By Benadeta Mwaura - Reporter
Ethiopia, April 22, 2026 - Ethiopia has stepped onto a broader diplomatic and intellectual stage with the opening of the 3rd Annual BRICS Think Tanks Council (BTTC) Conference in Bahir Dar, signalling its growing ambition to shape conversations within one of the world’s most influential geopolitical blocs.
The two-day conference, running from April 22 to 23, is being co-hosted by the Institute of Foreign Affairs and Bahir Dar University, bringing together policymakers, scholars, and analysts from across BRICS nations and partner countries.
At the heart of this year’s gathering is a theme that reflects Ethiopia’s evolving global posture: “The Prospect of BRICS and Ethiopia’s Priorities.” It is both a policy question and a strategic declaration.
The conference comes at a time when Ethiopia is increasingly aligning itself with BRICS, a bloc that includes major emerging economies such as Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
For Addis Ababa, engagement with BRICS is not symbolic, it is strategic. It represents access to alternative financing, diversified trade partnerships, and a stronger voice in global governance debates often dominated by Western institutions.
The conference is therefore more than an academic forum. It is a platform for aligning Ethiopia’s domestic priorities with the broader economic and political agenda of the bloc.
Deliberations at the conference are centred on some of the most pressing global issues shaping the future of emerging economies.
These include climate leadership, artificial intelligence, trade, and investment, areas that sit at the intersection of development and geopolitics.
Climate discussions are expected to focus on how BRICS countries can coordinate responses to environmental challenges while balancing growth imperatives. For Ethiopia, which is highly vulnerable to climate shocks, this conversation is particularly urgent.
Artificial intelligence, another key theme, reflects a growing recognition that digital transformation will define competitiveness in the coming decades.
For developing economies, the challenge is not just adoption, but inclusion, ensuring that technological progress translates into broad-based economic gains.
Trade and investment, meanwhile, remain central pillars. With intra-BRICS trade expanding and new financial mechanisms emerging, Ethiopia is looking to position itself as both a market and a gateway, particularly within Africa.
A defining feature of the BTTC conference is its emphasis on research-driven dialogue. Scholars and policy experts are presenting papers aligned with the conference themes, creating a space where academic insight meets policy direction.
More from Ethiopia
This exchange is critical. In the BRICS ecosystem, think tanks play a growing role in shaping long-term strategy, offering evidence-based recommendations that inform government decisions.
By hosting the conference, Ethiopia is not just participating in these conversations; it is helping to convene them.
The presence of high-level government officials, academics, and international delegates underscores the diplomatic weight of the event.
It reflects a broader shift in how countries engage globally, not only through formal negotiations but through intellectual and policy platforms.
For Ethiopia, this is part of a wider effort to reposition itself following years of internal and external challenges. Engagement in multilateral forums like BRICS provides an avenue to rebuild influence, attract investment, and project stability.
While the discussions in Bahir Dar will conclude within days, their implications are likely to extend far beyond the conference halls.
At stake is Ethiopia’s ability to translate dialogue into action, leveraging partnerships, aligning policy, and integrating more deeply into global value chains.
The BTTC conference, in that sense, is both a milestone and a test.
A milestone in Ethiopia’s journey toward greater global engagement, and a test of how effectively it can turn strategic intent into tangible outcomes within the evolving architecture of BRICS.