Innovation Acceleration: GIIG and Ethiopian Ministry's Dynamic Strategic Partnership

The Global Innovation Initiative Group (GIIG) formally announced a strategic alliance with the Ethiopia Ministry of Labor and Skill- FDRE (Mols), Ministry of Innovation And Technology- Ethiopia (MInT) and the Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) - Ethiopia . Recognising their shared commitment to fostering innovation in Africa, the partnership between GIIG has been expanded to focus on supporting Ethiopia as a rising Startup Nation.

This momentous occasion follows the success of the Global Startup Awards Africa Finale held in Addis Ababa in October 2023, a historic milestone in the entrepreneurial journey of Ethiopia, that convened innovation leaders and startups from across Africa and the world. Global Startup Awards Africa (GSA Africa) 2024, edition 11, will provide a continuous convening platform throughout the year. Global Startup Awards , is the largest independent startup competition in the world present in 120 countries.? As GSA Africa we scout all 54? African member states, and have to date identified over 15,000 startups.

As the lead partners to GSA Africa 2024, the partnership will seek to convene and accelerate collaborations that tangibly build local innovation economies, transfer future-fit skills to citizens, and inspire globally competitive businesses.

H.E. Muferihat Kamil, Minister of Labor and Skills commenting on the partnership, stated, "As part of the NEST initiative, we are committed to building a long-term partnership with GIIG and the Global Startup Awards Africa. It is absolutely critical that the startup ecosystem in Ethiopia becomes a leading agenda for the nation. We need to build our economies not to imitate but to lead as Africans and initiatives with GIIG will play a significant role in enabling this."?

This alliance signifies the momentum gained by Ethiopia's ecosystem, presenting a clear indication that the nation is primed for collaborative growth, particularly in tandem with the transformative impact of the Startup Act.

Dr Hassan Hussein, CEO of EDI noted, “EDI and GIIG have a shared purpose to discover, iterate and scale solutions that deliver impact for some of the world’s most stubborn challenges with a mission to create a vibrant, resilient, and authentically Ethiopian entrepreneurial innovation ecosystem. As partners, we can lead with a greater sense of urgency, to help communities and organizations adopt change faster for rapid transformation.”

Together, we are committed to expediting innovation in Ethiopia, positioning the nation as a leader within Africa and the global arena. The time for collective action and transformative growth is upon us. Stay connected to our page for real-time updates on the progress unfolding through this partnership. For more information on this collaboration email [email protected].