience. The key message to share with Ethiopians abroad is one of unity, hope, and collective commitment to the country’s development and prosperity.

The Ethiopian New Year symbolizes renewal and fresh beginnings. It is a time for Ethiopians everywhere to reconnect with their rich cultural heritage and contribute positively to the growth and peace of their homeland, whether through community support, preserving traditions, or being ambassadors of Ethiopia’s progress globally. This period also invites Ethiopians abroad to reflect on Ethiopia’s resilience and the opportunities ahead, encouraging them to play an active role in fostering national development, peace, and unity, while celebrating their unique identity within the global community.

I would like to take this opportunity to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all Ethiopians on the occasion of the New Year 2018. This special day marks not only the start of a new calendar year but also a time of renewal, optimism, and unity for the Ethiopian people. As the nation steps into 2018, I wish for peace, prosperity, and continued progress for Ethiopia and its people. May the New Year bring joy to every household and strength to pursue new opportunities and aspirations Happy New Year 2018.

How do you personally celebrate Enkutatash, and what makes this year’s celebration unique?

The Ethiopian New Year, Enkutatash, is widely celebrated with unique cultural traditions such as family gatherings, sharing meals, exchanging flowers (especially yellow daisies), and singing traditional songs.

As Ethiopia enters 2018 EC this year’s Enkutatash is special because it comes during a period of renewed hope and national resilience.Enkutatash 2018 embodies a spirit of joy, cultural pride, and hope for a prosperous year ahead, both within Ethiopia and among the Ethiopian diaspora.