AfCFTA Strides, National Implementations Fall Behind


AfCFTA Strides, National Implementations Fall Behind

The 15th Council of Ministers Meeting of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) convened in Addis Abeba last week, bringing together stakeholders to discuss boosting trade integration and sustainable development on the continent. The AfCFTA aims to transform small and fragmented markets into a single market of over 1.4 billion people, looking to ensure heightened growth and development. It will enhance Africa's collective bargaining power on the global stage and aligns with the commitment to sustainable development goals and the African Union's Agenda 2063. Ethiopia, represented by the Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration has participated in the AfCFTA negotiation process and initiating pilot trades through the Guided Trade Initiative. The AfCFTA Secretary-General, Wamkele Mene, stressed the importance of accelerating implementation at the national level, emphasizing the need for the inclusion of the private sector, youth, and small and medium enterprises.


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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...