Central Bank Tunes Forex, Cash Rules


Central Bank Tunes Forex, Cash Rules

Regulators at the central bank have introduced new rules on foreign exchange transactions as forex reserves dwindle and the federal government struggles with a widening budget deficit and falling external loan disbursements. The directive bans the use of foreign currency in local transactions. Central bank Governor Yinager Dessie (PhD) has also lowered the period of time that returning residents can hold on to foreign currency by two thirds to 30 days. Travellers entering or departing the country are allowed to carry a maximum of 3,000 Br in cash, while the ceiling is 10,000 Br for those travelling to neighbouring Djibouti. The directive quadruples the amount of foreign currency that nationals can bring into the country without a customs declaration to 4,000 dollars, while foreigners are not required to disclose less than 10,000 dollars to customs officials. The threshold was previously 3,000 dollars.


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Parliament Reviews Bill Allowing Foreign Property Ownership

A draft proclamation that would allow foreigners to own or occupy immovable property in Ethiopia has been submitted to parliament by the Council of Ministers. Designed to attract foreign investment, the draft law plans to ensure that Ethiopian citizens retain their right to land ownership and use. According to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office, the draft was among six agenda items discussed and approved during the Council's regular session held on May 2, 2025. The proclamation is e...


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Speeding in the Spotlight as New Safety Drive Begins

The Road Safety and Insurance Fund Service has stated that drivers are responsible for 68 percent of traffic accidents in Ethiopia, with the remainder mainly caused by pedestrians and road conditions. On this topic, the service launched a one-month mass media campaign on last week focused on raising awareness about speeding, the leading cause of traffic accidents. The campaign, under the motto "Slow Down, Speeding Ruins Lives," plans to shed light on the dangers of speeding. Yohannes Lemma, E...


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Askari Metals Secures Five Gold Licenses in Untapped Adola Belt

Askari Metals has acquired 100pc of Rift Valley Metals, gaining five gold exploration licences covering 460sqkm in Ethiopia's Adola Greenstone Belt, part of the southern Arabian-Nubian Shield, a mineral-rich but underexplored region. "The exploration areas—Sakaro, Sakaro West, Lega Dembi South, Megado, and Wayu Boda—lie near Ethiopia's top gold mines, including Lega Dembi and Sakaro, which have produced over three million ounces of gold. The area is known for orogenic gold systems hosted...