The Ministry of Labor and Skills (MoLS) has announced plans to establish incubation and acceleration centers in 100 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges next year, aiming to cultivate a vibrant startup ecosystem nationwide.

Birhanu Adere, Head of the Innovative Idea Development Desk at MoLS, stated that these centers would equip aspiring entrepreneurs with business training, mentorship, technical support, and critical networking opportunities to help turn ideas into sustainable businesses. The initiative seeks to nurture entrepreneurial mindsets among youth, drive local production, and reduce import dependency.

“Ethiopia has no shortage of innovative ideas, but startups often struggle with limited access to finance, red tape, and poor stakeholder coordination,” Birhanu said. To address these barriers, MoLS is finalizing a draft startup ecosystem development policy aimed at introducing innovative financing and a supportive legal framework.

The draft policy will also institutionalize initiatives like summer innovation camps and the national startup competition, which saw 2,500 ideas submitted last year, 42% of which progressed, some gaining global recognition.

Source: The Ethiopian Herald