Business challenge workshop highlights opportunities in Ethiopia  

On October 7, 2024, Maastricht School of Management (MSM) facilitated a Business Challenge Workshop at the SYS office on Cameroon Road, Addis Ababa, to address key challenges and explore opportunities in Ethiopia’s horticulture sector. The event gathered industry leaders and stakeholders, aiming to align market needs with the MOBILISE program, which supports Ethiopian trainees returning from horticulture internships in the Netherlands. 

Participants, including Yared Sertse, Director of SYS, and Tewodros Zewdie, Executive Secretary of the Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA), discussed several pressing challenges facing the sector. These included short urban land leases and rising rental costs that limit long-term investment, along with unreliable public services and governance issues that increase business risks. Participants highlighted how import delays, high costs of agricultural inputs like seeds and fertilizers, and inadequate cold chain logistics hinder productivity. Furthermore, shortages in both skilled and unskilled labor present significant difficulties, as do infrastructure gaps, such as unreliable access to electricity and fuel. Climate change also emerged as a major concern, requiring sustainable innovations, while misalignment between education and industry hinders the availability of commercially-oriented graduates. 

Amid the challenges, participants identified promising opportunities, such as expanding crop production to reduce imports of high-demand items like onions and spices. Developing nurseries for fruit trees and urban agriculture was also highlighted as a viable business opportunity. There was a call for more value-added processing—like tomato processing and herb drying—to mitigate post-harvest losses and improve profitability. Additionally, the growing demand for organic inputs, such as fertilizers, presents potential business ventures for entrepreneurs. 

The workshop concluded with participants reaffirming their commitment to the MOBILISE program by offering internships, mentorships, and participation in feasibility studies. The event emphasized the importance of closer collaboration between business and academia to foster innovation, equipping young entrepreneurs with the skills and insights needed to thrive in Ethiopia’s evolving horticulture sector. Insights from the workshop will guide future MOBILISE projects, ensuring alignment between industry needs and the entrepreneurial ambitions of returning trainees.