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Ethiopia recently hosted the Finance Forum 2025, a two-day event organized by the National Bank of Ethiopia from May 15 to 16 in Addis Ababa. The forum brought together a diverse group of participants, including policymakers, financial institutions, private sector leaders, development partners, academics, civil society representatives, and members of the Ethiopian diaspora, to discuss the future of the country’s financial sector.

The Forum provided an important platform for aligning on the future of Ethiopia’s financial system, promoting collaboration, and exploring investment opportunities. Discussions focused on how Ethiopia can further strengthen its financial infrastructure to foster inclusive growth and expand access to finance.

Among the participating organizations was the Mastercard Foundation, which shared insights from its ongoing efforts to support youth- and women-led micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across Ethiopia. Through partnerships with financial institutions and fintech companies, the Foundation works to increase access to finance through the development of digital lending models and tailored financial products.

Representatives from programs supported by the Foundation took part in the Forum to share their experiences. These programs aim to reach underserved groups—particularly women, youth, people with disabilities, and rural populations—with financial tools and business development services.

One such initiative is SAFEE (Sustainable Access to Finance to Enable Entrepreneurship), a partnership between Mastercard Foundation and Kifiya Financial Technologies. SAFEE is designed to reach 2.18 million young people with digital financial services, complemented by financial literacy training and credit access mechanisms.

Woyneshet Niguse Mekonen, a 33-year-old entrepreneur from Majete, was among the beneficiaries who shared their story. Supported by SAFEE and a Michu loan, she established Nitsuh Pyjama and Comfort, transitioning from informal food sales to a formal sleepwear business. She now operates a small boutique sourcing materials from Merkato and earning a stable income.

Another program participant, Yordanos Hailmaryam, who has run a poultry business since 2017, spoke about her involvement in the MESMER program—a result of the partnership between the Mastercard Foundation and First Consult. MESMER supports MSMEs through access to finance, business development services, and psychosocial support, with a focus on youth employment and inclusive growth.
After completing digital business development training, Yordanos secured a loan that enabled her to expand her operations, hire additional staff, and enhance her service delivery. Her team grew from 11 to 14 employees, her monthly revenue increased from ETB 70,000 to ETB 100,000, and her personal savings through Equb rose from ETB 5,000 to ETB 8,000.

These examples were part of broader discussions at the Forum, which emphasized the importance of inclusive financial systems in supporting small businesses and entrepreneurship. Many speakers noted that tailored financial services—especially those that incorporate digital tools—can play a role in improving economic participation and resilience.

As Finance Forum 2025 concluded, it reaffirmed the importance of building an inclusive financial system that supports the aspirations of young people, women, and people with disabilities. The Mastercard Foundation remains committed to working with a range of stakeholders to create an enabling environment for meaningful, sustained change in Ethiopia’s financial sector.

 


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YouCan, a digital waste management platform, has gained momentum across African communities by supporting more efficient waste segregation and recycling practices. The platform is helping to address critical challenges facing countries like Ethiopia, where infrastructure gaps, inconsistent waste sorting, and limited public engagement have long hindered effective waste management.

Waste management remains a significant environmental challenge in Africa, where rapid urbanization and population growth have strained existing systems. Many cities struggle with poor collection services, illegal dumping, and contamination of recyclable materials, which undermines recycling efforts and increases environmental and public health risks.

Effective segregation of waste at the source is vital for improving recycling outcomes, yet it remains inconsistent or absent in many regions. Contaminated waste hampers recycling plants’ ability to recover valuable materials, leading to increased costs and reduced effectiveness.

YouCan aims to tackle these problems by offering a simple, user-friendly mobile platform that guides households, businesses, and communities on proper waste segregation. The app provides real-time advice and instructions, making it easier for users to separate recyclable materials correctly.

By digitizing the segregation process, YouCan helps reduce contamination rates and supports recycling facilities in receiving cleaner, more valuable materials. This efficiency improvement is crucial as many recycling plants in African cities face challenges due to mixed and improperly sorted waste streams.

The platform also integrates data analytics, allowing governments and waste management companies to monitor recycling rates, community participation, and waste patterns. This information helps local authorities optimize resource allocation and improve service delivery, which can strengthen waste management systems over time.

In many African countries, poor waste management contributes to growing environmental problems such as landfill overflow, illegal dumping, and pollution. YouCan’s approach promotes a circular economy mindset, encouraging communities to view waste as a resource rather than a burden.

The environmental benefits of improved recycling include reduced pollution, conservation of natural resources, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Economically, effective recycling creates jobs in collection, sorting, and processing, while supporting local businesses seeking sustainable waste solutions.

YouCan’s digital platform is scalable and adaptable, enabling it to be introduced in various communities and cities with different levels of infrastructure. Its ability to connect waste producers with collectors through technology improves transparency and operational efficiency within the waste management sector.

As urban populations continue to grow across Africa, the demand for modern, data-driven solutions to waste management is becoming more urgent. Platforms like YouCan offer practical tools for transforming the sector and promoting long-term sustainability.

While the challenges of waste management in Africa are complex, initiatives like YouCan demonstrate the potential of technology to improve practices and foster environmental stewardship at the community level. As more communities adopt digital solutions, they contribute to broader efforts to reduce waste, conserve resources, and promote sustainable urban development.

 


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Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH) has appointed three distinguished leaders to its Board of Directors: Dr. Fitsum Assefa, Minister of Planning and Development; Hanna Arayaselassie, Minister of Justice; and Dr. Zeleke Temesgen, Commissioner of the Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC).

Their collective experience is poised to drive forward Ethiopia’s ambitious agenda of strategic investments and dynamic portfolio management—key pillars for sustainable economic growth.

As EIH continues to play a pivotal role in shaping the country’s investment landscape, the inclusion of these influential figures will enhance its capacity to mobilize resources, foster innovation, and unlock new opportunities that align with Ethiopia’s long-term development goals.

 


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The world’s third-largest automaker, China’s Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC Group), has entered talks with Ethiopian authorities about the feasibility of producing EVs in the country.

During a high-level meeting held in Addis Ababa, GAC Group Chairman Feng Xingya and his delegation held discussions with Ethiopia’s Minister of Transport and Logistics, Alemu Sime (PhD). The two parties explored potential collaboration areas in green automotive manufacturing and technological investment, signaling the beginning of what could be a game-changing industrial partnership.

The discussion aligns with Ethiopia’s growing ambition to position itself as a hub for electric mobility in Africa. The government has already banned the import of fossil-fueled vehicles, allowing only electric cars into the country—a bold policy shift that opens doors for large-scale manufacturing and assembly.

The government’s commitment goes beyond regulation. Speaking at a recent launch event, the State Minister of Transport and Logistics, Bareo Hassen, announced that Ethiopia will offer comprehensive support to EV suppliers and investors. This includes facilitating land access, customs clearance, and building nationwide EV charging infrastructure.

Huajian Industry, which has previously invested in Ethiopia’s manufacturing sector, has launched a program to introduce a new EV model. The program is expected to enable the company to supply products to GAC Group, further signaling potential collaboration within the sector.

Speaking at the event, Bareo noted that the arrival of such companies enhances trade relations between Ethiopia and China. He emphasized that the government would continue supporting the growth of the electric vehicle sector, including expanding the construction of EV charging stations across the country.

“Products introduced to the market are suitable for our climate,” said the Minister, underlining the importance of aligning innovation with local needs.

Ethiopia is also rolling out large-scale infrastructure to support the growing EV population. Charging stations are under construction across major highways and cities, laying the groundwork for a modern, sustainable transport system.

 


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Cooperative Bank of Oromia (Coopbank) has achieved what its CEO described as an “unbelievable” milestone in expanding women’s access to finance, disbursing ETB 24.5 billion to 1.47 million loan accounts, 80% of which are held by women.

The announcement was made by CEO Derbie Asfaw during a panel discussion under the theme “Promoting Women’s Access to Finance” at the Ethiopia Finance Forum 2025, an event that brought together key stakeholders in the financial sector to address gender disparities and promote inclusive growth.

A major contributor to this achievement is Coopbank’s women-focused loan platform, Michu Kiya, which was launched just eight months ago. Since its introduction, the platform has disbursed ETB 7.3 billion to over one million accounts, signaling rapid uptake and a significant demand for targeted financial services among women.

“This is unbelievable for me,” said Derbie. “At Coopbank, we believe innovation isn’t just a tech solution, and financial inclusion isn’t a compliance box—both are part of our purpose to empower communities and transform lives.”

The milestone comes as Coopbank celebrates 20 years of operation, having grown into a ETB 189.4 billion financial institution. Over two decades, the bank has carved out a strong reputation for inclusive banking, now serving 17 million customers across Ethiopia.

 


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The Ethiopian Agricultural Works Corporation has announced that nearly 12 million quintals of fertilizer have already arrived at the port of Djibouti. Of this, more than 11.2 million quintals have been imported and distributed to farmers and semi-pastoralist communities across the country.

According to the Corporation, the latest shipment—carrying 550,000 quintals of Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) fertilizer—docked at the port of Djibouti on the morning of May 10, 2025. The delivery is part of Ethiopia’s broader fertilizer procurement plan for the upcoming crop season, which targets the import of 24 million quintals of fertilizer sourced through international competitive bidding.

The Corporation reported that, as of May 10, a total of 11,964,181 quintals of fertilizer have arrived at the port, with 11,228,142 quintals already cleared and distributed via agricultural cooperatives. This early delivery underscores the government’s commitment to addressing the timely availability of inputs critical to Ethiopia’s predominantly agrarian economy.

Since its establishment, the Ethiopian Agricultural Works Corporation has overseen fertilizer imports in line with national demand assessments conducted annually by the Ministry of Agriculture. The process involves strategic international procurement to ensure that adequate supplies reach farming communities ahead of peak planting periods.


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Three of the country’s state-owned financial institutions—the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE), the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE), and the Development Bank of Ethiopia (DBE) have jointly launched the Financial Sector Strengthening Project (FSSP), a USD700 million initiative financed by the World Bank.

The project’s first disbursement, amounting to USD250 million, was transferred today to the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia , signaling the operational kickoff of the reform agenda.

Announced during the Ethiopia Finance Forum, the FSSP is aimed at enhancing the resilience, inclusiveness, and functionality of Ethiopia’s financial sector. It focuses on regulatory reform, institutional capacity building, and expanding access to finance—particularly for underserved communities and high-impact sectors such as agriculture and manufacturing.

 


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The Ethiopia Finance Forum 2025 officially opened yesterday at the Museum of Art and Science in Addis Ababa, gathering over 150 financial institutions, senior policymakers, and international experts to deliberate on the future of Ethiopia’s financial landscape.

During a high-profile panel on “Financial Inclusion and Deepening: Progress So Far and Priorities Ahead,” Abe Sano, President and CEO of the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE), offered a frank assessment of the bank’s efforts to broaden access to finance.

“Access to finance is something we should have done more about—especially for underserved communities,” Sano admitted. “We have long focused on empowering state-owned enterprises and major business clients, but we recognize the need to do more for individuals and MSMEs.” The CBE has yet to establish a presence in 270 woredas across the country.

Abe emphasized that while CBE currently serves about 140,000 personal borrowers and only 10,000 under commercial finance, the bank has financed over 782,000 customers with ETB 8.8 billion through digital channels. He added that CBE is not detached from digital transformation efforts like Telebirr: “We’re financiers behind those platforms as well.” 

Notably, Abe highlighted the bank’s recent digital financing initiative for farmers, which has onboarded more than 927,000 users in Oromia and disbursed ETB 14 billion in loans. In the housing sector, CBE financed 349,000 condominium units worth ETB 112 billion. However, he conceded that support for micro and small businesses remains limited, with just 9,000 MSME borrowers. “That’s an area we need to scale up significantly,” he stated.

On the savings front, CBE’s outreach to women has seen considerable success. “We now have over 8 million women savers, holding ETB 145 billion in deposits,” Sano revealed.

 


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Wegagen Capital Investment Bank has made history as the first investment bank in Ethiopia to receive a Trading Membership Certificate from the Ethiopian Securities Exchange (ESX). The recognition reinforces its earlier licensing by the Ethiopian Capital Market Authority (ECMA), confirming Wegagen’s role as a pioneer in the country’s nascent capital market.

The certification ceremony brought together prominent leaders from Ethiopia’s financial sector, including Hana Tehelku, Director General of ECMA; Dr. Tilahun Esmael Kassahun, CEO of ESX; Sunil Benimadhu, CEO of the Mauritius Stock Exchange; and Brutawit Dawit Abdi, CEO of Wegagen Capital. Their presence underscored the significance of this moment for Ethiopia’s financial future.

In a statement shared on social media, Wegagen Capital described the Trading Membership Certificate as a symbol of trust, integrity, and operational excellence. The bank emphasized that the recognition reflects its commitment to upholding the standards of both ECMA and ESX, and to playing a leading role in fostering a transparent, liquid, and inclusive capital market in Ethiopia.

 


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The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening collaboration in support of Ethiopia’s green and sustainable development ambitions.

The agreement, signed by Deputy Governor of the NBE, Solomon Desta, and Leyla Traoré, the EIB’s Representative for Ethiopia and the African Union, marks a key milestone in deepening the relationship between the two institutions.

Deputy Governor Solomon emphasized that the MoU is a significant step toward fostering greater cooperation and aligning efforts to build a more inclusive and environmentally resilient economy. He noted that the EIB’s commitment will play a pivotal role in Ethiopia’s transition toward a greener future.

Leïla Traoré highlighted the country’s progress in the green development agenda and commended Ethiopia’s leadership in this area. She also reaffirmed the EIB’s readiness to continue supporting Ethiopia’s climate-focused reforms and sustainable finance initiatives.

The MoU builds on high-level discussions held in April between Ethiopia’s Finance Minister, Ahmed Shide, and EIB Vice President Ambroise Fayolle. Those talks focused on expanding collaboration across vital sectors. The EIB expressed interest in financing Ethiopia’s planned new international airport—a critical infrastructure project poised to enhance connectivity and economic growth.




Ethiopian Business Review | EBR is a first-class and high-quality monthly business magazine offering enlightenment to readers and a platform for partners.



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