By Eyob Salemot, International Correspondent
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Senior government officials, diplomats, economists, private sector leaders, and development partners gathered in Addis Ababa for a high-level conference on Gulf–Africa economic cooperation, where participants stressed that the success of the partnership will depend not only on attracting greater investment but, above all, on ensuring that announced projects are effectively implemented.
The conference was jointly organized by Ethiopia’s Institute of Foreign Affairs (IFA), ODI Global, and Gravitas Sovereign & Strategy Advisory. Discussions focused on the strategic role Gulf investments can play in accelerating Africa’s structural transformation, industrialization, infrastructure development, and long-term sustainable economic growth.
The event opened with welcoming remarks from H.E. Jafar Bedru Geletu, Executive Director of the Institute of Foreign Affairs; Ansoumane Camara, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Gravitas Sovereign & Strategy Advisory; and Sasha Kapadia, Director of ODI Global Advisory.
Delivering the keynote address, H.E. Ambassador Hadera Abera Admassu, Ethiopia’s State Minister for Political and Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasized the growing strategic importance of Gulf–Africa relations. He highlighted the need to deepen cooperation through stronger trade ties, increased investment, and enhanced economic diplomacy to unlock new opportunities for both regions.
Participants also heard a presentation by Dr. Max Mendez-Parra, Principal Research Fellow at ODI Global, who provided a comprehensive overview of current Gulf–Africa relations. His presentation examined evolving investment trends, emerging opportunities, and the strategic priorities that should guide future cooperation.
The first panel explored the distinctive characteristics of Gulf investment models and their contribution to Africa’s structural transformation. Speakers highlighted the importance of long-term capital, sovereign wealth funds, and strategic partnerships in supporting industrialization, regional integration, employment creation, and value addition across African economies.
The second panel examined one of the most critical challenges facing Gulf–Africa cooperation: transforming investment announcements into completed projects. While investment commitments continue to grow, participants noted that implementation often encounters obstacles related to financing, institutional capacity, project preparation, and regulatory frameworks. The discussion underscored the importance of closer collaboration among governments, sovereign wealth funds, development finance institutions, and the private sector to ensure that investments generate measurable and lasting development outcomes.
Looking ahead to the March 2027 Abidjan Summit, the final session identified several strategic priorities, including institutional reforms, stronger policy coordination, and the establishment of practical implementation mechanisms capable of converting political dialogue into concrete economic progress.
The conference concluded with closing remarks from Ansoumane Camara and Ambassador Zerihun Abebe, Director General for African Affairs at Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, before participants continued discussions during a networking luncheon.
The event reaffirmed the growing importance of Gulf–Africa partnerships and reflected a shared commitment to advancing sustainable investment, economic transformation, regional integration, and inclusive growth throughout the African continent.
— Eyob Salemot, International Correspondent
