By: Nana Appiah
Acquaye
Ethiopia has reaffirmed its
readiness to collaborate with development partners on artificial intelligence
(AI), regional integration and regulatory frameworks, as the country seeks to
harness AI for inclusive growth and sustainable development.
State Minister of Finance
Tiguist Fisseha made the remarks during a closed-door AI roundtable held on the
sidelines of the ongoing International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank
Annual Meetings. The meeting brought together ministers and senior representatives
from the World Bank, IMF and Gates Foundation to exchange perspectives and
identify concrete areas for collaboration to help developing economies benefit
from AI.
Ms. Fisseha highlighted
Ethiopia’s decision to make digital transformation and AI integral to its
development strategy, including through the establishment of dedicated
institutions for AI: the Ethiopia AI Institute in 2019 and the AI University in
early 2026.
She emphasised the
importance of Africa’s participation across the AI value chain by building the
capacity to adapt, deploy and increasingly develop AI solutions tailored to
African challenges, data and languages.
The State Minister also
called on the World Bank and other development partners to support Ethiopia’s
AI Institute and University, reaffirming the country’s commitment to working
with partners to advance AI development and cooperation.
