Addis Ababa, October 12, 2026 (FMC) — President Taye Atske-Selassie has highlighted fertilizer manufacturing and natural gas development as important priorities in Ethiopia’s drive to strengthen economic independence, expand domestic productive capacity and reduce reliance on external supplies.
Speaking at the 19th National Flag Day observance on Monday, held under the theme “Our Flag for National Consensus and Unity,” the President connected Ethiopia’s aspirations for lasting sovereignty with the development of its own resources and the ability to meet key national needs through domestic production.
He emphasized the importance of initiatives that can reinforce food sovereignty, support agricultural productivity and advance the country’s wider economic transformation. Fertilizer manufacturing, in particular, has strategic significance for agriculture, where reliable access to essential inputs can help strengthen the productive capacity of farmers and support national food-security ambitions.
The development of natural gas resources, meanwhile, represents another opportunity to harness Ethiopia’s resource potential in support of economic development and industrial growth. Building domestic capacity in these areas can contribute to a stronger productive base and help the country make greater use of its own resources.
President Taye’s remarks placed these priorities within the broader national responsibility to protect Ethiopia’s independence and secure a more prosperous future. Economic sovereignty, in this regard, requires more than political independence: it also depends on the capacity to produce, develop resources and sustain national progress.
Strengthening domestic production can also create closer links between agriculture, industry and resource development, allowing national investments to serve broader development objectives rather than isolated sectoral needs.
The President’s message underscored the importance of advancing initiatives that strengthen Ethiopia’s ability to provide for its people, support farmers and pastoralists, and build a resilient economy capable of sustaining its development ambitions.
By emphasizing fertilizer manufacturing and natural gas development, President Taye placed the effective use of national resources and the expansion of domestic production among the important foundations for Ethiopia’s pursuit of economic independence and long-term prosperity.