Banking Industry Allows Diaspora Investors

Aug 3 , 2019


[ssba-buttons]

Lawmakers legislated a proclamation that allows Ethiopian natives of foreign nationalities to invest in the banking sector. The bill was legislated last week during the emergency parliamentary session that was called after members of parliament went on recess. Beyond buying shares in banks, the new law will enable the Ethiopian diaspora to form new banks, including full-fledged interest-free banks. Two years ago, the central bank ordered all private banks and insurers to return the share certificates of foreign shareholders and auction off the shares for public subscription. The Central Bank also stated that the amount of money offered above par value has to go to the national treasury. Since then, all of the banks and insurance companies have auctioned off the shares owned by Ethiopian-born diaspora.


Radar

New Directive Tightens Rules for Foreign Employment Agencies

The Ministry of Labour & Skills has issued a directive under the Ethiopian foreign employment framework, setting clear standards for agency size, capital, and operations. Depending on their level, newly established agencies can serve between 10 and over 100 workers a day. Office space requirements range from 100sqm to 700sqm, tied to operational scale. Level-one agencies must hold a paid-up capital of 20 million Br and place a security deposit of 250,000 dollars or its birr equivalent...


Radar

Audit Findings Expose Deepening Gaps in Accountability

A new study reveals that audit irregularities in Ethiopia have continued to rise year after year, driven by weak enforcement and unresolved legacy problems. The finding, commissioned by the Office of the Federal Auditor General (OFAG) and conducted by independent researchers from Addis Abeba University, examined audit reports covering 2009–2023. The study attributes the persistent irregularities to limited accountability, poor follow-up, and reduced audit coverage during political transitio...


Radar

Africa Maritime Conference Sets Sights on Seafaring Innovation

The Ministry of Transport & Logistics has launched the first-ever Africa Maritime Conference, marking a bold move to position landlocked Ethiopia as a continental hub for seafaring innovation at a time of global talent shortages. At a pre-conference briefing, Frans Joubert, CEO of YCF Manning Ltd, underscored Africa's untapped potential in the maritime sector. Of the 1.9 million seafarers worldwide, only four percent are African—despite the continent hosting around 150 maritime academie...