Ethiopia’s foreign investment landscape is dominated by a mix of countries, with **China** leading significantly, followed by key players from the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. Here’s a breakdown of the top investors and their sectors:

### Top Foreign Investors:

1. **China**:  

   – **Dominant Sector**: Infrastructure (roads, railways, industrial parks), manufacturing, and energy.  

   – **Examples**: Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway, Eastern Industrial Zone, hydropower projects.  

   – **Why**: Strategic BRI (Belt and Road Initiative) partnerships and government-backed loans.

2. **Saudi Arabia & UAE**:  

   – **Dominant Sector**: Agriculture (land leases for food security), logistics, ports, and hospitality.  

   – **Examples**: UAE’s AD Ports Group operating Somaliland’s Berbera Corridor linked to Ethiopia; Saudi Star Agricultural Development.  

   – **Why**: Geopolitical interests in Horn of Africa stability and resource access.

3. **Turkey**:  

   – **Dominant Sector**: Textiles, manufacturing, and hospitality.  

   – **Examples**: Major industrial zones in Hawassa and Dire Dawa; investments by companies like Ayka Textiles.  

4. **India**:  

   – **Dominant Sector**: Agriculture, manufacturing (pharmaceuticals, textiles), and services.  

   – **Examples**: Investments by companies like Karuturi Global (agribusiness, though scaled back) and Birla Group.  

5. **United States & Europe**:  

   – **Key Players**: Netherlands (floriculture, renewables), UK (consumer goods), Germany (engineering), and USA (aviation, tech).  

   – **Examples**: Heineken (Brewery), Diageo (beverages), Siemens, and Boeing.  

### Other Notable Investors:

– **Egypt & Sudan**: Focused on agriculture and cross-border trade.  

– **South Korea**: Manufacturing and textiles (e.g., shoe factories in Addis).  

– **Development Finance Institutions (DFIs)**: IFC (World Bank), CDC Group (UK), and Proparco (France) fund private-sector projects.

### Key Trends & Context:

– **Shift Post-2018**: Gulf investments surged after Ethiopia’s political reforms, targeting ports (e.g., UAE’s stake in Berbera) and agriculture.  

– **Manufacturing Focus**: Ethiopia’s industrial parks (Bole Lemi, Hawassa) attract textile/footwear giants (PVH, H&M suppliers).  

– **Challenges**: Currency shortages, bureaucratic hurdles, and recent conflict (2020–2022) slowed some investments.  

– **New Opportunities**: Telecom liberalization (Safaricom consortium) and renewable energy (geothermal, wind).  

### Data Sources (Vary by Year):

– **Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC)**: Lists China, India, Turkey as top sources by project numbers.  

– **Capital Flow**: Gulf states lead in high-value deals (e.g., UAE’s $1.6B telecom license in 2024).  

**In summary**, **China** remains Ethiopia’s largest investor in infrastructure and industry, while **Gulf nations (UAE/Saudi)** drive strategic agribusiness and port investments. Diversification is growing, with Turkey, India, and European firms expanding manufacturing footprints.