This agreement was reached during a meeting held in Washington on the sidelines of the 2026 Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, where Ethiopian Finance Minister Ahmed Shide held talks with UK Minister of State for International Development, Baroness Chapman.
Both sides reaffirmed their long-term partnership and discussed ways to expand cooperation to broader areas, going beyond aid-focused development to include trade, investment, and private sector growth.
Minister Ahmed pointed to ongoing economic reforms in Ethiopia and its improving prospects despite global pressures, emphasizing the need for continued UK engagement to support progress and promote inclusive development.
Baroness Chapman welcomed the momentum of reforms in Ethiopia and recent improvements in the business environment.
She also reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to development cooperation and highlighted Ethiopia’s strategic role in promoting stability in the Horn of Africa region.
The meeting concluded with a joint pledge to evolve the relationship into a broader economic partnership, focusing on investment, expanding trade, and long-term development cooperation.
