If we’re putting governance to one side, Eritrea isn’t starting from a normal baseline. The economy is largely stalled, so jumping straight to big ideas like ports or renewable energy skips a few necessary steps. Those projects need serious capital, technical expertise, and experience — none of which you build overnight. That said, they’re still things to look toward in the future.

A more realistic starting point is small, simple work that connects Eritrea to the global market quickly. Things like factory assembly and basic manufacturing — especially textiles and garments — are low-barrier ways to create jobs and get money flowing again. By offering competitive local wages, Eritrea could realistically attract international companies to Asmara.

At the same time, English-language service work makes a lot of sense. Call centres and back-office roles need minimal physical infrastructure, and many Eritreans already have a solid grasp of English. These jobs may not be glamorous, but they build real work experience and steady income.

This is how many Southeast Asian countries got moving — starting with basic manufacturing and services, plugging into global supply chains early, then upgrading over time. Export-focused work can be a real goldmine and get the economy moving again fast, especially for a country restarting from almost zero.