Ethiopian Diaspora Business Forum to be held in Washington DC

Addis Ababa, June 21 (WIC) – Organized annually by the Ethiopian American, an Ethiopian Diaspora business and investment group, the 7th edition of the Ethiopian Diaspora Business Forum and the 2nd Pioneer Diaspora Awards Dinner, will be held on July 14, 2012 at the George Washington University’s Jack Morton Auditorium and the Grand Hyatt Washington in Washington DC, respectively, the organizers announced.


The 2012 Pioneer Ethiopian Diaspora Business Person award will be shared by two dynamic members of the Ethiopian Diaspora business community: Tadiwos Getachew, founder and CEO of Boston Partners PLC, and Zemedeneh Negatu, Managing Partner of Ernst & Young Ethiopia & Head of Transaction Advisory Services (Corporate Finance) Eastern Africa Ernst & Young LLP.


Both individuals embody the meaning of a pioneer. As pioneer business men, Zemedeneh and Tadios introduced innovation in to their respective business areas and took risks in untested business at the time of entry in Ethiopia.

Both have been good role models and have inspired other Diaspora businessmen to take risk and introduce innovation.

The 7th Ethiopian Diaspora Business Forum will focus on innovation in business and investment. Specifically, the Forum will discuss ICT revolution in Ethiopia, Innovation and Investment in the Hospitality Industry and Finding Innovative Financing Solutions to Investments in Ethiopia.


The Forum, Awards Dinner and Job Fair are expected to attract hundreds of Ethiopians, and non-Ethiopians, interested in Ethiopian Diaspora business and investment opportunities in Ethiopian and the U.S. 

“The Forum and Awards Dinner will once again attempt to show case the contribution of the Ethiopian Diaspora to business and investment in the growing trade relationship between the United States and Ethiopia,” said Yohannes Assefa, Managing Director of The Ethiopian American and Founder and Executive Director of the Forum. 

This year’s Forum marks the 7th year since The Ethiopian American begun organizing this annual event. In the past six years, the Forum has grown tremendously.

This year’s Awards Dinner keynote speaker will be Thomas Debass, Director for Global Partnerships in the Office of Secretary of State Hilary Clinton. 


The Ethiopian Diaspora Business Forum is organized by The Ethiopian American, a Virginia based Ethiopian Diaspora business and investment group with offices in New York.