Inside the Ethio-American Chamber of Commerce GERD and Business Development Delegation

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From January 6 to 13, 2026, a distinguished delegation will convene under the banner of the Ethio-American Chamber of Commerce (EACC) for an immersive, on‑the‑ground engagement in Ethiopia centered on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and the country’s broader economic transformation.

This will not be a ceremonial visit.
It is being designed as a fact‑finding mission, a strategic dialogue, and a statement of intent.

At a moment when Africa’s development narrative is increasingly shaped by African‑led infrastructure, regional cooperation, and diaspora‑driven investment, the EACC’s GERD and Business Development Delegation is emerging as a model for how knowledge, capital, policy, and vision can align in service of long‑term prosperity.

GERD: More Than Infrastructure, A Continental Signal

GERD is often discussed in terms of megawatts and hydrology. But to understand its significance is to see it as an economic and diplomatic inflection point.

As articulated by the EACC, GERD represents:
• A foundational investment in regional energy security
• A catalyst for industrialization and private‑sector growth
• A platform for economic diplomacy and cross‑border cooperation
• A symbol of African‑led development and sovereignty

The delegation’s mission is clear: to witness the project firsthand, engage with its scale and intent, and translate lived understanding into informed global dialogue ahead of the GERD Symposium in Washington, DC, scheduled for April 2026.

Leadership Anchoring the Mission

 

Elias Woldu

Chairman of the Board, Ethio-American Chamber of Commerce

As Chairman of the EACC, Elias Woldu’s leadership frames the delegation’s purpose with clarity and foresight. A seasoned entrepreneur and public servant, Woldu has spent decades advancing economic empowerment, diaspora engagement, and U.S.–Africa business relations.

His message to delegates emphasizes that knowledge precedes partnership. GERD, he notes, is not only a national achievement but a regional opportunity whose greatest value lies in informed collaboration, data‑driven dialogue, and mutual benefit across the Nile Basin.

Under his stewardship, the EACC continues to serve as a trusted convener at the intersection of policy, private enterprise, and diaspora leadership.

Foundational Voices of Strategy and Execution

 

Lamine Savadogo

Founder & President, Marison Energy Systems Corporation

Lamine Savadogo brings decades of experience in renewable energy, power infrastructure, and international partnerships. As Founder and President of Marison Energy Systems Corporation, his work has facilitated technological, commercial, and financial exchanges between the United States and Africa.

An award‑winning executive recognized for generating hundreds of business opportunities for New England companies, Savadogo’s participation grounds the delegation in the realities of execution. His expertise underscores GERD’s role not just as a power project, but as a driver of bankable energy ecosystems across the continent.

Yodit Sahelu Seyoum

Accounting and Finance for International Development

Yodit Sahelu Seyoum contributes a critical lens on financial governance, accountability, and development finance. With expertise spanning international development accounting and fiscal systems, her perspective highlights the importance of transparent structures that ensure large‑scale infrastructure delivers inclusive and measurable impact.

Her role reinforces a central theme of the delegation: sustainable development is as much about sound financial architecture as it is about ambition.

Zerihun Birhanu

Second Secretary, Business Diplomacy Affairs, Embassy of Ethiopia, Washington, DC

Representing Ethiopia’s diplomatic mission in Washington, Zerihun Birhanu plays a pivotal role in trade promotion, investment facilitation, and economic diplomacy.

His participation reflects the alignment between state institutions and diaspora‑driven platforms like the EACC. Birhanu’s work bridges policy and practice, ensuring that global partners understand Ethiopia’s investment climate, reform agenda, and long‑term economic vision.

Global Expertise and Academic Leadership

 

Foulo Basse

Chief Executive Officer, Brazzaville Foundation, Paris

With extensive experience across public service, academia, and the private sector in Europe and Africa, Foulo Basse brings a deeply international perspective to the delegation.

Formerly holding senior roles within European regulatory and academic institutions, Basse’s expertise in administration, laboratory management, and policy coordination adds depth to discussions on standards, governance, and cross‑regional cooperation.

Dr. James Calvin

Associate Dean, Johns Hopkins Carey Business School

Dr. James Calvin’s participation anchors the delegation in academic rigor and leadership development. An Associate Dean at Johns Hopkins Carey Business School and Ambassador with the University of Cambridge’s Innovation Policy Ignition Program, Dr. Calvin has led teams and lectured across Africa, including Ghana, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Kenya, and Cameroon.

His work emphasizes organizational leadership, innovation policy, and capacity building, reinforcing GERD’s relevance not only as infrastructure but as a case study in transformational development.

Board Members Advancing the Vision

 

Betel Ayalneh
Board Member, EACC
A finance professional with experience in banking and international development, supporting performance metrics and institutional effectiveness.

Dr. Eden Taye
Board Member, EACC
Bringing a multidisciplinary perspective spanning mental health, business management, and commercial real estate, emphasizing the human dimension of development.

Rebkha Atnafou
Board Member, EACC
Founder of RND Associates & An award‑winning public health and development professional strengthening stakeholder engagement and cross‑sector partnerships.

Abera Bizuneh
Board Member, EACC
A veteran business leader contributing strategic insight shaped by decades of entrepreneurship and international engagement.

Addis Bishaw
Board Member, EACC
A technology entrepreneur building bridges between diaspora innovation and Ethiopia’s emerging tech ecosystem.

Selamawit Tefera
Board Member, EACC
A founding member and entrepreneur whose leadership in community engagement has strengthened U.S.–Ethiopia business ties.

Dr. Mulugeta Desse
Board Member, EACC
An academician and real estate entrepreneur advancing knowledge‑based economic cooperation.

Mussie Fissehazion
Board Member, EACC
A media executive underscoring the power of narrative, communications, and public perception in economic diplomacy.

Beyond the Visit: A Platform for the Future

The upcoming delegation is not an endpoint. It is a foundation.

Insights expected from GERD’s engineering, governance, and regional implications will inform the GERD Symposium in Washington, DC, creating a platform for:
• Investment dialogue
• Policy collaboration
• Data‑driven discussion
• Shared prosperity across borders

Crucially, this mission reinforces a central truth: Africa’s future will be shaped by those who engage deeply, think long‑term, and build collaboratively.

A Model of Diaspora‑Led Economic Diplomacy

The Ethio-American Chamber of Commerce’s GERD and Business Development Delegation demonstrates what is possible when diaspora leadership moves beyond advocacy into architecture.

Architecture of knowledge
Architecture of trust
Architecture of partnership

GERD stands not only as a monument to Ethiopian ingenuity, but as a beacon for African‑led development grounded in cooperation, stability, and vision.

And as this delegation prepares to convene, it stands as proof that when Africa’s global sons and daughters return not just to observe, but to understand and build, the future becomes not a promise — but a plan.

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