Ethio telecom CEO, Frehiwot Tamru, convened a high-level strategic session with senior leadership from British International Investment (BII), the United Kingdom’s development finance institution, led by Christopher Chijiutomi, Managing Director and Head of Africa.
During the meeting, the CEO briefed participants on Ethio telecom’s transformational journey and its pivotal contribution to Ethiopia’s socio-economic advancement and digital transformation.
She highlighted the company’s remarkable trajectory, positioning Ethio telecom as one of the fastest-growing digital operators advancing beyond connectivity and serving as a catalyst for sustainable and inclusive development.
During the session, the CEO articulated Ethio telecom’s strategic evolution toward a platform-driven digital economy, powered by its advanced and extensive infrastructure and integrated ecosystem strategy. This ecosystem combines cloud computing capabilities, modular data centers, AI and digital applications with the telebirr fintech ecosystem, alongside e-commerce services, EV charging infrastructure, and expanded connectivity networks.
This unified digital ecosystem represents a significant strategic shift toward an Integrated Enterprise Solution Model, designed to power a mobile-first economy and enable high-velocity digital transformation across sectors supporting sustainable economic growth and digital inclusion across Ethiopia and beyond.
Furthermore, the CEO elaborated on the “Next Horizon: Digital & Beyond 2028” strategy, outlining its bold vision and anticipated impact in accelerating digital advancement across Ethiopia and the broader African continent. She reaffirmed that Ethio telecom remains ready to collaborate through diverse partnership modalities to accelerate digital transformation in Ethiopia and beyond.
During the discussion, Mr. Christopher Chijiutomi and his delegation highlighted that British International Investment (BII) plays a significant role in advancing sustainable and green infrastructure development across Africa, with Ethiopia identified as a key strategic market. They noted that BII is actively engaged with various enterprises and private sector institutions across the continent and collaborates closely with multiple stakeholders to mobilize resources that support Africa’s sustainable development and economic growth.
The CEO reaffirmed that Ethio telecom’s vision and core values are strongly aligned with those of British International Investment (BII), particularly in advancing sustainable infrastructure, climate-resilient digital ecosystems, and green energy initiatives.
Accordingly, both leadership teams discussed and emphasized the importance of supporting their shared vision by mobilizing impact investment to accelerate the implementation of the Next Horizon strategy, with strong emphasis on advancing the digital economy, expanding inclusive fintech ecosystems, and developing climate-resilient digital infrastructure.
The British International Investment (BII) delegation recognized Ethio telecom as a pivotal enabler of Ethiopia’s digital economy and a key driver of national economic growth. The delegation commended the CEO’s visionary leadership and acknowledged the company’s strong sustainability achievements and forward-looking digital transformation agenda.
They expressed strong interest in exploring UK-backed investment opportunities to support Ethiopia’s digital and sustainable infrastructure development.
In closing, the CEO expressed sincere appreciation to the British International Investment (BII) delegation for their commitment to fostering global partnerships that unlock new economic opportunities and accelerate national development. Both leadership teams agreed to continue advancing discussions and identifying concrete areas of collaboration to drive impactful and sustainable outcomes.
