Ethiopia’s Regulatory Authority Signals Open Doors for Foreign Banks











Ethiopia is set to enhance its economic landscape by allowing foreign banks to obtain licenses for domestic banking services, as announced by the regulatory authority. The Ethiopian Capital Market Authority, following an order from the Ministry of Justice, is initiating the licensing process, according to Mr. Bruck Taye, the head of the authority, as reported by Reuters.

While Ethiopia has embraced foreign investment in sectors like telecommunications, challenges such as an unpredictable regulatory environment, security breaches, and economic instability have impacted the operations of companies like Safaricom.

The report highlights the absence of investment banks in Ethiopia and emphasizes the difficulty in securing loans due to the high collateral requirements imposed by existing commercial banks. Mr. Bruck underscores the high demand for financial capital, citing obstacles like borrowers requesting 25 percent interest and a substantial 70 percent collateral.

Furthermore, the report sheds light on Ethiopia’s foreign currency shortage, noting the recent failure to meet a $1 billion international bond payment, falling short by $33 million last month. These developments underscore the complexities and opportunities that arise as Ethiopia opens its banking sector to foreign players.