Your weekly dose of Ethiopia’s sharpest business, economic, and finance news.
Grab your buna and catch up on what’s moving Ethiopia’s markets and economy this week.
Aviation & Air Transport
Ethiopia & UAE Strengthen Air Transport Ties
At the 42nd ICAO session in Montreal, Ethiopia and the UAE agreed to upgrade their air transport arrangement to a more advanced cooperation framework. The move aims to improve connectivity, service delivery, and long-term aviation development.
ECAA Director General Yohannes Abera highlighted Ethiopia’s role as a founding ICAO member and regional aviation leader. The enhanced partnership is expected to increase flights and deepen bilateral relations.
Source: ENA
Fintech & Digital Payments
Tap-to-Phone Debuts in Ethiopia’s Ride-Hailing Market
Little, in partnership with Bank of Abyssinia and Visa, launched “Tap to Go,” Ethiopia’s first tap-to-phone payment service for ride-hailing. Passengers can now pay fares by tapping Visa cards on drivers’ phones—no cash or manual entry needed.
Visa’s Ethiopia Country Manager, Yared Endale, says the service boosts safety, speeds transactions, and supports the shift toward a cashless economy. Little operates in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Ghana.
Finance & Capital Markets
T-Bill Demand Surges as Yields Near 20%
Investors poured 44.1B birr into the latest NBE Treasury bill auction, oversubscribing the 34.8B birr offer by 27%. Short-term bills, especially 91-day papers, dominated demand.
Yields are high amid inflation and currency risk: 13–14.4% for short-term and 17.5–20.1% for one-year bills. Strong demand benefits banks but may crowd out private sector lending. Reforms like a new issuance calendar and secondary market aim to deepen liquidity. Read more
Ethiopia’s Interbank Money Market Tops 1 Trillion Birr
Less than a year after its launch in October 2024, Ethiopia’s interbank market has exceeded 1 trillion birr in transactions. Operated by the Ethiopian Securities Exchange, the platform allows commercial banks to borrow/lend short-term funds, aiding liquidity management.
The milestone reflects growing confidence in the banking sector and market-based monetary policy. Read more
Tony Blair Institute Proposes $100B Debt-Swap for Africa
TBI unveiled a $100B Debt Swap Facility to help African countries refinance expensive debt in exchange for governance reforms. African nations pay interest rates up to 5x higher than G7 countries. Ethiopia allocates 39% of recurrent spending to debt service this fiscal year.
The proposal links refinancing to PEFA framework progress and could help refinance up to 31% of Africa’s external debt, saving $60–100M annually. Read more
Capital & Commodity Markets
ECX Adds New Products & Expands Infrastructure
The Ethiopian Commodity Exchange (ECX) is adding cotton, opal, and leather to its platform, now listing 28 commodities. Sidama Bank became its 26th payment partner. Plans include a 36-story HQ to support modernization and regional trade.
ECX Launches Fully Online Trading Platform
ECX rolled out a fully digital trading system for remote agricultural commodity trading. Since April, it handled 27,830 metric tons worth 12.5B birr (~$206M).
The move improves efficiency, transparency, and market access, aligning with the “Digital Ethiopia” agenda. Read more
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Healthcare & Digitalization
Ethiopia Digitizes Healthcare in 130 Facilities
The Ministry of Health deployed electronic medical information systems across 130 institutions, advancing its 10-year digital health strategy. Early adopters report better data quality, shorter wait times, and streamlined operations.
Plans are underway to extend digital services to areas like payments, signaling a modernized and connected healthcare system. Read more
Banking & Gender Inclusion
Ethiopia’s Banks Face Pressure Under Gender Inclusion Scorecard
The NBE, supported by the World Bank, launched the Women’s Financial Inclusion Scorecard to track progress in:
- Women in leadership/staffing
- Women’s access to loans, savings, and services
- Product innovation for women
Of 30 banks assessed, Enat Bank is “Transformational,” while most others are mid-tier. Progress requires better data, targeted products, and stronger HR policies. Read more
Energy & Nuclear
Ethiopia, Russia Advance Nuclear Power Partnership
Ethiopia and Russia signed an action plan for nuclear power development, covering plant construction, infrastructure, and specialist training. The partnership aims to expand nuclear applications in health, agriculture, and regulatory safety, providing reliable, low-emission energy. Read more
Stay tuned for next week’s insights, where we unpack more sectoral trends and policy moves shaping Ethiopia’s future.
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Stay curious, stay caffeinated, — Written by the StockMarket.et Newsroom
