Ethiopia: Prime Minister Abiy Calls for Stronger African Representation At BRICS Plus

What the report says

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed used a BRICS Plus session in New Delhi, held alongside the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit, to call for stronger African representation in global economic forums, wider access to finance and markets, and practical steps to deepen trade, investment and regional connectivity. The remarks were reported by the Ethiopian News Agency through a statement from the Office of the Prime Minister and distributed by AllAfrica.

Abiy also said Ethiopia is prepared to host a New Development Bank office in Addis Ababa. The bank, created by BRICS founding members to support infrastructure and sustainable development in emerging markets, is currently based in Shanghai and has an Africa Regional Centre in Johannesburg. The Ethiopian proposal appears aimed at expanding the institution’s reach on the continent, although the article does not say whether BRICS members responded to the offer.

The prime minister linked Africa’s development goals to climate policy as well, saying support from BRICS could help make COP32 an inclusive platform for sustainable growth. Ethiopia is scheduled to host the 32nd UN Climate Change Conference in Addis Ababa in 2027. The message underscores Ethiopia’s effort to position itself as a regional diplomatic and economic hub while advancing broader African priorities within BRICS-related discussions.