Ethiopia: Finance Minister Ahmed Shide, AIIB President Zou Jiayi Discuss Infrastructure Cooperation

What the report says

Ethiopia’s Finance Minister Ahmed Shide met in Addis Ababa with Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank President Zou Jiayi during her first official visit to the country since taking office, according to the Ethiopian News Agency via AllAfrica. The meeting also included Ethiopian Airlines Group Chief Executive Officer Mesfin Tasew. The discussions centered on how to expand cooperation in infrastructure, energy and climate-resilient development.

The ministry said talks covered Ethiopia’s priority project areas and possible AIIB participation in major schemes, including the proposed Bishoftu International Airport. The two sides also discussed support for energy projects and climate action, with attention to concessional financing and partnerships with other multilateral development banks.

Ahmed briefed the AIIB president on Ethiopia’s economic reform agenda and ongoing infrastructure work, while highlighting the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam as a major national achievement. Zou acknowledged Ethiopia’s regional role, including its contribution to power integration, and reaffirmed the bank’s interest in supporting the country’s development agenda.

The report places the meeting within Ethiopia’s wider push for strategic investment to sustain growth, improve connectivity and expand productive capacity. More broadly, infrastructure lenders such as the AIIB often support transport, energy and climate-related projects in developing economies, but the specific financing terms or final project decisions were not detailed in the article.