Governance CornerFrontline Officials Keen on Expanding South Korean Investment, Trade
April 24, 2026
Ethiopian officials are looking to strengthen cooperation with South Korea, inviting aid and investment in key initiatives like the construction of the airport and new Ethiopian Airlines hub in Bishoftu.
Ethiopian Ambassador to South Korea Dessie Dalkie Dukamo made the remarks in an interview with Yonhap News Agency on Wednesday, saying that Korea’s technological prowess and industrial development experience can play a key role in supporting Ethiopia’s efforts toward sustainable growth.
“We encourage responsible Korean private investment in agro-processing and green technologies so as to further improve localization and sustainability,” he said. “We are grateful that Ethiopia remains a priority country for Korean official development assistance,” the ambassador added.
Dukamo also cast South Korea as an important partner for Ethiopia’s wider national modernization effort to upgrade the country into a regional and international hub.
The new Bishoftu International Airport project in Addis Ababa is one of those programs where Korea’s track record in urban development and infrastructure can come into play, he said.
We see several areas where Korean cooperation can contribute significantly, such as smart city planning, digital governance and integrated transport systems,” Dukamo said.
He expressed hope that cooperation will expand to training Ethiopian workers through partnerships with Korean institutions.
“Our objective is to ensure that infrastructure is not just impressive in scale, but also inclusive, creating jobs, transferring technology and improving daily life for citizens,” he said.
On concerns over supply chain disruptions sparked by tensions in the Middle East, Dukamo stressed countries should diversify their supply sources and work together to keep trade routes “open” and “predictable.”
“Ethiopia advocates for diversification, open and predictable trade routes, and investments that better connect Africa to global markets,” he said.
Joining the BRICS forum in 2024 — a regional grouping consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China and others — reflects part of Ethiopia’s efforts to support cooperative solutions that reduce volatility in energy and food markets, Dukamo noted.
“It was a strategic choice to engage more actively in shaping a changing global order,” he said. “We wish to contribute to a more balanced, multipolar international system while maintaining good relations with all our partners.”