Paris, France – June 25, 2025 The State Minister of Finance, H.E. Dr. Eyob Tekalign, participated in the 12th Paris Forum being held in Paris, France.

Speaking at the forum, Dr. Eyob outlined Ethiopia’s experience with sovereign debt treatment under the G20 Common Framework. Dr. Eyob emphasized the constructive and collaborative nature of the negotiations thus far, expressing appreciation for the support and engagement of Ethiopia’s partners.

He also acknowledged the challenges encountered during the process and shared practical suggestions to improve future sovereign debt treatments. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a predictable timeline to ensure timely access to debt relief for debtor countries. To promote efficiency and reduce procedural delays, he proposed the development of a standardized Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) template.  Additionally, the state minister highlighted the need to enhance transparency between debtor and creditor countries and called for a shared sense of responsibility, recognizing that the burden and success of debt treatment relies on the collective commitment of all parties involved.

It is recalled that Ethiopia is currently benefiting from debt treatment under the G20 Common Framework. An Agreement in Principle with the Official Creditors Committee was reached in March 2025, and the signing of the MoU is expected to take place soon.

The Paris Forum is organized annually by the Paris Club and the G20 Presidency. It brings together members of the Paris Club Secretariat, creditor and debtor countries, international financial institutions, and other stakeholders to deliberate on key aspects of sovereign debt and its resolution.