State-owned Interest-Free Banking Marks a Decade


State-owned Interest-Free Banking Marks a Decade

An interest-free banking service provided by the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) recently celebrated its 10th anniversary. CBE Noor amassed 98 billion Br in deposits, with a network of 1,934 branches nationwide and approximately 6.4 million customers. Globally, the interest-free banking sector possesses an asset size of four trillion dollars. Executives disclosed that CBE Noor has contributed significantly to this scale, experiencing an average 126pc annual growth rate from deposit and investment accounts, financing and lending services, guaranteeing services, international trade support, money transfer, foreign exchange, and digital banking services. Yasmin Wahrebi, the deputy CEO of Ethiopian Investment Holding Group, emphasised that over 20 banks offer interest-free banking services, while four are full-fledged Islamic banks.


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Parliament Nods for Cabinet Appointments

Federal legislators have approved five cabinet-level positions last week with a member of Parliament (MP) voted against and two abstentions were counted. Gedion Timotheos (PhD) leads the charge as the new minister of Foreign Affairs, filling in Taye Asqeselassie's shoes, where he stayed briefly before becoming the country's president. With law degrees from Addis Abeba and Central European universities, Gedion was previously Attorney General and Minister of Justice. Joining him in the redev...


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Abyssinia Group Eyes Expansion with IFC Funding

Abyssinia Group of Industries (AGI), a leading East African steel producer, is poised for significant expansion owing to a proposed investment from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) which is considering a financing package of up to 50 million dollars, including parallel loans in local currency. Headquartered in Kenya, AGI operates two steel plants in Ethiopia, six in Kenya, and has mining activities in Uganda. AGI currently produces 660,000 metric tons of steel annually and employs...


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Fitch Acknowledges Easing Financial Pressures, Enhanced Macroeconomic Stability

Fitch Ratings has upgraded Ethiopia's Long-Term Local-Currency Issuer Default Rating (LTLC IDR) to 'CCC+' from 'CCC-', citing easing financing pressures, improved macroeconomic stability, and increased confidence that local-currency obligations will not be part of the ongoing debt restructuring. This positive development comes as the government implements key reforms and secures renewed concessional external financing. The ratings agency has taken note of the introduction of a market-based ex...


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