Ethiopia and China outline joint plan for agriculture and tourism innovation centre

Ethiopia and China have signed a strategic memorandum to establish a China–East Africa Modern Agriculture and Cultural Tourism Industry Innovation Centre, marking a new stage in bilateral cooperation, according to China Daily, a partner of TV BRICS.

The proposed centre will focus on integrated development by combining renewable energy, modern agriculture, equipment manufacturing and cultural tourism. The initiative is designed to create a unified industrial and agricultural cluster, supporting technological advancement and improving productivity across multiple sectors.

Under the memorandum, the countries will prioritise solar power generation, industrial energy storage, cold-chain logistics and agricultural robotics. The project aims to establish a model that can be replicated across Ethiopia, East Africa and the wider continent, enabling long-term expansion of integrated industrial and agricultural systems.

According to the source, Ethiopia offers strong potential due to its renewable energy resources and growing demand for agricultural modernisation, food security and employment. Ethiopia’s Ambassador to China, Tefera Derbew Yimam, noted that the proposal aligns with the country’s economic reform agenda and supports efforts to modernise agriculture, which accounts for around 70 per cent of employment.

The initiative is aligned with Ethiopia’s broader development strategies, including national reform programmes and long-term digital and industrial plans. As a participant in the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Ethiopia continues to strengthen cooperation with China across infrastructure, energy, agriculture and manufacturing, reflecting a sustained focus on integrated and scalable development.