EBR – Ethiopian Business Review

EBR_News Apr 15, 2026

By Betelhem Yetagesu

Russian e-commerce powerhouse Wildberries has officially launched its pilot operations in Ethiopia, marking the platform’s first major entry into the African market and positioning the country as a strategic digital trade hub for the continent. The move, which began with a soft launch in April, is part of a broader strategy to support Ethiopia’s “Digital Ethiopia 2030” agenda while creating new export channels for local producers of coffee, textiles, leather goods, and handicrafts.

The development follows a high-level partnership agreement signed in November 2025 between Wildberries and Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH), the country’s sovereign wealth fund managing over USD 150 billion in assets. The memorandum outlined joint efforts to adapt Wildberries’ platform to local conditions and to develop logistics and digital infrastructure. Speaking at a tech conference in Moscow, Wildberries founder Tatyana Kim confirmed that Ethiopian products are now available on the platform, with Ethiopian coffee already a well-known brand in Russia.

Dear Customers,

In accordance with the new direction given from National Bank of Ethiopia, all Dashen Bank customers are required to harmonize their Fayda Digital ID with their bank information to access banking services and continue operating their existing accounts.

Therefore, we kindly request you to bring your 16-digit Fayda Identification Number (FAN) to your nearest Dashen Bank branch to link it with your bank account. You can also use the online link (https://dashensuperapp.com/dashen-fayda). Furthermore, Dashen Bank Super App is another option.

The deadline is April 8.

Thank you for your cooper

Dashen Bank – Always One Step Ahead!!

By Betegbar Yaregal– December 19, 2025

Ethiopis Tafara, IFC’s regional Vice President for Africa, has been named to New African magazine’s prestigious ‘100 Most Influential Africans’ list for 2025.

The US national of Ethiopian origin is recognized for his role in global finance and development, representing a significant acknowledgment for the diaspora.

This year’s compilation features 21 individuals in the Business and Finance category, making it the largest segment.

The list includes both established figures and influential newcomers such as George Elombi, the newly appointed President of Afreximbank, and Hazem Ben-Gacem, the Tunisian investor known for scaling global ventures.

Technology also features strongly, with eight entries focused on pioneers developing African-centric artificial intelligence solutions, emphasizing local ownership and problem-solving.

In a recent interview with EBR, Ethiopis reflected on the changes in Addis Ababa. He shared, “My earliest memory of the city is walking home from St. Joseph School. My experiences from ages 11 to 16 are particularly vivid, as I witnessed dramatic city changes.

”Even compared to my 2021 visit, the development today shows significant and ongoing progress. It gives a very positive image of the country”, he added

Born in Ethiopia and raised in Ethiopia and Italy, Tafara holds a JD from Georgetown University Law Center and an AB from Princeton University.

He is fluent in Amharic, French, Italian, Spanish, and English. His work at the IFC, the private sector arm of the World Bank, involves financing critical development projects across Africa, with significant engagement in Ethiopia’s economic landscape.

In total, the list represents 32 African nations, featuring 64 men and 36 women. Nigeria leads with 21 entries, followed by South Africa with 10, and Kenya and Ghana with seven each.

According to New African Editor Anver Versi, the list reflects a trend of Africans “reclaiming the African narrative” across fields from AI ethics to the arts during a time of global uncertainty.

The Missing Pieces in Addis Ababa’s Urban Transformation

In February 2024, Addis Ababa embarked on an ambitious urban transformation: the Corridor Development Project. With a staggering budget of 43 billion Birr, this initiative was intended to reshape Ethiopia’s capital, creating a dynamic, modern metropolis that would appeal to residents and tourists. The project aims to redesign the cityscape with new roads, pedestrian walkways, bike lanes, and green spaces, all part of a broader vision for a socially and economically thriving urban environment.

On December 11, 2023, Ethiopia missed a USD33 million interest payment on its December 2024 dollar bond, marking the East African nation’s latest defaulter by emerging-market sovereigns and raising concerns about its once-promising economic future. This significant default, the first for Ethiopia after years of rapid economic growth, sent a shockwave through the international financial community and threatened to hinder the country’s future development prospects.

In a move marked by strategic foresight and geopolitical complexity, Ethiopia recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Somaliland, paving the way to realising Ethiopia’s aspiration to secure access to the Red Sea. This significant development requires a nuanced understanding of the current status of de facto states, the geopolitical centres of the world, and the intricate dynamics of the Horn of Africa.

On December 11, 2023, Ethiopia missed a USD33 million interest payment on its December 2024 dollar bond, marking the East African nation’s latest defaulter by emerging-market sovereigns and raising concerns about its once-promising economic future. This significant default, the first for Ethiopia after years of rapid economic growth, sent a shockwave through the international financial community and threatened to hinder the country’s future development prospects.

Seizing the Inflation Battle Opportunity

Ethiopia’s central bank recently implemented a policy to cap credit lending rates at 14Pct to combat inflation. While this move may appear challenging, it presents an opportunity for Ethiopian banks to strengthen their financial institutions, contribute to economic stability, and enhance long-term competitiveness. Key to this transformation is the adoption of robust credit risk management frameworks, a disciplined focus on enterprise risk management, adherence to international standards, and active cost management across the entire organization, argues Michael Okwusogu, Managing Partner and Head of Financial Services at Value X Partners

What Explains the Sky-High Prices?

In the grand scheme of life, they say your first job is like your first love – a rollercoaster ride filled with thrills, spills, and a hint of naivety. My journey into the world of real estate in Addis Ababa was no exception. Picture it: a fresh graduate architect stepping into the bustling world of property development when nobody knew what real estate even meant! It was like explaining the concept of sushi to a room full of cows.

Examining the Ramifications of Not Opening New Public Posts

When the Ethiopian government announced its intention of not opening new posts in the civil service in the current fiscal year, the news shocked students and graduates. For many years, employment in the public sector has guaranteed a stable life. In a changing scenario now, public sector employment is no longer a guarantee for a decent income and regular life. In recent years, the salary and benefits of public sector employees have been minimal. At the same time, the working environment compromises professional freedom as more public sector roles have increasingly become political. That’s because successive governments used the civil service to reward their loyal supporters by offering employment.

For this reason, the civil service is already crowdedly staffed, many of whom need to be more skilled. It’s one of the reasons why the current government found it difficult to institute an efficient and corruption-free civil service. Like its predecessor, it, too, wanted to reward some of its loyal supporters by granting them employment in the earlier days of its ascendancy. However, due to a solid fiscal discipline needed to curb inflation, the government announced its intention of not opening any new posts last July. EBR’s Nejat Mohammed explores the ramifications of this policy.

Russian E-Commerce Giant Wildberries Launches Ethiopian Pilot, Aiming to Connect Local SMEs to Global Market

Harmonize your Bank Account with Fayida

Ethiopis Tafara Named Among Africa’s 100 Most Influential for 2025

Transparency, Accountability

The Missing Pieces in Addis Ababa’s Urban Transformation

Ethiopia’s Eurobond dilemma, the ripples of non-payment

Charting New Waters Ethiopia’s Bold Leap towards a Strategic Alliance with Somaliland

Ethiopia’s Eurobond Dilemma, the Ripples of Non-Payment

Reinventing Ethiopian Banks

Seizing the Inflation Battle Opportunity

Addis Ababa’s Real Estate Odyssey

What Explains the Sky-High Prices?

Boosting Youth Employability

Examining the Ramifications of Not Opening New Public Posts