# JICA advisor points to Ethiopia's startup and AI ecosystem

> JICA project advisor Takeshi Oikawa highlighted Startup Act incentives, the Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institute and potential digital-service exports to Africa.

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- Publisher: Newsverum
- Section: Technology
- Country: Ethiopia
- Published: 2026-10-06T17:11:49+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-07T00:54:32+03:00
- Event / data period: 2026-10-01
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Takeshi Oikawa, chief advisor to a JICA project and managing director at BCG East Africa, said Ethiopia's technology talent and public support could help the country contribute to Africa's digital transformation. In an exclusive interview published by ENA on 1 October, he cited the government's Startup Act support, including incentives and coaching for young technology companies.

Oikawa also pointed to the Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institute's role in leading the national AI agenda, while saying the country needs to manage safety concerns alongside opportunities. He identified AI and robotics as possible areas for Japan–Ethiopia cooperation and said local companies could provide digital services to neighboring African markets.

## Data

### JICA advisor's observations on Ethiopia's digital ecosystem

Takeshi Oikawa's comments on Ethiopia's startup, artificial-intelligence and technology-services capacity.

Methodology: The table lists policies and institutions mentioned by JICA project chief advisor Takeshi Oikawa in ENA's 1 October interview; assessments are attributed to him.

| Area | Reported detail |
|---|---|
| Startup support | Startup Act incentives, support and coaching for young technology companies |
| Artificial intelligence | Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institute leads the national AI agenda |
| Regional services | Potential to export technology and digital services to neighboring African countries |
| Japan–Ethiopia cooperation | AI and robotics identified as possible cooperation fields |

Sources: <https://www.ena.et/web/eng/w/eng_9653187> · Download data: [JSON](https://newsverum.com/api/v1/articles/ethiopia-jica-advisor-highlights-startup-and-ai-ecosystem/data/ethiopia-digital-ecosystem-remarks-jica-advisor-2026?lang=en&format=json) · [CSV](https://newsverum.com/api/v1/articles/ethiopia-jica-advisor-highlights-startup-and-ai-ecosystem/data/ethiopia-digital-ecosystem-remarks-jica-advisor-2026?lang=en&format=csv)

## Sources

- [Ethiopian News Agency](<https://www.ena.et/web/eng/w/eng_9653187>) (Source checked: 2026-10-06; Published: 2026-10-01)

## Correction history

- 2026-10-07T00:54:32+03:00: German and Portuguese editions and translations of the data and correction explanations have been added to this article.

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