German Boost for Agriculture, Small Business Growth


German Boost for Agriculture, Small Business Growth

Ethiopia and Germany have signed grant agreements totaling approximately 33 million dollars to support two initiatives: "Increasing Productivity through Innovation in Agriculture II" and "Promotion of Ethiopian Private Sector II." The agricultural initiative, in its second phase, focuses on financing options to import advanced machinery like tractors and harvesters, aiming to boost productivity and economic growth in the sector. The second initiative targets improved financial access for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), especially those owned by women and youth, to promote job creation and inclusive growth. Semereta Sewasew, state minister of Finance, held a signing ceremony last week with KfW Development Bank CFO Bernd Loewen. The Bank has invested over 1.1 billion dollars in Ethiopia to support various development initiatives, including reforestation, conservation, and vocational education. It stated that over 100,000 people have benefited from investments in vocational schools and teacher training.


Radar

Regional Development Banks Tie-up for Private Sector Growth

Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) and Trade Development Bank Group (TDB) signed a 100-million-dollar disbursement for a hybrid capital instrument last week on the sidelines of the African Union summit. Admassu Tadesse, president and managing director of TDB Group, and Sidi Ould Tah (PhD), president of BADEA were the signatories at the event attended by Central Bank Governor Mamo Mihretu, CEO of the Ethiopian Securities Exchange Tilahun Kassahun (PhD), and Deputy Chairperson of...


Radar

National Bank Reports Five-Year Low Inflation, Record-High Exports

The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE), in its six-month snapshot on monetary and external sector developments, reports that inflation has dropped to 15.5pc, the lowest in five years and a 13.9pc decline from last year's 29.4pc rate. Headline inflation stood at 34.5pc during the same period in 2022. The report also shows a sharp decline in food inflation, which fell by 16.6pc, from 32.3pc in January 2024 to 15.7pc in January 2025. Non-food inflation dropped by 10.2pc, from 25.3pc last year to 1...


Radar

Horn Initiative Boosts Regional Development Agenda

A total of 20 projects worth three billion dollars are currently being implemented in Ethiopia under the Horn of Africa Initiative, which held a performance review platform last week. This initiative, established in 2019, seeks to economically integrate Horn of Africa countries through development projects. Finance Minister Ahmed Shide accentuated the initiative's goals of enhancing infrastructure connectivity, strengthening trade and economic integration, building resilience to natural and man...