Addis Ababa, March 6, 2026 (FMC) – The Ethiopian Securities Exchange (ESX) has launched a new mobile trading application dubbed “Neway,” aimed at expanding access to capital markets across the country.

The platform, ESX’s first web and mobile trading application, is also intended to foster a more conducive investment ecosystem and broaden participation in Ethiopia’s capital market by enabling nationwide mobile-based trading.

The application was developed through a collaboration between ESX and Infotech Private Limited.

Speaking at the launch event, Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH) and Board Chairperson of ESX, Brook Taye, described the introduction of the Neway platform as a significant milestone in the transformation of the sector, while commending the government’s unwavering commitment.

Addis Ababa, March 3, 2026 (FMC) — Ethiopia is seeking to secure more than 2.4 billion U.S. dollars in new investment commitments during the Fourth “Invest in Ethiopia 2026” Forum scheduled for March 26–27, 2026, in Addis Ababa.

The high-level forum, to be held at the Skylight Hotel under the theme “Ethiopia is Ready for Investment,” is being organized by the Ethiopian Investment Commission in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and international development partners.

At a joint press briefing held today, Chief Commissioner of EIC Zeleke Temesgen said Ethiopia currently ranks second in Africa in foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows, describing the forum as a central instrument in the country’s strategy to position itself among the continent’s leading investment destinations.

Addis Ababa, February 27, 2026 (FMC) — The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) has announced that Birr-paired cryptocurrency peer-to-peer (P2P) transactions remain illegal under the current regulatory framework and will continue to be prohibited until a formal regulatory structure is introduced.

In a public notice issued today, the central bank stated that the use of Birr-paired P2P arrangements on trading platforms, exchanges, or similar services and products is not permitted unless explicitly authorized by the National Bank of Ethiopia. It further emphasized that any form of Birr-denominated P2P trading or exchange involving cryptocurrencies is prohibited.

Addis Ababa, February 18, 2026 (FMC) – Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed commended the Arjo Coal Processing Factory as a key driver of Ethiopia’s industrial expansion, highlighting its strategic role in supporting domestic industries and fostering economic self-reliance.

Today, the Prime Minister visited Kelem Wollega, West Wollega, and East Wollega zones in Oromia regional state to review and observe the performance and outcomes of various development projects.

The tour included agricultural initiatives, irrigation and infrastructure projects, and industrial sites, providing an opportunity to assess firsthand the tangible benefits these projects are bringing to local communities and the broader regional economy.

Addis Ababa, February 17, 2026 (FMC) — The Ethiopia–Djibouti Joint Railway Commission (JRC) held its formal meeting in Djibouti on February 17, 2026, in accordance with the Bilateral Agreement on the Ethiopia–Djibouti Railway signed on December 8, 2016.

The meeting was co-chaired by Ethiopia’s Minister of Transport and Logistics, Alemu Sime, and Djibouti’s Minister of Infrastructure and Equipment, Hassan Houmed Ibrahim.

The Commission reviewed recent high-level discussions between the leaders of the two countries and reaffirmed the JRC as the principal mechanism for translating bilateral decisions into concrete operational outcomes.

Emphasizing the strategic importance of the Ethiopia–Djibouti Railway, the Commission noted its central role in strengthening economic integration, facilitating trade flows, and deepening connectivity between the two countries and the wider region.

Addis Ababa, February 11, 2026 (FMC) – The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE), the country’s central bank, has announced a broad relaxation of its Foreign Exchange Directive (FXD/01/2024) as part of reforms underway since the launch of Ethiopia’s comprehensive macroeconomic reform program in July 2024.

In a public notice issued today, the central bank said it has been progressively removing current account restrictions to support the development of Ethiopia’s foreign exchange market and has introduced further amendments to enhance market operations.

Under the revised measures, service exporters are now allowed to retain 100 percent of their export proceeds in foreign exchange retention accounts for an indefinite period.

Addis Ababa, February 9, 2026 (FMC) — Ethiopia’s ongoing macro-economic reforms are playing a critical role in restoring growth momentum and positioning the country for sustained expansion, National Bank of Ethiopia Governor Eyob Tekalign said.

Speaking at the Alula Conference for Emerging Market Economies, Eyob said Ethiopia has already surpassed its pre-pandemic economic growth levels and is on track to register double-digit growth in the 2025/26 fiscal year.

The conference, jointly organized by the Ministry of Finance of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the International Monetary Fund, brings together finance ministers, central bank governors, and senior leaders from the public and private sectors to deliberate on policy responses and long-term prospects for emerging market economies.

Addis Ababa, February 4, 2026 (FMC) — Ethiopia is accelerating trade and investment integration at regional and global levels, propelled by the country’s comprehensive homegrown economic reform agenda, Minister of Trade and Regional Integration Kassahun Gofe said on Wednesday.

The minister made the remarks while opening a five-day international trade fair at Meskel Square in Addis Ababa, which aims to promote Ethiopian products and strengthen market linkages.

Kassahun said the ongoing reforms—including the opening of key sectors to foreign investors, the simplification of business start-up and operational procedures, and revisions to the foreign exchange system—are playing a critical role in improving the overall business climate.

Addis Ababa, February 8, 2026 (FMC) — Ethiopia’s Kerchanshe Group and Brazil’s Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) have signed a cooperation agreement aimed at strengthening collaboration in agricultural technology, with a particular emphasis on coffee development and modern production systems.

The agreement was concluded a day after the historic Ethiopia–Brazil Trade and Investment Forum held in Addis Ababa, signaling concrete follow-up action to elevate bilateral economic relations to a new level.

The partnership will focus on coffee development activities in Debeka, Abaya Woreda, West Guji Zone of the Oromia region.

Under the agreement, the two institutions will jointly work on agricultural quality enhancement and control systems, capacity-building for workers, and other related areas of cooperation.

Addis Ababa, February 7, 2026 (FMC) – The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) has clarified guidance on the use of the Ethiopian Customs Commission’s indicative prices for selected import items, following public feedback and observed confusion in the banking sector.

According to the central bank, the indicative prices issued by the Customs Commission are intended solely as reference points to support consistency and transparency in the valuation of imports during foreign exchange processing. They are not fixed or mandatory prices, and should not be interpreted as exact valuations for individual transactions.

To address implementation concerns, NBE instructed all banks to:

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Addis Ababa, February 1, 2026 — Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed met today with Yvette Cooper, the United Kingdom’s Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, to discuss key bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary oversaw the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for Technical Cooperation on Public Investment and Asset Management under the Ethiopia Investment Advisory Facility.

They also witnessed the conclusion of a joint development agreement for two major power transmission projects: the Hurso–Aysha 400 kV Transmission Project and the Degehbur–Kebridehar 132 kV Transmission Project, the Prime Minister confirmed in a social media page after hosting the UK’s Foreign Secretary of State.

Addis Ababa, January 29, 2026 (FMC) — Ethiopia and Brazil today signed a Bilateral Market Access Protocol on trade in goods and services at the Headquarters of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva, marking an important milestone in Ethiopia’s accession process to the WTO.

The Protocol was signed by Ambassador Tsegab Kebebew, Permanent Representative of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the United Nations Office at Geneva and other International Organizations in Switzerland, and Ambassador Guilherme de Aguiar Patriota, Permanent Representative of the Federative Republic of Brazil to the WTO.

Addis Ababa, January 28, 2026 (FMC) — Ethiopia has launched its first Automated Interbank Foreign Exchange trading market, marking a major step in modernizing the country’s foreign exchange system and advancing ongoing macroeconomic and financial sector reforms.

The market, which became operational today through the Ethiopian Securities Exchange’s automated trading platform, introduces a transparent mechanism in which interbank foreign exchange rates are determined by real-time supply and demand. Authorities say the shift is expected to enhance competitiveness, deepen the foreign exchange market, and strengthen price discovery in the wholesale secondary FX market.