Business

Ethiopia’s Economic Milestone: Exporting More Goods Than Services for the First Time

On October 18, 2018, Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed announced a historic achievement for Ethiopia: for the first time, the country earned more from goods exports than from services. In a session of the House of People’s Representatives, he revealed that Ethiopia generated $8.3 billion from goods exports and $8.1 billion from services in the

October 28, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

Nib Bank Reports 2.9 Billion Birr Loss Following FX Market Unification Policy

Addis Ababa – Nib International Bank S.C. has reported a significant pre-tax loss of 2.9 billion birr for the fiscal year ended 2017, marking one of the largest annual losses recorded in Ethiopia’s private banking sector. In its latest annual report, the bank attributed the loss primarily to a foreign exchange (FX) revaluation adjustment of

October 27, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

How ICare Is Building an Inclusive E-Commerce Revolution in Ethiopia

By Addis InsightOctober 7, 2025 From TikTok to last-mile delivery, this Addis Ababa-based startup is transforming digital shopping and livelihoods in one of Africa’s most underserved markets. Helina was just a second-year Computer Science student when she noticed something broken in Ethiopia’s retail system: everyday essentials that are cheap and common elsewhere were scarce or

October 27, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

IMF Ranks Ethiopia Among Africa’s Most Indebted Nations

ADDIS ABABA — October 2025. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has released its latest list of Africa’s most indebted nations, placing Ethiopia seventh with outstanding obligations totaling $1.59 billion. At the top of the list is Egypt, burdened with about $6.89 billion in IMF debt, followed by Côte d’Ivoire and Kenya, each owing around $3

October 26, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

Ethiopia Capital Market Authority Tightens Exchange Oversight

ECMA Mandates Independent Oversight for Exchanges, Details Strict New Supervision and Reporting Framework ADDIS ABABA — The Ethiopian Capital Market Authority (ECMA) has released a comprehensive new supervision guideline, establishing a rigorous framework for oversight, compliance, and governance for all market participants. Dated October 2025, the directive introduces significant new requirements aimed at bolstering market

October 24, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

NBE Issues Directive to Prevent Use of Personal or Third-Party Accounts for Commercial Transactions

Addis Ababa, October 2025 — The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) has issued a stern directive to all banking institutions to crack down on business operations conducted through individuals’ personal or third-party accounts. The move is part of a broader effort to strengthen financial oversight and address risks linked to tax evasion and illicit finance.

October 24, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

CBE’s New Service Fees Spark Outcry as 50 Birr Charges Hit Small Transfers

ADDIS ABABA – The Commercial Bank of Ethiopia’s (CBE) newly adjusted service fees officially took effect today, and early customer reactions on social media show widespread frustration. Screenshots circulating online reveal that interbank transfers under ETB 1,000 are now subject to a flat ETB 50 charge, a rate many customers say is disproportionate to the

September 30, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

Abyssinia Bank Reports Record Growth: Total Assets Surge to 286.2 Billion Birr

Abyssinia Bank has reported its strongest financial performance to date, with total assets reaching 286.2 billion birr ($5.1 billion), marking a 28.8% year-on-year increase as of the close of the 2017 E.C. fiscal year (2024/25 Gregorian calendar). The bank’s annual general meeting—its 29th regular and 16th extraordinary shareholder assembly—highlighted sharp growth in income, profitability, and

September 30, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

Ethiopia Opens Restricted Eurobond Talks in Paris as Debt Restructuring Gains Momentum

Addis Ababa/Paris – Ethiopia has entered into confidential negotiations with a group of its international bondholders to restructure its $1 billion Eurobond, signaling the most serious progress yet in efforts to resolve its sovereign debt crisis. According to people familiar with the matter, the restricted talks – held under non-disclosure agreements – began in Paris

September 30, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

Visa, SantimPay to Deploy 20,000 POS Terminals in Ethiopia

Addis Ababa – Global payments giant Visa Inc. has entered into a strategic partnership with Ethiopian fintech firm SantimPay Financial Solutions S.A. to deploy 20,000 point-of-sale (POS) terminals across Ethiopia, a major step toward building out the nation’s underdeveloped digital payments infrastructure. The agreement—inked during the Visa Connector Ethiopia summit last week—marks Visa’s first financial

September 30, 2025 • By Addis Insight