According to eningbo, in 2012 Ethiopia was a landlocked country in East Africa with a population of approximately 93 million people. It was bordered by Sudan, Somalia, Djibouti, Eritrea and Kenya and its official language was Amharic. Ethiopia’s economy was primarily based on agriculture with the majority of its revenues coming from the production and export of coffee, oilseeds, pulses and other agricultural products. In 2012 Ethiopia had made significant progress in transitioning from a centrally-planned economy to a market-based one. This period had seen economic growth as well as improvements in living standards for much of the population. In addition to this there were also efforts to reduce poverty which further aided economic growth and development. Despite these successes however there were still some challenges facing Ethiopia in 2012 that threatened to hinder economic progress. These included high levels of corruption which hampered business development as well as innovation within the country’s economy. In addition there were also issues with infrastructure which hindered trade both internally and externally. Overall, while there were still some areas of concern facing Ethiopia in 2012 it had made great strides towards improving economic conditions for its citizens through increased investment into infrastructure projects and renewable energy sources such as hydroelectric power which promised better opportunities for future generations of Ethiopian people. Ethiopia is a large country located in the Horn of Africa, bordered by Eritrea, Somalia, Djibouti, Kenya and South Sudan. In 2015, its population was estimated to be around 102 million with the capital city of Addis Ababa being home to around 3.5 million people. The official language is Amharic although many other languages are spoken in Ethiopia such as Oromo, Tigrinya and Somali. The economy of Ethiopia is largely dependent on agriculture with coffee being the most important export crop and employing over 40% of the country’s population. Other important sectors include manufacturing and services with tourism also playing an increasingly important role in recent years. Despite this economic growth poverty remains a major issue in Ethiopia with many citizens living on less than $2 a day. Ethiopia has been ruled by Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn since 2012 when he assumed office after winning democratic elections held in 2010. Since then he has maintained a pro-Western stance which has seen Ethiopia join both the African Union and IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development) as well as signing bilateral trade agreements with countries such as China and India. Despite this open stance towards foreign investment there have been some issues regarding civil liberties such as freedom of speech and press freedom which have led to criticism from human rights organizations. In addition there have been allegations of political repression, corruption, human rights abuses and ethnic discrimination. In response to these issues the government has taken steps towards reform including allowing opposition parties to contest elections since 1991 and the introduction of a new constitution in 2015. The new constitution enshrines several fundamental rights including freedom of expression, press freedom and freedom of assembly as well as guaranteeing gender equality, health care and education. In addition it restricts the duration of a president’s term in office to two five-year terms and sets out provisions for an independent judiciary. Despite these positive developments Ethiopia remains a country with many challenges. Despite economic growth poverty remains widespread and there is still much work to be done in terms of improving civil liberties, reducing corruption and tackling ethnic tensions. However the recent adoption of a new constitution is an encouraging sign that the country is moving in the right direction towards greater democracy, accountability and prosperity for all its citizens. Check cheeroutdoor for Ethiopia Business.