Private Banks Eye Djibouti Market

Jun 11 , 2022


The executives of the Bank of Abyssinia and the newly-formed Siinqee Bank look to establish a presence in neighbouring Djibouti. Abyssinia's executives say they have completed preparations to open a branch in the small coastal nation, while their counterparts at Siinqee say they are actively working to gain a foothold in Djibouti. The state-owned Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) has been operating in Djibouti for the past two years. Abie Sano, president of the CBE, looks to expand on the "tremendous success" the Bank has enjoyed in the Djiboutian market. He led a delegation that visited the country last week and held discussions with players in the import-export business, as well as public officials. Formerly known as Oromia Credit & Saving S.C., Siinqee began its transition into a commercial bank last May following a recent rule by the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) allowing microfinance institutions (MFIs) to evolve into full-fledged banks. It appointed Neway Megerssa as its founding president earlier this year.


Radar

Ethio Telecom Launches New Marketplace with Cash-Back Guarantee

Ethio Telecom has launched Zemen Gebeya, a nationwide digital marketplace integrated into the telebirr SuperApp, offering a secure platform for consumers and businesses to trade goods and services. The platform includes a built-in escrow service, allowing payments to be held temporarily until the buyer confirms delivery. If a product is not delivered or the buyer is dissatisfied, the payment is returned—creating a cash-back guarantee model designed to build trust in online transactions. Lau...


Radar

Ethiopia-Israel Business Forum Opens Doors to Investment Opportunities

The Ethiopia-Israel Business Forum took place last week at the Hyatt Regency Addis Abeba, bringing together Ethiopian government officials and investors from Israel. Officials presented a range of investment opportunities, while Israeli investors expressed interest in entering the market. The forum opened with remarks from the foreign ministers. Gedion Timotheos, Ethiopia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, used his address to extend a formal invitation to the Israeli business community, stressing...


Radar

National Bank Injects Millions Through Foreign Currency Auction

The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) is continuing its push to stabilise the foreign exchange market, injecting millions of dollarss into the economy through a series of currency auctions. According to official data, the latest auction was held on May 7, 2025, during which 60 million dollars was supplied to 16 participating banks at an average exchange rate of 132.9643 Br per dollar. In the previous month, the NBE held two auctions: 70 million dollars was offered on April 16 to 26 banks at an...