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EconomyEthiopia is on track to see its poverty rate rise to 43% next year, reversing hard-won gains made over the past two decades, as conflict, drought and surging inflation strain living standards, according to newly released projections. Poverty, measured at the $3 per day international line (2021 PPP), climbed from 33% in 2016 to 39%
BusinessEthiopia has officially flipped the switch on continental free trade. In a landmark move, the country has kicked off exports under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), sending its first shipments of meat, fruits, coffee, oilseeds, and yes, khat to Kenya, Somalia, and South Africa. The launch wasn’t just ceremonial. Ethiopian Airlines Cargo was
Imagine this.Ethiopia’s economy has been one of Africa’s fastest-growing for over a decade, skylines rising, industrial parks buzzing, public projects transforming entire regions. Yet, behind the growth story lies a quieter, more puzzling one: the government’s tax revenue has been shrinking relative to the size of the economy. In 2014, for every 100 birr produced
Banking & FinanceOn a muted September afternoon in Addis Ababa, the announcement arrived without ceremony but carried the unmistakable weight of a turning point: Dr. Eyob Tekalign would assume the governorship of the National Bank of Ethiopia. There were no dismissals wrapped in drama, no emergency pressers or currency shocks—just a quiet passing of the baton from
Banking & FinanceEthiopia’s Ministry of Finance has released its Treasury bills auction schedule for the final quarter of 2025, outlining plans to issue 243.05 billion birr across four maturities between October and December. According to the calendar, auctions will be held every two weeks from Oct. 1 to Dec. 24, offering 28-day, 91-day, 182-day and 364-day bills.
Banking & FinanceEthiopia has officially begun restructuring talks with investors holding its $1 billion international bond, according to a source familiar with the process who spoke to Reuters on Monday. The discussions are being held in Paris, the source said, confirming an earlier Bloomberg report. An official from Ethiopia’s Ministry of Finance also confirmed that a government
Banking & FinanceEthiopia’s central bank kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged and modestly raised its credit growth target after a policy review that pointed to easing inflation but lingering risks. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE), meeting on Sept. 25, said it would maintain the National Bank Rate at 15% and
Banking & FinanceEthiopia’s interbank money market has surpassed 1 trillion birr (ETB) in total transaction volume less than a year after its launch, marking a major step in efforts to modernize the country’s tightly controlled financial system. The platform, launched in October 2024 and operated by the Ethiopian Securities Exchange (ESX), allows commercial banks to borrow and
EconomyEthiopia and Russia have formally agreed to an action plan for the development of a nuclear power plant in the East African nation. The agreement was solidified between Russia’s state-owned atomic energy corporation, Rosatom, and the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation. The signed action plan was exchanged by Rosatom’s CEO, Alexei Likhachev, and Ethiopian Foreign Minister
Banking & FinanceWomen in Ethiopia are still struggling to access finance, facing higher rejection rates and smaller loans than men. They are also underrepresented in the fast-growing digital payments sector, where they make up just 22% of users. The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE), with backing from the World Bank’s Africa Gender Innovation Lab, has rolled out
BusinessEthiopia, the birthplace of Arabica coffee, is raising the stakes in its most prized export industry. A sweeping new regulation, Directive 1106/2025 from the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority (ECTA) has sent shockwaves through the sector by dramatically increasing the minimum capital required for exporters and tightening quality controls. The move is billed as a
BusinessEthiopia has expanded its maritime fleet with the acquisition of six new ships, a move officials say will strengthen the country’s ability to manage critical imports and reduce reliance on foreign carriers. The vessels, procured by state-owned Ethiopian Shipping and Logistics (ESL), include two bulk carriers with a capacity of 62,000 tonnes each, nearly matching
