Ireland and Ethiopia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at expanding cooperation across business, investment, and development sectors.

The MoU, finalised at Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, formalises the two countries’ shared goal of translating diplomatic engagement into concrete economic opportunities. Ireland’s State Minister for International Development and Diaspora, Neale Richmond, and Ethiopia’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hadera Abera, were present for the signing.

Ireland exported roughly 28.5 million US dollars worth of goods to Ethiopia in 2024, primarily perfumes, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical products, while imports from Ethiopia stood at about 0.8 million US dollars, led by coffee, tea, and spices.

Richmond emphasised Ethiopia’s strategic importance to Ireland, noting that the Addis Ababa mission is the largest in Africa and ranks among the top five globally. He described the agreement as a “significant step forward” in advancing their economic and political partnership.

For his part, Hadera underlined the MoU’s role in maintaining regular dialogue and fostering sustained collaboration. “Our cooperation extends beyond humanitarian efforts into vital areas like business and investment,” he said, reinforcing Ethiopia’s commitment to a long-term, meaningful relationship.