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Regulations - Financial

Diaspora Bank Customers Get Temporary Fayda Exemption After Account Restrictions

Key Takeaways:• May 14, 2026 deadline triggered account restrictions for customers without Fayda-linked bank accounts.• Ethiopian Diaspora Service announced temporary exemptions for overseas Ethiopians …

May 29, 2026

News - Financial

Telegram Wallet Suspends ETB Crypto Trading From June 2

Key Takeaways:• June 2, 2026 marks the suspension of Telegram Wallet’s ETB-denominated P2P crypto trading.• Wallet said active Ethiopian Birr P2P advertisements will be …

May 29, 2026

News - Financial

NBE Sets $200mn June FX Auctions as Birr Reform Continues

• $200 million will be offered through two foreign exchange auctions in June.• National Bank of Ethiopia scheduled $100 million auctions for June 9 …

May 28, 2026

Import/Export

Semera SEZ Secures Four Firms as Afar Salt Cluster Expands

• 4 operational tenants are now active inside Semera Special Economic Zone.• 3 additional investors joined the zone this year, according to Ahmed Hassen.• …

May 28, 2026

Regulations - Transport

Ethiopia to Require Digital Competency Tests for All Drivers

• All active drivers will be required to undergo training and competency assessment.• Ministry of Transport and Logistics completed documents for national driver retraining …

May 26, 2026

Electric

ECA Finalises Africa EV Roadmap as $46tn Market Opens

• $46 trillion global EV market is projected by 2050, creating value-chain opportunities for African economies.• ECA is finalising the roadmap, implementation plan and …

May 26, 2026

Electric

Ethiopia Removes 49% Foreign Ownership Cap in Freight Forwarding

• 49% foreign ownership cap in freight forwarding has been removed by Ethiopian authorities.• Full foreign participation is now allowed in Ethiopia’s freight forwarding …

May 26, 2026

Import/Export

Ethiopia Opens China Export Permits to All Licensed Banks

• Immediate reform allows all licensed Ethiopian banks to process export permits for China-bound goods.• National Bank of Ethiopia ended CBE’s exclusive role in …

May 26, 2026

Import/Export

Ethiopia: IES Launches Digital Verifier to Strengthen Product Quality Controls

• IES launched IES Verifier to check standard marks and product quality information online.• Institute of Ethiopian Standards introduced the app to support product …

May 25, 2026

News - Transport

Ethiopia to Open Core Logistics Operations to Foreign Investors

Key Takeaways:• End-2026 directive will open Ethiopia’s core logistics operations to foreign investors.• Government authorities are finalising legal steps to liberalise the logistics sector.• …

May 25, 2026

Regulations - Financial

NBE Eases LC Rules and Caps Fees in FX Reform Push

Key Takeaways:• May 25, 2026 directive lets banks approve LCs and CAD without prior NBE approval.• National Bank of Ethiopia revised foreign-exchange rules for …

May 25, 2026

LNG/CNG

Kaliti LNG/CNG Fueling Station Nears Completion as Ethiopia Expands Gas Transport Infrastructure

ADDIS ABABA — Construction of a major LNG/CNG fueling station in Kaliti has reac

May 23, 2026

News - Financial

Ethiopia Needs $5bn Telecom Investment to Triple Tower Network

Key Takeaways:• $5bn in additional investment is needed to improve Ethiopia’s telecom competitiveness.• Andualem Admassie said Ethiopia needs up to 30,000 additional telecom towers.• …

May 21, 2026

News - Transport

Ethiopian Airlines Orders Over 100 Aircraft for Delivery by 2032

Key Takeaways:• Over 100 Boeing and Airbus aircraft are expected for delivery by 2032.• Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tasew announced the orders in …

May 21, 2026

Import/Export

Ethiopia, Dangote Push Djibouti Energy Corridor for Gas Exports

Key Takeaways:• Over $4bn Dangote-linked investment anchors Ethiopia’s gas industrial expansion in the Somali region.• Ethiopian Investment Holdings led talks with Djibouti on a …

May 21, 2026

Import/Export

Ethiopia Briefs Partners on WTO Accession and AfCFTA Trade Progress

Key Takeaways:• Three WTO Working Party meetings were held over the past year, according to Trade Minister Kassahun Gofe.• Finance and Trade ministries briefed …

May 21, 2026

Construction & Mining

Bole Lemi SEZ Expands With Over 16 New Factory Projects

Key Takeaways:• Over 16 factory projects are underway as Bole Lemi SEZ enters a new expansion phase.• Industrial Parks Development Corporation is developing eight …

May 20, 2026

News - Financial

Dangote Lifts Ethiopia Investment Above $4bn With Gode Fertiliser Expansion

Key Takeaways:• Over $4bn in Dangote Group investments makes Ethiopia its second-largest African capital destination.• Dangote Group raised its Ethiopia commitment from $2. 5bn …

May 20, 2026

News - Financial

Ethiopia to Rebase GDP by September 2026 Under Statistics Reform

Key Takeaways:• September 2026 deadline set for Ethiopia’s GDP rebasing exercise.• Ministry of Planning and Development will adopt 2017 E. C. as the new …

May 20, 2026

Import/Export

Ethiopia Sends 5,500 Sheep in Third Direct Saudi Export Shipment

Key Takeaways:• 5,500 sheep were exported directly to Saudi Arabia under Ethiopian certificates of origin.• Ethiopian Embassy in Djibouti and Ethiopian Shipping and Logistics …

May 20, 2026

News - Financial

NBE Dollar Auction Rate Rises to 159.98 Birr Amid Bank Demand

Key Takeaways:• $1. 06bn in bank bids exceeded NBE’s $500mn FX supply by more than twofold.• National Bank of Ethiopia held a special foreign …

May 20, 2026

News - Transport

Ethiopia Restarts $1.7bn Railway to Reconnect Northern Trade Corridor

Key Takeaways:• $1. 7bn Awash–Kombolcha–Hara Gebeya railway has resumed after years of suspension.• Ethiopian Railways Corporation is restarting repair and reconstruction works along the …

May 18, 2026

Regulations - Financial

Ethiopia: CBE launches crop-backed loans

- CBE rolls out commodity-backed financing for clients in the agriculture sector.- Borrowers can use crops stored in warehouses as collateral if they provide …

May 17, 2026

Construction & Mining

Gelan Gura Industrial Park inaugurated to boost manufacturing and jobs

- Ethiopia Gelan Gura Industrial Park in Addis Ababa, describing it as a major addition to Ethiopia’s industrial development. - The facility spans 43 …

May 17, 2026

Import/Export

Ethiopia to create dedicated export authority

- Ethiopia plans to create a single authority to oversee commodity exports. A proposal has been submitted to the Prime Minister’s Office, with implementation …

May 17, 2026

Analysis

IMF chief applauds Ethiopia reforms amid currency slide and hunger crisis

- IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva visited Addis Ababa on 11 May 2026 and praised Ethiopia's progress under its economic reform programme.- She said …

May 15, 2026

Import/Export

Ethiopia aims for USD 10 billion export earnings in 2025/26

- Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced that Ethiopia is on track to generate USD 10 billion in export earnings for the 2025/26 fiscal year, …

May 15, 2026

Regulations - Financial

South African insurers explore Ethiopian market amid liberalisation push

- Around 30 senior executives from South African insurers—including Discovery, Old Mutual, Santam, Absa Group and Sanlam—visited Ethiopia and predicted major insurers will enter …

May 15, 2026