@EICgovet – Ethiopian Business Review

The Ethiopia Finance Forum 2025 officially kicked off this morning at the Ethiopia Museum of Art and Science, bringing together a diverse array of stakeholders from the financial sector, senior government officials and global industry leaders. The two-day event, hosted by the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE), is set to feature over 150 financial institutions, policymakers, development partners, and industry leaders.

The opening ceremony was marked by the presence of President Taye Atske Selassie and Mamo Mihretu, Governor of the National Bank of Ethiopia, both of whom underscored the forum’s significance in charting a new course for the country’s financial landscape.

In a historic announcement, Governor Mamo revealed that government borrowing from the National Bank has dropped to zero for the first time in 12 years. He recalled that Ethiopia’s financial sector has faced numerous challenges, including high inflation and severe foreign currency shortages. To address these issues, he said, the country has embarked on a comprehensive macroeconomic reform agenda.

Governor Mamo noted that efforts to realize the macroeconomic reform vision have already yielded results, including easing the foreign currency crunch and laying the groundwork for a stronger private financial sector.

He added that the reform has helped make Ethiopia’s financial system more competitive, market-oriented, and digitized, with improved security and efficiency.

PresidentTaye Atsikaselasi, in his remarks, praised the NBE’s leadership in fostering economic reform and encouraged deeper collaboration between regulators, investors, and citizens to support sustainable financial development. He also recommended three critical need for Ethiopia’s financial sector to broaden its client base and geographic reach, lead the nation’s digital transformation, and promote financial inclusivity to sustain growth.

The Ethiopia Finance Forum 2025 continues tomorrow with breakout sessions, panel discussions, and networking events. Participants are expected to deliberate on fintech innovation, public-private partnerships, ESG finance, and regional financial integration.

In a major step towards expanding Ethiopia’s global trade connections, the Pakistan-Ethiopia Business Forum was successfully held at the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) Regional Office in Lahore. Organized in collaboration with the Ethiopian Embassy, the forum brought together senior officials and business leaders to explore investment opportunities between the two nations.

The event was presided over by HE Dr. Jemal Beker Abdulla, Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Pakistan and Special Envoy, alongside high-ranking representatives from Pakistan’s Ministry of Commerce, the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), and FPCCI officials. Notably, 26 business chambers from Punjab participated, highlighting the strong interest in Ethiopia as a key trade partner in Africa.

Addressing the gathering, Ambassador Jemal Beker emphasized Ethiopia’s strategic position as Africa’s business gateway, inviting Pakistani businesses to take advantage of the country’s vast economic opportunities. He outlined Ethiopia’s homegrown economic reforms, which have significantly improved the business climate, particularly in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, tourism, and ICT.

“The business community of Pakistan has a unique opportunity to invest in Ethiopia, benefiting from cheap, clean, and green energy, a large and skilled workforce, and unmatched connectivity to Africa and beyond,” the Ambassador stated. He also underscored Ethiopia’s role as a member of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), making it easier for investors to access Africa’s 1.4 billion consumers.

A major highlight of the discussion was the growing role of Ethiopian Airlines in bridging the economic ties between Africa and Pakistan. Ambassador Jemal Beker noted that Ethiopian Airlines has already launched flights from Addis Ababa to Karachi, with operations from Lahore expected to start soon. This expansion will facilitate smoother trade and investment flows, positioning Ethiopia as the preferred African hub for Pakistani businesses.

The forum also focused on the upcoming 5th Pakistan-Africa Trade Development Conference (PATDC) and Single Country Exhibition (SCE), set to take place in Addis Ababa in May 2025. The Ambassador urged Pakistani businesses to participate, stressing that these events will enhance bilateral trade and open new investment opportunities.

Senior officials, including TDAP Director General Abdul Karim Memon and FPCCI’s Pakistan-Ethiopia Business Council Chairman Ibrahim Khalid Tawab, reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening economic relations with Ethiopia. Manzoor Ul Haq Malik, Former Regional Chairman of FPCCI, praised Ethiopia’s leadership in fostering economic cooperation and assured continued engagement from Pakistan’s private sector.

Source: Business Recorder

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