Capital Market Authority Prohibits Issuing Shares without Approval

Jun 24 , 2023


Issuing shares without the approval of the Ethiopian Capital Market Authority is prohibited pending the implementation of a new "Public Offering" directive. A document outlining details of a company looking for investment will need to be presented and gain approval from the Authority before shares can be sold. Tsehale Belhu, state minister for Trade & Regional Integration and Brook Taye (PhD), director general of the Authority, made the announcement at a press briefing held at the Ministry's headquarters around Gurd Shola last week. "Investor protection is one of the mandates of the Authority," said Brook. The Ethiopian Capital Market Authority was formed as an autonomous federal agency in July 2021 and has issued three directives with the Director General indicating that the markets will be fully up and running by next year. Currently, there are no companies listed. However, Brook noted that ongoing selling procedures of share companies should be made known to the Authority after the directive sees the light of day. The State Minister indicated that only commercial banks and microfinance institutions have shown regard for investor protection in the past due to the strict oversight of the central bank.


Radar

Amendment Expands Access for Foreign Traders

Foreign participation in Ethiopia's wholesale, retail, import, and export trade sectors has come under renewed focus as the Ethiopian Investment Board(EIB) approved a significant amendment to Directive No. 1001/2016  in its meeting on May 23, 2025. The amendment, proposed by the Ethiopian Investment Commission(EIC), focuses on refining the legal framework governing foreign investment in these sectors. The decision is part of a broader strategy to enhance the country's appeal as an investment...


Radar

NBE Sets Four Percent Ceiling on Foreign Exchange Fees

The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) issued a new foreign exchange market directive on May 20, 2025, that caps commercial banks' forex service fees at a maximum of four percent. Banks are instructed to adapt competitive, transparent, and streamlined pricing for all forex-related services. Effective May 26, 2025, total charges for purchasing foreign exchange whether for imports, service payments, or cash note purchases must not exceed the newly set limit. The directive also prohibits banks f...


Radar

SantimPay Launches Zero-fee Digital Remittance Platform

SantimPay has rolled out FrankRemit, first fully integrated, zero-fee digital remittance platform, in partnership with Bank of Abyssinia(BOA). The service smoothly connects all commercial banks and major mobile money providers, including Telebirr, M-Pesa, and CBE Birr which is a first of its kind in the country. FrankRemit is expected to revolutionise how the Ethiopian diaspora sends money home. Developed locally and tested over the past two weeks with successful transfers from multiple count...