Business

Ethiopia’s First Securities Exchange Begins Trading

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

July 12, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

Ethiopia Proposes Raising Top Income Tax Threshold to 14,000 Birr

A new bill tabled in Ethiopia’s House of People’s Representatives aims to increase the threshold for the highest income tax rate, moving the point at which the 35 percent tax applies from 10,900 birr to 14,000 birr. The current top rate and its threshold were established by the 2008 Income Tax Proclamation, which set the 35 percent

July 9, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

Ethiopia’s Securities Exchange Set to Begin Official Trading This Week

Ethiopia’s much-anticipated Securities Exchange (ESX) is poised to launch full-scale trading next week, marking a watershed moment in the country’s financial modernization journey. This milestone follows successful pilot transactions conducted just two weeks ago, paving the way for a fully operational, regulated securities market that promises to reshape investment and economic growth in Africa’s second-most-populous

July 7, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

CBE Achieves Historic ETB 1.69 Trillion in Total Deposits, Fueling Confidence in Ethiopia’s Banking Sector

The Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE), the country’s largest state-owned bank, announced on Tuesday that it has reached a record-breaking ETB 1.69 trillion in total deposits, marking an unprecedented milestone in the history of Ethiopia’s banking industry. The figure represents a remarkable increase of over ETB 515 billion during the 2024/25 fiscal year alone—an annual

July 2, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

Safaricom Ethiopia’s Active Customer Base Surpasses 10 Million

Addis Ababa, June 24, 2017 — Safaricom Ethiopia has announced that its 90-day active subscriber base has reached 10 million customers nationwide, marking a significant milestone nearly four years after receiving its telecommunications license. Wim Vanhelleputte, CEO of Safaricom Ethiopia, shared the update during a press briefing, highlighting the company’s substantial contribution to Ethiopia’s telecom

July 1, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

National Bank of Ethiopia Lifts Mandatory Bond Purchase Requirement for Commercial Banks

Addis Ababa – In a significant shift in monetary policy, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) has decided to lift the directive that required all commercial banks to purchase long-term government bonds. The decision was announced following the MPC’s third meeting of the fiscal year on June 23, 2017

June 30, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

Ethiopia Starts Supplying Electricity to Tanzania via Kenya

Ethiopia has begun exporting electricity to Tanzania for the first time, delivering power through Kenya’s high-voltage transmission network in a successful pilot that marks a milestone in regional energy trade. Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) Managing Director announced on social media that the trial transmitted power from Ethiopia along Kenya’s 400kV Suswa–Isinya line to the

June 30, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

Ethiopia Opens Banking Sector to Foreign Investors Starting Today

Ethiopia Opens Banking Sector to Foreign Investors in Landmark Reform By Addis Insight Business Desk | June 25, 2025 ADDIS ABABA — Ethiopia has officially opened its banking sector to foreign investors for the first time, marking a historic shift in the country’s tightly regulated financial landscape. The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) released Directive

June 25, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

Ethiopian Startup Better Auth Raises $5M to Democratize Secure Authentication

Beyond the Valley: Better Auth Raises $5M to Democratize Authentication for the World June 25, 2025 Just three months after Addis Insight reported on their remarkable journey from Ethiopia to Silicon Valley, the story of Better Auth has taken yet another extraordinary turn. The startup—founded by Bereket Engida and Kinfe Michael Tariku—has officially closed a

June 25, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

Ethiopia Mandates Federal Agencies to Accept All Licensed Digital Payments

Addis Ababa, June 2025 — Ethiopia’s Ministry of Finance has formalized Directive No. 1069/2025, requiring all federal public institutions—from tax offices to utility providers—to accept payments via any licensed payment service provider, including: These must be licensed by the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) (mofed.gov.et, africanenda.org, mfw4a.org). Key Provisions: Strategic Context & Sector Alignment Implications for

June 24, 2025 • By Addis Insight