Ethiopia Targets 80 Percent Local Participation in Global Construction Bids

June 1, 2026

Mintesinot Nigussie

Ethiopia is seeking to expand the presence of domestic contractors in international construction tenders, with the Ministry of Urban and Infrastructure setting a target to raise local participation to 80 percent over the next 10 fiscal years.

The ministry said the plan forms part of a wider effort to prepare Ethiopian construction firms to compete beyond the domestic market, including in neighbouring countries where regional infrastructure demand is growing.

Authorities have already begun assessing the readiness of local companies to enter internationally competitive projects. A study conducted during the current Ethiopian fiscal year examined the number of domestic firms capable of participating in global tenders.

Engineer Mulualem Debebe, chief executive for Construction Industry Development at the ministry, said only 33 percent of licensed local contractors and consultants currently possess the technical and operational capacity required to compete in international tenders.

The ministry aims to raise that figure to 55 percent before expanding it further to 80 percent over the next decade.

He said the government is also working to address constraints preventing local firms from entering large-scale international bids.