Alibaba announced on Wednesday its plans to establish its first African training center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in partnership with the Digital Transformation Ethiopia Association (DTEA). Scheduled to open next year, the center will focus on fostering local digital talent through training programs designed for the Ethiopian community.
At the launching event, Dan Liu, Senior Advisor for Alibaba Global Initiatives (AGI), highlighted Ethiopia’s youthful population and robust government support, positioning the country as a promising hub for entrepreneurship and innovation.
Liu emphasized the importance of a “digital mindset” for Ethiopian entrepreneurs in a rapidly digitalizing global economy.
“We are excited to have a physical presence in Africa,” Liu said, adding that the center will use a “Train the Trainer” approach to equip local businesses with the latest digital economy tools, benefiting entrepreneurs across Africa.
Fikir Andargachew, President of DTEA, expressed enthusiasm for partnering with AGI on this project, which she described as a significant step for Ethiopian entrepreneurs in harnessing digitalization for global market expansion.
State Minister of Innovation and Technology, Yeshurun Alemayehu, also underscored the role of international cooperation, like this initiative with Alibaba, in helping Ethiopia transition into a digital economy.
He pointed to Ethiopia’s “5 Million Coders” initiative, which aims to encourage entrepreneurship through digital skills, as an example of Ethiopia’s commitment to fostering job opportunities for its young population in a digital era.
