Ethiopia

Ethiopia is a large, landlocked country in the Horn of Africa, and the second most populous country in Africa with a population of approximately 102 million (2016). While the country has one of the fastest growing economies in the region – annual GDP growth of 8.33% in 2017 – it is also one of the poorest with a gross national income (GNI) of 660 USD (2016).The government of Ethiopia is taking policy measures that will hopefully enable the country to reach lower-middle-income status by 2025. While still predominantly dependent on agriculture to sustain the economy, there has been a significant rise in industrialization in recent years. With the establishment of industrial park zones and friendlier foreign direct investment (FDI) environments, there has been an increase in foreign investment in the light manufacturing industry.Ethiopia still faces many challenges, and donor assistance will go a long way in paving the way to sustainable economic growth, infrastructure development as well as job creation and education for the largely young population. JICA's cooperation in Ethiopia is primarily focused on 1) agriculture and rural development, 2) industrial promotion, 3) infrastructure development and 4) education.