By Mohamed Abdi - Reporter
Addis Ababa, 17 September 2026 Ethiopia and Israel are expanding economic and technological cooperation, focusing on agriculture, healthcare, cybersecurity, water, energy and investment.
Israel's Ambassador to Ethiopia, Avraham Neguise, told the Ethiopian News Agency in an interview on Monday that the countries' historical relationship was evolving into a modern partnership centred on technology, investment and capacity-building.
“Ethiopia and Israel have a unique relationship rooted in ancient times that has brought us to the present bilateral relationship,” he said.
Agriculture is among the main areas of cooperation. Israeli companies have established fruit and vegetable production projects in Bishoftu, introducing modern farming and irrigation technology, he said.
The cooperation has helped increase Ethiopia's agricultural exports, particularly avocados sold in European and Chinese markets, Neguise said.
Ethiopia's economic reforms are also being viewed as an opportunity to attract more Israeli businesses. The ambassador identified mining, including gold production, as one of the sectors with the potential to draw additional investment.
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In healthcare, Israeli doctors are providing training and workshops to Ethiopian professionals, while Ethiopian doctors have travelled to Israel to participate in educational programmes, he said.
Cooperation has also extended to cybersecurity as Ethiopia expands its digital services. Israel is sharing expertise in protecting digital systems and addressing cyber threats, according to Neguise.
The two countries have also signed an agreement covering water management, irrigation development and the use of technology to monitor water resources.
Other areas of cooperation include supporting start-ups, encouraging innovation and job creation, and strengthening collaboration with Ethiopia's Federal Police in combating crime, he said.
The expanding partnership shows that relations between Addis Ababa and Tel Aviv are moving beyond historical ties towards cooperation built on investment, technology and shared economic interests.
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