The Russian Federation and Ethiopia, both members of the BRICS bloc, have maintained a strong and mutually rewarding relationship, with both nations focused on strengthening this cooperation in the years ahead.
According to a recent report, the two countries have agreed to expand industrial cooperation and explore opportunities for joint manufacturing ventures.
This move comes after high-level discussions held in Addis Ababa during the official visit of Aleksey Gruzdev.
During the visit, Gruzdev held talks with Melaku Alebel, focusing on strengthening industrial collaboration between the two nations.
The discussions covered key sectors including drone technology, pharmaceuticals, as well as agricultural and energy equipment.
Both sides emphasized their shared goal of boosting industrial capacity and developing joint production projects.
A major highlight of the visit was the exploration of opportunities within Ethiopia’s first government-owned special economic zone.
As part of efforts to deepen industrial ties and facilitate technology transfer, both parties agreed to assess the feasibility of establishing Russian production facilities within Ethiopia.
In addition to the meeting with Alebel, the Russian delegation also engaged with Addisu Arega to discuss agricultural cooperation, according to AllAfrica.
Furthermore, Ethiopia’s Air Force Commander, Yilma Merdassa, met with Russia’s Deputy Minister of Defense, Vasily Osmakov.
Recent trade figures for 2025 show a significant rise in economic exchange between the two countries amid evolving global trade dynamics and stronger partnerships among emerging economies.
Bilateral trade between Russia and Ethiopia exceeded $435 million in 2025, almost three times higher than the previous year.
Evgeny Terekhin revealed the figures in February while speaking to Russian state media, attributing the growth to increased exports of fertilisers, farm machinery, and energy equipment from Russia, along with rising Ethiopian exports of coffee, flowers, and textiles.
He further noted that Ethiopia’s coffee exports to Russia climbed from approximately $46 million in 2024 to an inflation-adjusted $123 million in 2025.