THE CLIENT
International Finance Corporation (IFC), The World Bank Group
THE CHALLENGE
The Oromia Regional State, a key economic powerhouse in Ethiopia, faced challenges in translating its vast potential into concrete private sector growth and job creation. A lack of a coordinated, sector-specific investment strategy and limited institutional capacity hindered the region’s ability to systematically attract, retain, and leverage Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to overcome productivity bottlenecks.
THE SERVICE
The project combined a competitiveness assessment with deep-dive sector analysis to identify high-potential investment opportunities in key ecosystems—textile, apparel and footwear, agri-food, and advanced materials. It developed a practical investment promotion strategy, including investor targeting, benchmarking, and capacity building for government stakeholders, supported by tools and implementation roadmaps.
- Integrated investment promotion & country branding strategies
- Investor identification, matchmaking, negotiation support & aftercare
- Development of investment or marketing pitches, profiles & promotional materials
- Opportunity mapping & strategic prioritization
- Value chain diagnostics & competitiveness analysis
- Primary data collection, database creation & market intelligence surveys
- Capacity building for public institutions & officials
RESULTS
The project delivered a comprehensive Sector Investment Promotion Plan and investment toolkit, providing a clear roadmap to attract, retain, and expand domestic and foreign investment. It identified priority sectors with strong job creation and spillover potential, defined an FDI vision and investor targeting strategy, and outlined concrete actions to improve the business environment and competitiveness. The initiative strengthened public sector capacity through training of investment promotion officers and produced sector-specific “Invest in Oromia” materials to support targeted outreach. Overall, the project enhanced Oromia’s readiness to mobilize quality investment, stimulate private sector development, and drive sustainable job creation.
