ROME – March 18, 2026 – Ethiopia and Italy have signed a landmark agreement reinforcing their strategic development partnership and supporting Ethiopia’s macroeconomic reform agenda.

In a major milestone for Ethiopia’s economic recovery efforts, H.E. Ahmed Shide, Minister of Finance of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, and H.E. Giancarlo Giorgetti, Minister of Economy and Finance of the Italian Republic, signed a bilateral debt restructuring agreement between Ethiopia and Italy as part of the Official Creditor Committee (OCC) process under the G20 Common Framework.

During the signing ceremony, Minister Ahmed Shide expressed appreciation for Italy’s constructive engagement and leadership, which played a critical role in reaching the Memorandum of Understanding in July 2025 and in successfully concluding the bilateral agreement.

The Italian Minister highlighted that the agreement is aligned with Ethiopia’s macroeconomic reform priorities while also contributing to Italy’s Mattei Plan for Africa, under which Ethiopia is a key partner country