Ethiopia Strengthens Commodity Leadership in Africa
Amsterdam, 18 February 2025 – In a significant demonstration of Ethiopia’s growing influence as a commodity superpower in Africa, H.E. Mr. Eshete Tilahun, Governor of the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) for Ethiopia and Ambassador-designate of Ethiopia to the BENELUX Countries and the EU Institutions, paid a high-priority visit to the CFC Secretariat. The visit, which took place even before Ambassador Tilahun’s formal presentation of credentials, underscores the importance Ethiopia places on its partnership with the CFC and its commitment to advancing sustainable commodity development.
Ambassador Sheikh Mohammed Belal, Managing Director of the CFC, warmly welcomed Ambassador Tilahun, who was accompanied by Ambassador Fortuna Cizare Dibaco, Deputy Head of Mission from the Ethiopian Embassy. The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral ties, exploring new avenues of cooperation, and addressing shared global challenges, with a particular emphasis on Ethiopia’s potential to lead by example in transforming commodity value chains across Africa and beyond.
Ethiopia: A Role Model for Africa and Beyond
Ambassador Belal commended Ethiopia for its proactive engagement with the CFC, noting that the early visit reflects the high priority the Ethiopian government and its embassy attach to the organization. “This is a clear expression of Ethiopia’s strong support for the CFC, which is ultimately a reflection of its commitment to its own smallholder farmers,” said Ambassador Belal. He encouraged Ethiopia to bring its best practices to the global stage, particularly through initiatives like its Commodity Stock Exchange, which has the potential to set a benchmark for other African nations.
Ethiopia’s innovative approaches to commodity trading and value chain transformation position it as a role model for the continent. Ambassador Belal urged Ethiopia to share its successes and lessons learned, emphasizing that its leadership could inspire other nations to adopt similar strategies for sustainable development.
Humanizing Value Chains(HVC): A Call for Equity and Fairness
During the meeting, Ambassador Belal highlighted the urgent need to increase incomes for smallholder farmers, who often remain trapped in poverty despite their critical role in producing essential commodities. He called on Ethiopia to support the CFC’s mission to “humanize value chains,” ensuring a fairer distribution of wealth and equity across global supply chains. “Our focus is on transforming these value chains to prioritize the well-being of producers at the base,” he stated.
Ambassador Belal also discussed the Agricultural Commodity Transformation (ACT) Fund, launched at the LDC5 Conference in Doha, as part of the CFC’s roadmap for poverty alleviation in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs). He encouraged Ethiopia to join the ACT Fund as an anchor investor and to promote it to the private sector, further solidifying its leadership in commodity-driven development.
Ethiopia’s Unwavering Support for the CFC
Ambassador Tilahun expressed his gratitude for Ambassador Belal’s leadership and reaffirmed Ethiopia’s steadfast support for the CFC’s mission. He praised the CFC’s contributions to sustainable development and lauded the Humanizing Value Chains initiative as a visionary approach to fostering inclusive and equitable growth.
“Ethiopia is committed to working closely with the CFC to advance our shared goals,” said Ambassador Tilahun. “We see immense potential in this partnership to drive transformative change, not only for our smallholder farmers but for commodity producers across Africa and beyond.”
A Partnership Poised for Growth
The meeting concluded on a highly positive note, with both parties expressing their commitment to deepening the partnership between Ethiopia and the CFC. Ambassador Belal reiterated the CFC’s eagerness to expand its collaboration with Ethiopia, stating, “The CFC is keen to do as much as Ethiopia wishes to do. Together, we can achieve transformative impact.”
As Ethiopia continues to rise as a commodity superpower, its partnership with the CFC stands as a testament to its potential to lead by example, inspire best practices, and drive sustainable development across the continent and beyond.
The meeting concluded on a positive note, with both parties expressing their commitment to further strengthening the partnership between Ethiopia and the CFC.
**About the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC)**
The Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) is an intergovernmental financial institution established within the framework of the United Nations. Its mission is to support commodity-dependent developing countries in their efforts to alleviate poverty, promote sustainable development, and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
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