Ethiopia Opens Doors to Capital Markets with Ambitious Securities Exchange Debut

The Ethiopian Securities Exchange (ESX) opened for business today, January 10, 2025, with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) officiating the ceremony at the Science Museum in Addis Abeba.

The new bourse, billed as the country’s first, is headquartered on the 18th floor of the Nile Building along Abebe Aregay (Ras) St., a site selected for its proximity to the capital’s financial district. After meeting the regulatory requirements laid out by the Ethiopian Capital Market Authority (ECMA) last month and obtaining its operational license, the ESX facilitates traditional securities trading and over-the-counter transactions. Its officials say the platform will list companies that meet rigorous public listing standards, including valuations above half a billion Birr following an initial public offering or other capital-raising exercises.

A separate, growth-oriented segment will cater to higher-growth firms with market values of at least 50 million Br and promising performance metrics. According to Tilahun Kassahun (PhD), its chief executive officer, the ESX plans to list 90 companies and attract four million investors over the coming years.

Investors have already demonstrated interest, contributing 1.51 billion Br in subscribed capital and 800 million Br in paid-up capital, well over the initial thresholds. Ethio telecom, which is floating shares through an IPO in the primary market, expects to begin trading in the secondary market in the months ahead.