Arkebe Oqubay

What distinguishes Dr. Arkebe from others engaged in shaping development strategy and industrial policy is his strong belief in sound empirical research to guide policy. Over the past several years, Dr. Arkebe has been productively involved in policy research, in particular, industrial development; with special focus on enterprise development, the role of the private sector in economic development, technology and know-how transfer to developing regions, economic transformation; and public policy. [12]

Dr. Arkebe’s research focus is on leading issues in development economics with an emphasis on economic development and economic transformation, private-sector development, industrial development, industrial policy and economic catch-up, environmental sustainability, Africa, and global transformation. Some of his work in this regard can be found across his many publications (see below). [13][14]

Dr. Arkebe’s ability to combine the theoretical understanding of the process of industrialization with the practice of policy implementation has earned him recognition by the New African as one of the 100 Most Influential Africans of 2016 and a “leading thinker on Africa’s strategic development”.[15] [16]

In recognition of his commitment to the industrialization of developing countries and his distinguished achievements in spearheading Ethiopia’s export-led industrialization, and for promoting intra-African policy dialogue and economic ties, Dr. Arkebe was presented with Japan’s most prestigious award, the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star, by the Emperor of Japan.[17]

As Mayor of Addis Ababa, the political and diplomatic capital of Africa, Minister Arkebe helped transform the city into a vibrant business hub. He won the ABN Best African Mayor of 2006 award for his work in transforming the city, and was a finalist in the World Mayor Award 2006. [18][19]

Dr Arkebe’s educational background includes international relations (MA), business management (MBA), and development economics (PhD). His prolific academic contributions throughout this process has served to continually complete the circle of theory/evidence and practice to forge strong linkages between the public, private and academic sectors to create a model for late industrial and economic transformation. His academic qualifications include:

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Development Studies (pass with no corrections, magna cum laude) – SOAS, University of London, UK [2013][20][21][22]
• Master of Arts (MA) in International Relations – University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands [1994][23]
• Master of Business Administration (MBA) – The Open University (OU), Milton Keynes, UK [1995] [24]
• Postgraduate Diploma in Manufacturing: Management & Technology (MMT) - The Open University (OU), Milton Keynes, UK [1995] [25]

• Minister, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia (September 2010‒present)[26][27]
• State Minister, Ministry of Works and Urban Development (2006‒2010)[28]
• Selected public enterprise board posts held (2007‒present)
• Board Vice Chair, Ethiopian Airlines (2013‒present)[29]
• Board Chair, Ethiopian Industrial Parks Development Corporation (2014‒present)[30]
• Board Chair, Ethiopian Railway Corporation (2007‒2015) Board Chair, Addis Ababa Science and Technology University (2009‒2014)[31][32][33]
• Mayor of Addis Ababa Metropolitan City (2002‒2006) Vice President, Tigray Regional State (1998‒2001)[34][35]

Dr. Arkebe holds several professorial appointments and research fellowship positions in leading universities and research institutions. His professorial posts include the following:

• Professor of Practice - South African Research Chair in Industrial Development (SARCID), University of Johannesburg[36]
• Visiting Professor - School of Public Policy, Sciences Po, Paris, France[37]
• Senior Visiting Professor - School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore[38]
• Distinguished Visiting Professor - School of International Relations and Public Affairs (SIRPA), Fudan University, Shanghai, China [39]
• Professor Affiliate -  Santanna Institute of Economics, School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy [40]

Dr Arkebe’s research fellowships and international advisory board memberships are listed in detail below: 

• ODI Distinguished Fellow - Overseas Development Institute (ODI), London, UK[41]
• UNU-WIDER Honorary Fellow - United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research[42]
• Member of the International Board - African Centre for Economic Transformation (ACET), Accra, Ghana[43]
• Research Associate - Centre for African Studies, University of London, UK[44]
• Senior Research Fellow, Member of International Advisory Board - Centre for Economic Catch-up (CEC), Seoul National University, Republic of Korea[45]
• International Advisory Board Member - The Shanghai Forum, China[46][47]
• Founder and Chair - Policy, Research, Dialogue for Africa[48]

• Made in Africa: Industrial Policy in Ethiopia (Oxford University Press, 2015), a research monograph.[49][50][51]
• The Oxford Handbook of the Ethiopian Economy (Oxford University Press, 2019), co-edited with Fantu Cheru and Christopher Cramer.[52]
• China‒Africa and an Economic Transformation (Oxford University Press, 2019), co-edited with Justin Yifu Lin.[53]
• How Nations Learn: Technological Learning, Industrial Policy, and Catch-up (Oxford University Press, 2019), co-edited with Kenichi Ohno.[54]
• African Economic Development: Evidence, Theory, Policy (Oxford University Press, 2020), a research monograph, authored with Christopher Cramer and John Sender.[55]
• The Oxford Handbook of Industrial Hubs and Economic Development (Oxford University Press, 2020), co-edited with Justin Yifu Lin.[56]
• The Oxford Handbook of Industrial Policy (Oxford University Press, 2020), co-edited with Christopher Cramer, Ha-Joon Chang, and Richard Kozul-Wright.[57]

• Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star, presented by the Emperor of Japan, 2018[58]
• Recognized by the New African as one of the 100 Most Influential Africans of 2016 and a “leading thinker on Africa’s strategic development” for work on industrialization and industrial policies, both theoretical and practical, 2017[59]
• Best African Mayor Award,[60] and finalist World Mayor Award, 2006[61]

• The Oxford Handbook of the South African Economy (Oxford University Press), co-edited with Fiona Tregenna and Imraan Valodia.
• Industrial Hubs and Development, a research monograph.[62]
• The Art of Industrial Policy, a research monograph, co-authored with Jose Antonio Ocampo.
• The Handbook of Economic Development and Environmental Sustainability, co-edited with John Mathews.
• China’s Growth and Global Transformation, co-edited with Jose Antonio Ocampo.

• Timeline of Addis Ababa, 2000s
• World Policy Conference TV, 21 November 2015

• Arkebe named African Mayor of 2005
• Arkebe Oquay, in his own words, at www.worldmayor.com