By Ermias Beyene
In a world where digital transformation defines the competitive edge of economies, Ethiopia is signalling its intention to take bold strides into the future. The Ministry of Innovation and Technology has convened a high-level consultative forum with national stakeholders to refine and reinforce its strategic vision, Digital Ethiopia 2030.
Held earlier this week, the forum brought together policymakers, technology sector leaders, development partners, and innovation stakeholders to collectively deliberate on the strategic direction of Ethiopia’s digital transformation.
The dialogue was not merely ceremonial. It was a concerted effort to gather substantive input on the draft strategy document that seeks to shape the contours of an inclusive, innovative, and sovereign digital economy over the next five years.
Belete Mola (PhD), the Minister of Innovation and Technology, addressed the gathering with a sense of urgency and optimism. “Digital Ethiopia 2030 is not simply a policy framework,” he said. “It is a national imperative, crucial for our economic sovereignty, social inclusivity, and long-term competitiveness.”
The Minister underscored that the strategy goes far beyond technological modernisation. It envisions a society where innovation fuels employment, digital infrastructure underpins equitable access to services, and the nation’s collective digital capacity becomes a driver of prosperity.
“Technology alone is not the destination,” Belete remarked. “What matters is how we leverage technology to create jobs, deliver inclusive growth, and foster a digital culture that is resilient, sovereign, and truly Ethiopian.”
The Digital Ethiopia 2030 strategy builds upon the foundational progress achieved under its predecessor, Digital Ethiopia 2025. Over the past several years, the government has made commendable strides in enhancing the country’s digital ecosystem.
Major achievements include the expansion of telecom infrastructure, introduction of a national digital identification framework, widespread adoption of digital payment platforms, development of domestic data centres and cloud services, and efforts to digitise public service delivery. These advances have, in the Minister’s words, “laid the groundwork for a digital leap forward.”
While Ethiopia’s digital economy is still in its formative phase, the initiatives undertaken during the Digital Ethiopia 2025 period have created tangible impact. Mobile money usage has grown, government portals have gone online, and a new generation of Ethiopian entrepreneurs have started leveraging digital tools to build scalable businesses.
More importantly, these developments have sparked a national conversation about digital inclusion, data governance, and the ethics of innovation, themes that are increasingly shaping the country’s policy and regulatory landscape.
One of the defining ambitions of the new strategy is to assert digital sovereignty, an idea gaining traction across the Global South. For Ethiopia, this means investing in domestic capacities, securing its data infrastructure, and building regulatory frameworks that reflect national priorities rather than imported norms.
The Minister was emphatic about the importance of steering the country’s digital development along a path that is both contextually rooted and globally competitive. “We must chart a common course that secures our interests, protects our data, and empowers our citizens,” he said.
This vision also aligns with broader economic reforms and Ethiopia’s ambition to become a regional tech hub in East Africa. With a young and increasingly connected population, the country has the demographic advantage to scale innovation — but only if it can address existing infrastructure gaps, digital literacy deficits, and affordability challenges.
Inclusion remains a recurring motif within the Digital Ethiopia 2030 vision. The strategy emphasises the importance of making digital opportunities accessible to all, especially marginalised groups, rural communities, women, and youth.
Belete highlighted that true transformation can only occur when digital tools and services reach those at the peripheries of the economy. “Digital development must not deepen existing inequalities,” he cautioned. “Instead, it should offer pathways out of poverty, enhance civic participation, and improve the quality of life for all.”
To this end, the forum explored policy instruments to ensure equitable access — including targeted subsidies, community-based digital training programmes, public–private partnerships for rural connectivity, and the development of content in local languages.
As Ethiopia enters a critical phase of its digital journey, the Ministry’s consultation with stakeholders signals a shift from top-down policymaking to collaborative governance. It also demonstrates the government’s commitment to transparency and inclusivity as it crafts the final version of the 2030 strategy.
The challenge now lies in execution. Past initiatives, though ambitious, have often been hindered by fragmented coordination, limited funding, and weak institutional capacity. For Digital Ethiopia 2030 to succeed, it will require not only political will and policy coherence but also agile implementation, constant innovation, and sustained public trust.
In closing, Belete called upon all stakeholders, public and private, local and international, to view digital development not merely as a sectoral pursuit, but as a national cause.
“Let us maintain the inspiration we sparked with Digital Ethiopia 2025,” he urged. “Together, we can resurrect Ethiopia through technology, and build a future that is inclusive, innovative, and sovereign.”