Ethiopia’s Transformation Driven by Deliberate Vision, Homegrown Reforms: PMO Press Secretary

London: Ethiopia's remarkable transformation over the past seven to eight years has been driven by deliberate planning, strategic vision, and a commitment to unlocking the country's vast untapped potential, the Press Secretary for the Office of the Prime Minister, Billene Seyoum, said. Billene made the remarks during the Ethio-UK Trade and Investment Forum 2026 held in London, an event aimed at strengthening trade, investment, and broader economic cooperation between Ethiopia and the United Kingdom.According to Ethiopian News Agency, Billene emphasized that Ethiopia's progress is firmly anchored in the Homegrown Economic Reform Agenda, a comprehensive framework designed to accelerate sustainable growth, enhance competitiveness, and lay the foundation for long-term prosperity. She revealed that agriculture remains the backbone of Ethiopia's economy and a central pillar of the reform agenda.Mining has also emerged as a strategic growth sector, while manufacturing and industrialization represent significant untapped opportunities capable of attracting greater domestic and foreign investment. "The transformation we are witnessing today is rooted in deliberate thinking and deliberate strategizing aimed at enabling Ethiopia to realize its immense potential," she said.Billene further identified information and communication technologies (ICT) and digitalization as key pillars of Ethiopia's economic transformation, describing them as both strategic sectors and cross-cutting enablers that support growth across the broader economy. While energy is not categorized as a standalone pillar within the reform agenda, she stressed that it remains a critical enabler underpinning progress in agriculture, mining, manufacturing, and digital transformation.Reflecting on Ethiopia's digital journey, Billene highlighted the country's rapid technological advancement over the past decade. Less than eight years ago, she recalled, access to basic ATM services was considered a notable achievement. Today, Ethiopia is embracing advanced digital solutions and emerging technologies at an unprecedented pace.She underscored Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's commitment to digital transformation, noting that Ethiopia seeks not merely to follow traditional development pathways but to leapfrog stages of technological advancement by drawing on global experiences and innovations. "The advantage for Ethiopia as a country with enormous untapped potential is its ability to learn from the successes and challenges of others, adopt emerging technologies, and adapt them to its own national realities and development aspirations," she stated.Billene further stated that this forward-looking strategy is enabling Ethiopia to accelerate modernization, expand economic opportunities, strengthen competitiveness, and build a more resilient and digitally empowered future.