Ethiopia's FDI Falls by $700m

Aug 8 , 2020


[ssba-buttons]

Ethiopia attracted 2.5 billion dollars in foreign direct investment (FDI) in the just ended fiscal year, a steep decline from the 4.4 billion dollars registered three years ago. Last year's FDI flow was also 1.6 billion dollars short in absolute figures from the target set by the Ethiopian Investment Commission. In the past few years, Industrial Parks have attracted huge investments, but it has been difficult for these enterprises to stay fully operational due to the pandemic, according to Anteneh Alemu, deputy commissioner at the Commission. "This was especially true for the fourth quarter of the year," he said. Political instability in the country and the foreign exchange crunch were also cited as contributing factors by the Commission along with the anticipated elections. At the end of last year, the Commission had reported that the political instability had cost 300 million dollars from the one-billion-dollar target in the first quarter of the year. The Commission plans to focus on the pharmaceuticals industry and fast-moving consumer goods to spark investment in the country this year.


Radar

Deposit Insurance Fund Grows to 15.1B Br, Signals Readiness for Crisis Response

Two years into its operations, the Ethiopian Deposit Insurance Fund (EDIF) has grown its asset base to 15.1B Br, reinforcing its role as a critical backstop for depositors and financial institutions alike. The Fund, established under a proclamation by the Council of Ministers, was designed to shield depositors in the event of bank or microfinance collapses. Since its inception, EDIF has focused on collecting premiums from member institutions, investing the funds, and building a system robust...


Radar

Rockefellers 100m Dollars Leap into Regenerative Lunches

As part of the UNFSS+4 High-Level Convening, a thematic session titled "Nourishing the Future through Regenerative School Meals" was held on July 26, 2025, at the Sheraton Addis on Taitu St. It brought together prominent figures including Ethiopia's former Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, former First Lady Roman Tesfaye, and Kenya's First Lady Rachel Ruto. Organised by the Rockefeller Foundation, the event focused on overhauling child nutrition through regenerative agriculture. Sarah Farl...


Radar

Hijra Bank Backs Young Innovators with Awards, Loans

Hijra Bank has awarded five young Ethiopian innovators in the final round of its “Sirara” Creative Spark Awards, selected from over 27,000 applicants. The programme targets practical innovations in agriculture, sustainability, and appropriate technology. Top winner Milkias Ahmed (PhD) received a 300,000 Br prize and a 3 million Br interest-free loan for developing an organic soil conditioner from animal bones. Second and third prizes went to Yusuf Ali and Muhammad Juhar for a crop-harvest...