The Ethiopian Capital Market Authority (ECMA) has granted a Capital Market Service Provider (CMSP) license to United Capital Financial Services PLC, a subsidiary of Nigeria-based United Capital Group, making it the first foreign investment bank to establish a licensed subsidiary in Ethiopia. The license, issued on June 5, authorizes the company to operate under the
For fifty years, Ethiopia had no stock exchange. In 1974, private finance was nationalized. Banks became state instruments. Capital allocation was administrative. If you wanted funding, you went to a bank. If the bank didn’t lend, you didn’t grow. That was the system. Then, quietly at first, the architecture began to change. The creation of
Ethiopia and the United Kingdom have reaffirmed their long-standing partnership by signing three major cooperation agreements aimed at supporting economic reforms, strengthening public investment systems, and expanding green energy infrastructure. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) received Rt. Hon. Yvette Cooper, the UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, where the two sides
Ethiopia’s emerging capital market continues to gain momentum as Gadaa Securities Dealer S.C. and Awash Investment Bank have secured full trading membership at the Ethiopian Securities Exchange (ESX), expanding the roster of licensed market participants. ESX Chief Executive Officer Tilahun Esmael (PhD) described the current phase of the exchange as an “impeccable experience,” highlighting steady
The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) on Saturday launched the country’s first full Central Securities Depository (CSD) and introduced a new digital investor platform called Ts’ega, in a move aimed at modernising Ethiopia’s financial market infrastructure. The new CSD system will store and manage securities electronically, replacing manual processes and reducing the risk of errors.
Ethiopia’s Capital Market Authority (ECMA) has granted a Capital Market Service Provider licence to Awash Capital Investment Bank S.C., allowing it to operate as an investment bank within the Awash banking group, the regulator said on Wednesday. The approval includes licences for four appointed representatives and the endorsement of five board directors at Awash Capital,
Ethiopia’s nascent capital markets received a boost on Thursday as investment bank Wegagen Capital Investment Bank S.C. (WCIB) announced the successful completion of a prospectus for Hibret Bank S.C., a key step ahead of submitting the document to the Ethiopian Capital Market Authority (ECMA). In a statement, WCIB said it had been appointed by Hibret
The Ethiopian Capital Market Authority (ECMA) has officially issued a Capital Market Service Provider (CMSP) license to ProInvest Capital PLC, authorizing the firm to operate as a Securities Investment Advisor. With this approval, the total number of licensed CMSPs in Ethiopia rises to twelve (12) — a clear sign of the market’s rapid expansion and
Ethiopia’s Capital Market Authority (ECMA) has issued new Supervision Guidelines aimed at enhancing transparency, investor protection, and market integrity as the country moves to establish a modern capital market. The guidelines, dated October 2025, apply to a broad range of participants, including securities and derivatives exchanges, over-the-counter (OTC) markets, securities depository and clearing companies (SDCCs),
The Ethiopian Securities Exchange (ESX) is aiming to list nine companies within this year of operation, according to its CEO, who emphasized that priority sectors include banking and financial institutions. In the event that some firms are not yet ready for full exchange listing, the ESX plans to utilize the Over-the-Counter (OTC) market as an
When Ethiopia’s financial sector began its long-awaited reform journey, few areas held as much transformative promise as investment banking. The Enkopa Summit this year was more than a platform for financial dialogue — it was a window into a new era, one in which Ethiopia begins to move beyond traditional commercial banking and steps into
The Ethiopian Securities Exchange (ESX) has announced the appointment of its new Board of Directors, a move that underscores the country’s commitment to building a transparent and inclusive capital market. Dr. Brook Taye, a key figure in Ethiopia’s financial sector reform, has been named Chairperson of the Board, while Mr. Helaway Tadesse will serve as