Ethiopia is attracting attention from Austrian investors, with seven companies expressing interest in establishing a presence in the country. According to the Austrian Ambassador to Ethiopia, these businesses range from individual entrepreneurs to small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as larger corporations, all motivated by a desire for international cooperation and a commitment to Ethiopia’s growth.

The Ethiopian government has been actively liberalizing sectors previously closed to foreign investors, including banking, telecommunications, logistics, and retail. These reforms are significant steps toward creating a more open and inviting business environment for international partners.

Ambassador Simone Knapp emphasized the importance of familiarizing Austrian companies with Ethiopia’s business landscape. “We want Austrian companies to look at the business environment here,” she stated during the “Austrian-Ethiopian Business Forum,” which aimed to strengthen economic relations between the two countries. The ambassador noted that the diplomatic relationship between Austria and Ethiopia dates back over a century, with formal ties established in 1905.

Ambassador Knapp introduced several companies interested in investing in Ethiopia. Two of these firms operate in the health sector: one specializes in producing implantable hearing aids, while the other supplies medical laboratory and pharmaceutical products globally. Additionally, two companies focus on plastics; one is a supplier of high-quality plastic products, including pipes and piping systems, while the other is a leading producer of woven plastic packaging.

State Minister of Finance Semerita Sewasew highlighted the Ethiopian government’s commitment to fostering public-private partnerships. “We have established a framework that enables the private sector to participate in developing and delivering social and economic infrastructure services,” she said. Semerita emphasized the importance of listening to the private sector’s voice as Ethiopia navigates its various social and economic reforms.

The growing interest from Austrian companies reflects Ethiopia’s potential as an investment destination. As reforms continue and sectors open up to foreign investment, the collaboration between Austria and Ethiopia could pave the way for enhanced economic growth and development in both nations.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres inaugurated the renovated Africa Hall in Addis Ababa on October 21, 2024, emphasizing the need for a renewed pledge to work for the people of Africa. Addressing a gathering of dignitaries and partners, Guterres expressed gratitude to the Government of Ethiopia and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa for their contributions to the renovation.

“This hall is where Africa came together to give life to the Organization of African Unity, now the African Union,” Guterres noted, reflecting on the historical significance of the venue. He recalled its inauguration in 1961 by Emperor Haile Selassie when only 26 African nations had achieved independence. “Today, Africa is a transformed continent,” he said, describing the renovated hall as a symbol of renewed hope and unity.

The Secretary-General highlighted that the facility serves as a bridge between Africa’s past and future, honoring shared struggles while embracing common aspirations. He called it an “invitation for everyone to cooperate in pursuit of a better future for Africa and for the world.”

While celebrating this new beginning, Guterres acknowledged the challenges that lie ahead. He pointed out that Africa faces deeply rooted issues exacerbated by climate change, conflict, and persistent poverty, with women often bearing the brunt of these hardships.

“Addressing these issues requires resolute action and renewed solidarity,” he urged, stressing that global institutions must evolve to reflect contemporary realities. He lamented that Africa still lacks a permanent seat at the UN Security Council and called for reforms in international financial institutions to better support African nations.

Guterres also referenced recent agreements made by world leaders, including the Pact for the Future and the Global Digital Compact, which aim to reform global governance structures and enhance development financing. “We must now move forward together in implementing these historic agreements without delay,” he stated.

For over 60 years, the Africa Hall has stood as a symbol of the continent’s collective aspirations and resilience. As Ethiopia continues to play a pivotal role in African unity and progress, Guterres’ remarks serve as a call to action for all stakeholders to renew their commitment to improving lives across the continent.

For three days, Moscow will once again become the world’s capital of artificial intelligence, the technology that can help each and every one of us unlock our potential

The AI Journey International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning will be held on December 11–13 in Moscow. AI Journey will once again be the place to create future with AI, featuring discussions of the role of AI-driven technology in helping humans and generating new ideas and notions that will define the industry’s development for years ahead. The conference’s agenda will focus on AI capabilities for human benefit and people’s and organizations’ expectations and perceptions of the role of AI. The event will be held offline and broadcast live at the website.

Alexander Vedyakhin, first deputy chairman of the Executive Board, Sberbank:

“AI Journey is coming to Moscow on December 11–13. It is not only a major international conference on artificial intelligence but also a space for developers and researchers to boost their professional growth. 2024 is the year of Russia’s chairmanship in BRICS. Therefore, the theme of international collaboration will be reflected in our conference’s agenda. I invite everyone who is interested in artificial intelligence and who develops these technologies or uses them in work and in everyday life to join this three-day journey to discover something entertaining and useful and the new horizons of AI capabilities. The main theme of AI Journey 2024 will be artificial intelligence as an assistant in all spheres of human lives and a tool that helps each of us achieve more and unlock our potential, moving the whole country forward.”

The AI Journey program will feature three tracks: Science, Business, and Society, engaging leading Russian and international researchers, scientists, government officials, and business people. The key presentations on the main stage will be interpreted live into the Russian Sign Language.

Science will include reports from top international researchers, the latest achievements in AI technology development, and the AI’s support in research.

Business will feature hands-on AI solution implementation cases across industries and demos of AI capabilities to improve enterprise performance.

Society will focus on artificial intelligence as a means to tackle social problems. For instance, guests will learn how AI supports the planet’s sustainable development, helps people at work and at home, and unlocks human potential.

The special AI Junior track will immerse all AI newbies into the world of artificial intelligence.

The conference in Moscow completes the series of events that have taken place throughout the year: the finalists of AI Challenge, a contest for young data scientists, and of AIJ Contest, a challenge for experienced AI specialists, will be awarded. AI Journey will also look at the results of the open research paper selection, AIJ Science. The most significant papers will be included in the scientific journal issued in collaboration with the Russian Academy of Sciences. The author of the best article will receive a money prize.