Ethiopia’s long-awaited securities exchange has officially launched trading, introducing a secondary market for government treasury bills (T-bills) in electronic form.

The milestone event was held at the Sheraton Addis Hotel, organized in collaboration with the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE), the Ethiopian Capital Market Authority (ECMA), and the Ethiopian Securities Exchange (ESX). It brought together senior financial policymakers, bankers, and market participants, who marked the launch by ringing the ceremonial opening bell.

The new platform enables T-bills—previously issued and settled in physical certificates—to be traded electronically, representing a major step toward modernizing Ethiopia’s financial infrastructure.

“This is a historic shift in how Ethiopia mobilizes domestic capital,” Finance Minister Ahmed Shide said at the event. He emphasized that electronic T-bill trading will offer investors better yield opportunities while equipping the government with more efficient tools for managing public finances.

National Bank Governor Mamo Mihretu highlighted that traditional funding sources such as taxes, loans, and grants have been inadequate to meet the country’s long-term development needs, underscoring the importance of deepening local capital markets.

Gadda Bank and Wegagen Bank, the first two institutions registered as ESX trading members, jointly rang the opening bell to mark the start of trading. Their involvement signals the central role commercial banks are expected to play in developing Ethiopia’s emerging securities market.