Economic dialogue with Ethiopia: ambassador visits IAK in Leipzig

During his visit to Leipzig, H.E. Eskindir Yirga Asfaw, Ambassador of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the Federal Republic of Germany, visited IAK Agrar Consulting GmbH on Feb 12, 2026.

The meeting focused on concrete economic exchange at the product level. Together, market potential was analyzed, trade opportunities were discussed, and approaches to targeted trade promotion were debated. The aim is to strengthen value chains, improve market access, and further expand sustainable trade structures between Germany and Ethiopia. In this context, the current issue of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) for Ethiopian export products, in particular coffee, mangoes, avocados, and spices, was also addressed. The discussion focused on challenges in traceability, geolocation, and compliance, as well as possible digital solutions to secure access to the EU market.

The IAK contributes its many years of project experience in Ethiopia and its cooperation with the African Union in the project “Agricultural Policy Dialogue between the African Union and Germany to Strengthen the Resilience of Food Systems in Africa,” which is funded by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity (BMLEH) and implemented by the IAK.

The IAK also provides advisory support in trade facilitation, e.g., in the structural improvement of trade processes, institutional networking, and the development of marketable export strategies, as well as in the development of digital twins and AI-based tools that address various issues along the agricultural value chain.

The relationship between Leipzig and Ethiopia, which dates back more than 100 years, is thus gaining new economic momentum – practical, product-oriented, and forward-looking.