Ethiopia’s economy became more diversified, with new industries like car manufacturing, beverages, and floriculture; and major infrastructure projects, including Africa’s largest hydroelectric dam, were launched. Once a basket-case associated in the world’s eyes only with famine and drought, Ethiopia has become one of Africa’s largest economies – and without the benefit of gold or oil.
泽纳维以提格雷人民解放阵线（Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front）领导人出身，其政治背景是马克思列宁主义的。但是，随着冷战的结束，他也抛弃了马列主义教条。在他的政府治下，婴儿死亡率下降了40%；埃塞俄比亚经济实现了多样化，出现了汽车制造、餐饮、花卉等新产业；还建成了一系列主要基础设施工程，包括非洲最大的水电大坝——这些都要记在他的功劳簿上。埃塞俄比亚曾是饥饿和干旱的代名词，但现如今它已成为非洲最大经济体之一——而且是在不靠黄金和石油的情况下取得的。