National ID Strides Further to Mandatory Field


National ID Strides Further to Mandatory Field

The National Bank of Ethiopia issued a notice to all banks mandating the use of the National ID for new bank account openings starting January 1, 2025, for branches in Addis Abeba while the same will apply for branches in major cities on July 1, 2025. All branches nationwide must comply starting January 1, 2026, while existing account holders are required to present their National ID by December 2026. The Central Bank stated its objectives for the move are to enhance the security of the financial system, promote financial inclusion, prevent fraud, streamline customer onboarding and ensure data ownership and protection. The letter also permits the remote opening of bank accounts using the National ID provided all required information is provided. According to the National ID Program’s website, there are currently more than 10 million people registered at 33 implementing partners. Last month, UNICEF Ethiopia handed over 100 biometric registration kits to the Program.


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Ethiopias Capital Market Sets Sights on Talent Strategy

A new strategy to strengthen the human capital foundation of Ethiopia's emerging capital market is taking shape. Led by FSD Ethiopia in partnership with iCapital Africa Institute and the Nairobi Securities Exchange, the initiative is focused on building the skills, expertise, and institutional capacity needed to support the Ethiopian Capital Market Authority (ECMA). The second round of consultations took place on April 23 at Best Western Hotel, drawing key stakeholders including ECMA Director...


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National Bank Upgrades Core Financial System to Global Standard

The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) has officially upgraded the Ethiopian Automated Transfer System (EATS), the country's Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) platform, to align with the ISO 20022 messaging standard, effective March 29, 2025. Handling more than 3.5 million transactions a year worth over five trillion Br, EATS is a critical component of the country's financial ecosystem. It enables real-time, high-value settlements among 35 financial institutions, including commercial banks and m...


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Spice Supply Hits 41,000tns in Nine Months

The South West Ethiopia Coffee, Tea, and Spices Authority has announced that over 41,000tns of spices were supplied to the central market in the first nine months of the current fiscal year, reflecting the region's growing role in the country's spice economy. The region is cultivating spices on more than 90,000 hectares of land, with major contributions coming from turmeric, cardamom, ginger, and black pepper. For the full fiscal year, the authority aims to supply more than 56,000tns of spice...