Newly-opened Trade Sectors Attract 21 Investment Applications


Newly-opened Trade Sectors Attract 21 Investment Applications

The Ethiopian Investment Commission has received 21 applications for investment licenses from foreign investors looking to tap into newly opened retail and export sectors. The Ethiopian Investment Board recently issued a directive opening nearly all trade sectors to foreign investors. Since its implementation in July, 13 licenses for import and eight for export, primarily coffee, have been applied for. Mesfin Tafesse & Associates (MTA) LLP, a 17-year-old firm, hosted the ‘Ready Business Roadshow’ under the auspices of the African Legal Network (ALN) to explore Ethiopia’s business and investment opportunities. The forum featured prominent government leaders, including Eyob Tekalign (PhD), State Minister for Finance, Brook Taye (PhD), CEO of Ethiopia Investment Holdings, Habtamu Simachew (PhD), Senior Advisor at the Ethiopia Investment Commission, and Ermias Eshetu, former board chairman at Zemen Bank. MTA has been instrumental in advising the government on economic and commercial laws, including the 2021 Commercial Code. Eyob highlighted a significant shift in the government’s attitude towards partnerships over the past six years. Habtamu discussed efforts to transform industrial parks into special economic zones, incorporating essential services and technology to align with government policies. He noted that 80 of 100 reform agendas have been addressed, with 85 legislations introduced or amended. The Ethiopian government’s 10-Year Development Plan prioritizes seven sectors: Agriculture, Manufacturing Industries, Mining, Tourism, Urban Development, Innovation and Technology, and Energy. Habtamu also mentioned that the AfCFTA steering committee is working to align with Ethiopia’s 22 bilateral trade agreements while Brook emphasized that Ethiopia Investment Holdings oversees 33 entities and collaborates with local investors, particularly in the real estate and hospitality sectors.


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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...