ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH) unveiled a $25.56 million BPO project aimed at positioning Ethiopia as a competitive player in the global services industry during Elevate Africa 2026 in Addis Ababa, March 5, 2026. Officials said the investment is part of a broader economic reset designed to diversify the country’s economy, strengthen state-owned enterprises, and expand export-generating service sectors.
EIH Chief Executive Officer Brook Taye introduced the project during a fireside chat titled “Building Competitiveness: Ethiopia’s Economic Reset,” describing the initiative as a flagship investment in the country’s emerging digital services sector.
The project is expected to support outsourcing operations, including customer support, back-office processing, IT-enabled services, and remote professional services. The initiative could help expand Ethiopia’s presence in the global outsourcing market while creating employment opportunities for young professionals.
Officials say Ethiopia has several advantages that support the growth of business process outsourcing, including a large and expanding youth workforce, improving digital infrastructure and relatively competitive labor costs.
Supporters of the project say the investment could generate export revenue through international service contracts while helping develop technical skills and digital capabilities among the country’s workforce.
The announcement comes as Ethiopia implements macroeconomic and structural reforms aimed at improving competitiveness, opening key sectors to investment and strengthening regulatory frameworks.
The BPO initiative also reflects Ethiopian Investment Holdings’ evolving role beyond managing state assets, positioning the organization as a strategic investment vehicle supporting Ethiopia’s long-term economic transformation.
By expanding into export-oriented services such as outsourcing, Ethiopian officials hope to build new sources of foreign exchange and integrate the country more deeply into global value chains.