As Ethiopia strides boldly into a new era of digital finance, industrial growth, and macroeconomic reform, the landscape is shifting faster than ever. This week’s roundup brings you the latest breakthroughs, from game-changing mobile money access to bold infrastructure projects, critical policy updates, and more. Let’s dive in!
Mobile Money & Digital Finance
M-Pesa Lite Breaks Barriers Ethiopia just unlocked a game-changer for mobile money with the launch of M-Pesa Lite. Now, whether you’re on Safaricom or Ethio Telecom, you can seamlessly send and receive money across networks. This cross-network interoperability is more than a tech upgrade — it’s a giant leap for financial inclusion, connecting more Ethiopians to the digital economy and closing the banking gap. Say hello to easier, smarter payments. Source: Addis Insight
Stricter Digital Payment Rules NBE’s Directive No. ONPS/10/2025 is shaking up fintech:
- Minimum capital for digital payment firms now 100 million Birr
- Two-factor authentication mandatory for transactions above 5,000 Birr
- Ownership caps at 40% per entity (with some exceptions)
- Mandatory interoperability — no more closed wallets!
The move boosts competition, security, and inclusion in Ethiopia’s booming digital finance sector. Read here
Macroeconomics & Financial Markets
IMF Review: Ethiopia on Track Good news on the reform front: the IMF Board is set to review Ethiopia’s $3.4 billion program this summer. If all goes as planned, a June nod could unlock $265 million in fresh funding — critical fuel for ongoing macro reforms and debt restructuring under the G20 Common Framework. Bondholder talks are just around the corner.
New Forex Market Moves The National Bank of Ethiopia has unveiled fresh forex reforms starting May 20, shaking up the game for traders and businesses alike:
- Import advance limits jump from $5,000 to $50,000 per transaction
- Travel allowances boost to $10,000 (personal) and $15,000 (business)
- Bank fees capped at 4% on FX purchases starting May 26
This turbocharges market flexibility and aligns Ethiopia’s FX scene with global standards — a solid win for private sector growth. Read here
CBE Tweaks Exchange Rate After 143 days of stability, CBE nudged the birr from 124/126 to 128/130 per USD on May 24 — a 4 Birr jump. Currency watchers, take note. Track everything easily here
Forex Auction: Birr Slides Further In the latest $50 million forex auction, the birr averaged 133.17/USD, continuing a slow slide. Meanwhile, the parallel market rate jumped above 152 birr/USD, widening the gap to over 14%. Currency pressure and market fragmentation remain challenges despite ongoing adjustments.
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Industry & Infrastructure
MIDROC’s Manufacturing Milestone MIDROC Investment Group has rolled out Ethiopia’s very first Coated Calcium Carbonate Plant in Awash 7 Kilo, Afar Region. With 18,000 tons annual capacity, this factory feeds industries from plastics to pharmaceuticals and construction. Operating now at 15% capacity, it aims for full throttle in 3 years, poised to save the nation over $500 million in import costs every year. Plus, with 97% local raw materials, it’s a big win for homegrown manufacturing and jobs.
EEP’s Sky-High Ambition Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP) has launched a $445 million bid for a 62-story HQ in Addis Ababa’s Financial Center — potentially the tallest tower in the region at 327.5 meters. Managed by Dar Al-Handasah, this mega-project is set to reshape the skyline within four years.
Government & Policy Updates
Private Sector Joins Ag Extension Services For the first time, private firms, NGOs, and cooperatives can provide agricultural extension services — a role previously exclusive to government. The Council of Ministers approved the draft, aiming to boost efficiency and sustainability in farming, with parliament’s nod next.
Social & Technology
Ethiopia’s Digital ID Revolution Ethiopia is sprinting ahead with its Fayda digital ID, aiming to register 100 million citizens by 2027. At the ID4Africa forum, PM Abiy Ahmed spotlighted Fayda as essential public infrastructure — linking millions to finance, healthcare, education, and social protection. Already 15 million registered and counting, Fayda powers 55 integrated services, balancing privacy with innovation. This program is fast becoming Africa’s digital transformation blueprint. Read here
Mobile Gender Gap Shrinks — But Smartphones Lag Ethiopia has cut the mobile ownership gender gap from 27% to 24%, with 65% of women now owning phones. Yet, only 6% of women own smartphones compared to 18% of men, keeping digital inclusion a work in progress. Affordability and digital literacy are still the main hurdles. Source: Birrmetrics
Housing & Social Development
CBE Commits Big to Housing The Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) just pledged 120 billion Birr in low-interest loans for housing over 41,000 government employees. Teachers lead the priority list. Partnering with Addis Ababa City, this 20-year initiative aims to boost affordable housing fast. Read here
🎭 TikTok, Tesla & the Trillion Birr Question: What Moves Markets?
From Wall Street to Addis Ababa, markets today are driven as much by memes and emotions as by macroeconomic metrics. Remember when Elon Musk’s “Gamestonk!!” tweet sent GameStop soaring 157% in a day? That kind of market drama is no longer rare—social media is now a major market mover.
As Ethiopia’s capital market takes off with the launch of the Ethiopian Securities Exchange (ESX), it’s entering a world where financial TikToks, Reddit rallies, and finfluencers influence behavior as much as interest rates and earnings reports.
Even giants like Tesla thrive on storytelling more than spreadsheets—its $1T valuation was built on dreams, not just deliveries. Meanwhile, solid performers like Toyota stay steady but low-key.
For Ethiopia, the early focus remains on fundamentals. But as retail investors join the party, market sentiment and social signals could play an increasing role. The trillion birr question is no longer just what moves markets—but who.
Next Week, we will be back with Monday Breakfast Stories!
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Stay curious, stay caffeinated ☕️
And as always, crush your week ahead! 🚀
— Written by the StockMarket.et Newsroom
Byeee 🙂
