Addis Ababa will host a significant Belgian Luxembourgish Economic Mission from June 1-4, 2025, organized by CBL-ACP in partnership with the Embassies of Belgium, Luxembourg, and Ethiopia, the European Chamber, the Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce, and the Ethiopian Investment Commission. This high-level 4-day mission aims to foster stronger economic ties between Ethiopia and key European business leaders, presenting unparalleled opportunities for local and international businesses to engage with top Ethiopian institutions and policymakers.

Ethiopia, with its rapidly growing economy and over 120 million people, is becoming one of Africa’s most attractive business destinations. The country is undergoing bold reforms and investing heavily in infrastructure, positioning itself as a prime location for foreign investment. With currency liberalization and the launch of the Ethiopian Securities Exchange, Ethiopia is opening up like never before. The country’s dynamic growth is supported by massive infrastructure upgrades, an increasingly open banking sector, and exciting potential in agriculture, healthcare, renewable energy, and tourism, among other sectors.

For those who understand the timing, the mission offers a gateway to strategic growth in one of Africa’s most promising markets. Participants will gain privileged access to B2B and B2G meetings, sector-specific insights, and opportunities to network with decision-makers from both the public and private sectors. This mission also includes company and site visits to industrial zones and key infrastructure projects, allowing participants to better understand the on-the-ground dynamics of the Ethiopian market.

Ethiopia has lost one of its most influential financial architects. Leikun Berhanu, whose name became synonymous with leadership across both state and private banking institutions, has died. His career, stretching over five decades, defined key moments in the country’s financial transformation.

He first emerged in the 1970s as President of the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, taking the helm of the nation’s largest bank during a time of immense national change. His steady hand helped the institution navigate political upheavals and economic uncertainty, preserving public trust in the formal banking system when few could. It was a time when Ethiopia’s financial infrastructure required both resilience and bold decision-making—traits Leikun demonstrated early on.

Following the political shift of the early 1990s, Leikun was called to serve in one of the country’s most critical roles. As Governor of the National Bank of Ethiopia from 1991 to 1995, he stood at the center of Ethiopia’s economic reorientation. The nation was shifting from a command economy to a more open, market-guided structure. During this fragile and foundational period, he led efforts to modernize banking regulation, stabilize currency policy, and oversee the emergence of new private financial players. His time at the central bank helped usher in the early foundations of the banking landscape as we know it today.

In the early 2000s, he transitioned into the private sector and took charge of Awash Bank, one of the country’s earliest private banks. His leadership there marked another chapter of innovation and institutional growth. Over 14 years, Leikun expanded the bank’s reach and relevance, turning Awash into a dominant force in the market. His presence brought credibility to a sector still earning its place in a state-heavy economy.

He also held management roles at Addis Ababa Bank, a private institution founded during the reign of Emperor Haile Selassie I. Additionally, he served as the Chief Operating Officer of the Agricultural Crops Market Organization and held managerial positions in the transport and communication sectors, according to The Reporter.

As a mark of enduring respect, the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia honored his legacy by naming one of its all-women-operated branches after him—an acknowledgment not only of his past leadership, but of the values of trust and innovation he embodied.

The Addis Ababa City Administration has redefined the scope of informal businesses, announcing that traders with capital below ETB 200,000 will now be classified under the “e-informal” business category.

This new directive outlined by Habiba Mohammed, Head of the City’s Trade Bureau represents a significant policy shift. Previously, under a 2017 directive, only traders with capital under ETB 10,000 fell into the e-informal classification. 

The revised threshold, now twenty times higher, is part of a broader effort to bring more micro-businesses into a structured framework.

E-informal businesses are defined as those lacking permanent business premises, operating with annually renewable licenses, and not fully integrated into the tax system. “The goal is to better monitor and support low-capital traders while also paving a pathway into the formal economy,” said Habiba.

The new regulation also imposes a two-year operational limit for traders classified under the e-informal category. Once their capital reaches ETB 200,000, they are required to transition to the formal business system and comply with associated regulations, including permanent licensing and tax registration.

Habiba further explained that the e-informal business structure is divided into two types: those operating from fixed locations and mobile vendors working on city streets. For the latter group, specific working days and hours will now be enforced to manage public space usage more effectively.

This regulatory update comes as part of the city’s broader initiative to modernize its business environment, expand the tax base, and provide tailored support to the informal sector, which plays a vital role in job creation and urban economic activity.

The Ethiopian Textile and Garment Manufacturers Association has announced that more than half of Ethiopia’s domestic clothing market is now dominated by illegally imported second-hand garments, posing a serious threat to local textile manufacturers and the broader economy, according to Ahadu.

The association reports that 53 percent of the local apparel market is currently being flooded by second-hand clothes smuggled into the country through informal channels.

These garments, often sold at lower prices, are rapidly outcompeting locally made products and undermining the viability of domestic manufacturers.
Speaking to Ahadu, Goshu Negash, President of the Association, said that the influx of contraband second-hand clothing is disrupting the market at an alarming scale.

“These products now dominate more than half of the market, and that has devastating consequences for legal producers and traders,” said Goshu. “This activity doesn’t only impact businesses—it’s harming the national economy.”
The association warned that businesses which operate legally—paying taxes, complying with labor regulations, and creating employment opportunities—are increasingly being pushed out of the market.

Many domestic producers are reportedly being forced to shut down due to the unfair competition posed by smuggled goods. In response, the association is calling on the government to intervene urgently. It has urged authorities to crack down on illegal imports and offer more robust support for local textile and garment manufacturers. Without decisive action, the association warns, the country’s textile sector could face long-term decline.

“The current market environment does not provide hope for legal producers,” said Goshu. “We need stronger policy enforcement and targeted support to ensure Ethiopia’s textile industry can survive and grow.”

The association is also advocating for enhanced promotion of locally manufactured products, alongside better access to finance and technology for domestic players.

In its view, revitalizing Ethiopia’s textile sector requires a coordinated national effort that balances regulation with sustainable support for homegrown enterprises.