An Interview with Arkebe Oqubay, Aporde 2024 Lecturer

With Aporde 2024 having recently taken place, we are pleased to present a series of interviews with some of this year's lecturers and attendees.. These interviews are hosted and conducted by Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS) Communications Officer Nondwe Majundana and feature a diverse range of specialists in the field of development economics. Dr. Arkebe Oqubay, endorsed by the African Union, is Africa's sole candidate for Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). As a Senior Minister and Special Adviser to Ethiopia's Prime Minister, he has played a central role in shaping Ethiopia’s economic policies for over 30 years. His leadership has been crucial in driving the country’s economic transformation through bold reforms and strategic decision-making. Dr. Arkebe has been a strong advocate for inclusive and sustainable industrial development. He has promoted private sector growth, secured significant investment in manufacturing, and forged international partnerships for resource mobilization. His efforts include pioneering eco-industrial parks and special economic zones, boosting productive capacity, and advancing urban and economic infrastructure development.