The recent visit of the Right Honourable Angela Rayner, Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, to Ethiopia marks a pivotal milestone in the deepening bilateral relations between the two nations. The February 2025 visit highlights the mutual commitment to strengthening the partnership, with a particular focus on fostering sustainable socio-economic growth and technological innovation. This visit was especially timely as Ethiopia undergoes a remarkable political and economic transformation, while the UK seeks to solidify its position as a key strategic partner to Africa.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed receiving Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner & her delegation at the Office of the Prime Minister, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Shared Objectives for Stronger UK-Ethiopia Ties

For Ethiopia, Rayner’s visit represented a critical opportunity to advance its development agenda with one of its most trusted international partners. Emerging from a period of internal conflict in the northern part of the country, Ethiopia is now prioritizing the rebuilding and transformation of its economy. With a clear vision of transitioning towards a market-oriented economy, Ethiopia is focusing on key sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, technology, and digital innovation. These areas are seen as fundamental to the country’s pursuit of sustainable economic growth and long-term prosperity. Given the UK’s established expertise in these domains, Ethiopia viewed Rayner’s visit as a crucial opportunity to deepen cooperation and support its ongoing reform efforts.

For the UK, the visit was a significant step in reinforcing diplomatic and economic ties with Ethiopia. Recognizing Ethiopia’s growing regional influence and its evolving role in driving development, the UK aims to support Ethiopia’s growth while capitalizing on the opportunities presented by Ethiopia’s transformation. From the UK’s perspective, Ethiopia’s strategic location and its drive for stability and development make it an increasingly important partner. The visit enabled discussions not only on economic cooperation but also on areas such as technology, trade, and climate change.

Meeting Expectations and Reaching Key Milestones

Throughout her visit, Deputy Prime Minister Rayner engaged in a series of strategic activities that aligned closely with both Ethiopia’s expectations and the UK’s objectives, reinforcing the strong ties between the two countries. One of the central engagements was her meeting with Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed, where discussions focused on enhancing political and economic collaboration, particularly regarding Ethiopia’s economic transformation and the potential for future partnerships. The commitment to long-term development and shared prosperity emerged as a key theme in their discussions.

Rayner’s meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Tiruneh underscored the strategic priorities of both nations, particularly Ethiopia’s economic transformation and digital revolution. The UK’s support for Ethiopia’s reform processes, especially in the areas of agriculture and technology, was a primary focus. Additionally, Rayner’s visit to the Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institute (EAII) highlighted the growing technological collaboration between the two nations. Both countries are exploring opportunities to integrate cutting-edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence, into key Ethiopian industries, including agriculture, healthcare, and logistics, creating potential for mutual innovation and economic growth.

FDRE Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Tiruneh and UK Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Rayner’s engagement with Safaricom Ethiopia, one of the largest foreign direct investments in the country, was another noteworthy highlight. Demonstrations of Safaricom’s M-PESA platform showcased the potential of Ethiopia’s emerging digital economy, emphasizing the UK’s interest in supporting initiatives that promote financial inclusion, digital accessibility, and broad-based economic participation for Ethiopians. Digital transformation remains central to Ethiopia’s vision for its future, and UK support will be pivotal in helping the country achieve its Digital Ethiopia 2025 goals.

Moreover, Rayner’s visit to Ethiopian Airlines, one of Africa’s largest and most successful carriers, emphasized the growing importance of aviation in the UK-Ethiopia relationship. The airline, with its extensive global network and direct connections to the UK, plays a crucial role in facilitating the purchase of its first generation Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, as well as enhancing cultural and business exchanges. This collaboration fosters greater opportunities not only for transportation but also for tourism, trade, and broader economic connectivity.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner visiting Ethiopian Airlines Headquarters, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

A significant outcome of Rayner’s visit was the signing of a $600 million partnership agreement to enhance Ethiopia’s agricultural sector. The UK’s Asset Green Company will collaborate with Ethiopian partners to modernize agricultural practices, focusing on large-scale dairy farming, cotton, and rice production. This investment further underscores the UK’s commitment to Ethiopia’s sustainable development and economic transformation, particularly in the vital agricultural sector, which remains the backbone of Ethiopia’s economy. The Deputy Prime Minister has also visited the textile industries in the Hawassa Industrial Zone. Ethiopia’s textile and apparel products have huge potential to harness the UK’s market through the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme introduced in June 2023. The trading scheme has been designed to boost UK’s trade with developing countries, like Ethiopia, in order to support their development.

In addition to her visits to key institutions, Rayner acknowledged Ethiopia’s progress in market liberalization. Her remarks at the Ethiopian Securities Exchange (ESX) reinforced the UK’s support for Ethiopia’s evolving financial services sector and its efforts to integrate further into the global marketplace. As Ethiopia continues to diversify its economy and create a more favourable environment for foreign investments, the UK’s involvement will be instrumental in ensuring the success of these reforms.

Rayner’s Visit in Shaping UK-Ethiopia Relations

Deputy Prime Minister Rayner’s visit has sent a clear message about the growing strength of the UK-Ethiopia partnership. Through substantial discussions, the signing of key agreements, and direct engagement with Ethiopia’s progress and challenges, Rayner highlighted the UK’s unwavering commitment to supporting Ethiopia’s development ambitions.

The visit has laid the foundation for an even stronger and more diversified Ethiopia- UK relationship, one that will be driven by collaboration in high-priority sectors such as agriculture, technology, and financial services. These areas hold great promise for both nations. For Ethiopia, these partnerships offer opportunities for technology transfer, capacity-building, and access to international markets. The UK stands to benefit from increased trade, strategic investments, and the chance to play a pivotal role in Ethiopia’s broader economic transformation.

Ethiopia’s digital economy, in particular, presents exciting prospects for future collaboration. With initiatives such as the Digital Ethiopia 2025 program, Ethiopia aims to leverage technological advancements to foster inclusive economic growth. The UK’s leadership in Artificial Intelligence, renewable energy, financial sector and other emerging technologies will be crucial to supporting these ambitions. Furthermore, Ethiopia’s leadership in sustainable development, exemplified by its Green Legacy initiative, aligns well with the UK’s own environmental goals, providing a natural synergy for collaboration in tackling global environmental challenges.

A Vision for a Prosperous Future

The visit of Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner to Ethiopia was not just a diplomatic engagement but a strategic step toward building a more dynamic and robust partnership between the two nations. Through high-level meetings, significant investment agreements, and visits to critical institutions, Rayner underscored the UK’s steadfast commitment to supporting Ethiopia’s development goals.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner at the Ethiopian Stock Exchanges (ESX) HQ, accompanied by the FDRE Finance Minister Ahmed Shide

Ethiopia and the UK now have a unique opportunity to work together to address some of the most pressing challenges of the 21st century, from climate change and sustainable development to technological innovation. This partnership has the potential to bring about lasting positive change, contributing to the prosperity of both nations.

In addition, the visit has exhibited a strategic reorientation of UK-Ethiopia partnership and a clear shift from humanitarian assistance focused relationship, towards a sustainable and growth-oriented partnership. As Ethiopia continues on its transformative journey, the UK’s role as a trusted partner will be indispensable in supporting the country to realize its full potential. This visit has set the stage for an even deeper and more mutually beneficial relationship, one that is poised to foster shared growth, innovation, and success for years to come.

By Ambassador Biruk Mekonnen, Ethiopian Ambassador to the UK