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Ethiopian Business Review, Bole Homes, Behind the Chancery of the Embassy of Argentina, Addis Ababa (2026)

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Bole Homes, Behind The Chancery Of The Embassy Of Argentina

17/01/2026

US Mediation Offer on Nile Dam Dispute Gains Support from Egypt and Sudan; Ethiopia Yet to Respond

Jan 17, 2026

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has said he values an offer from United States President Donald Trump to mediate the long-standing dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), according to multiple international media reports. Sudan's military leader, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, also welcomed the proposed US intervention.

In a statement shared on social media on Saturday, El Sisi said he responded to a letter from Trump by reiterating Egypt’s position and its concerns over national water security, which Cairo says could be affected by the operation of the Ethiopian dam.

Trump announced on Friday that he is ready to restart US-led mediation between Egypt and Ethiopia, marking a second attempt by Washington to broker an agreement on the Nile dispute. Sudan, the third country directly affected, also welcomed the renewed mediation initiative, international reports said.

For Ethiopians, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is widely viewed as a powerful symbol of national pride, unity, and self-reliance. The project reflects a long-held ambition to harness the Blue Nile for energy independence and economic transformation.

Much of the $5 billion project was financed domestically, with contributions from citizens across the country, reinforcing its significance beyond infrastructure. The dam was designed to meet domestic electricity demand, expand access to power, and support regional energy integration through exports to neighboring countries.

Ethiopia, which contributes the largest share of Nile waters, has repeatedly stated that the filling and operation of the dam have been carried out without causing significant harm to downstream countries.

Egypt, which depends on the Nile for nearly all of its freshwater needs, continues to oppose the project, citing risks to its long-term water security.

Talks between Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan have taken place intermittently for more than a decade without yielding a legally binding agreement on the operation of the dam. Ethiopia has consistently rejected colonial-era water allocation agreements, arguing that they exclude upstream states and do not reflect current demographic or economic realities.

The United States previously attempted to broker an agreement during Trump’s first term, but Ethiopia declined to sign the proposed deal, citing concerns that it did not fully protect Ethiopia’s water rights and development interests. China and Russia have since backed an African Union-led mediation framework, emphasizing regional solutions to transboundary water issues.

As of Saturday, Ethiopian authorities had not issued any public response to Trump’s offer to mediate or commented on the possibility of renewed US involvement in the talks.

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17/01/2026

Ethiopian aviation university Graduates 457 professionals from 12 countries

Jan 17, 2026

The Ethiopian Aviation University, the largest aviation training center in Africa, graduated 457 professionals from 12 countries in a ceremony held on January 17, 2026.

The graduating class included 58 pilots, 115 aircraft maintenance technicians, and 284 cabin crew members. Trainees hailed from Ethiopia, Cameroon, Chad, Gabon, Italy, Madagascar, Malawi, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, and Yemen, reflecting the institution's expanding role as a regional aviation hub.

According to Ethiopian Airlines Group, the graduates completed pilot training, aircraft maintenance, and cabin crew programs at the university.

Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tassew said the aviation university has played a long-standing role in developing the skilled workforce that supports the airline’s operations. He noted that by training aviation professionals from across Africa and beyond, Ethiopian is sharing its experience while contributing to the growth of the global aviation industry.

Ethiopian Aviation University provides short-term, medium-term, undergraduate, and postgraduate training programs designed to meet the evolving needs of the aviation industry. Its programs range from pilot and aircraft maintenance training to degrees in aeronautical engineering, aviation management, tourism and hospitality, data science, and aviation-focused MBA programs.

Recognized as an ICAO Regional Training Center of Excellence, the university continues to invest in modern training facilities, updated curricula, and industry partnerships to support the growing demand for qualified aviation professionals in Africa and beyond.

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17/01/2026

Commercial Bank of Ethiopia Unveils ‘StarPay’ Digital Payment Application

Jan 17, 2026

The Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) has launched a new digital payment application, StarPay, as part of its efforts to modernize and enhance its digital banking services.

The app was officially unveiled on January 16, 2026 in partnership with StarPay Financial Technologies (Egline Technology). The platform enables customers to access a wide range of banking and payment services through a single digital interface.

Speaking at the launch event, Ephrem Mekuria, President’s Representative and Executive Vice President for Corporate Services at CBE, said the shift toward digital solutions is no longer optional but essential. He emphasized the importance of collaboration between institutions in realizing Ethiopia’s long-term digital transformation agenda under the Digital Ethiopia 2030 strategy.

Bersufkad Getachew Founder and CEO of Egline Technology, noted that StarPay offers an integrated and efficient payment solution, particularly benefiting merchants by consolidating multiple transaction services into one platform.

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17/01/2026

IMF Approves $261 Million Disbursement to Ethiopia After Fourth Review

Jan 17, 2026

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has completed the fourth review of Ethiopia’s Extended Credit Facility arrangement, approving an immediate disbursement of approximately USD 261 million. This brings total disbursements under the program to about USD 2.183 billion.

The IMF stated that Ethiopian authorities continue to make progress under the Fund-supported program, achieving better-than-anticipated macroeconomic outcomes. Strong growth, export performance, revenue mobilization, and declining inflation were cited as key results of the ongoing reform efforts.

The completion of the review follows the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Official Creditor Committee, marking progress under the Common Framework for debt treatment. Discussions with private external creditors are reported to be ongoing.

In a statement following the Board’s decision, IMF Deputy Managing Director Nigel Clarke emphasized the need to maintain reform momentum to sustain the promising macroeconomic outlook. He highlighted the importance of tight monetary conditions to anchor inflation, prudent fiscal control, and continued strengthening of the foreign exchange market.

The authorities have committed to measures ensuring the fiscal deficit remains financeable after the federal budget for the current fiscal year deviated from previously agreed program parameters.

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16/01/2026

Djibouti’s growth steady as port activity offsets regional risks, says IMF

Jan 16, 2026

The International Monetary Fund said Djibouti’s economy continues to grow steadily, supported mainly by strong port activity, while warning that debt sustainability and regional tensions remain key risks.

An IMF staff team, led by Esther Pérez Ruiz, visited Djibouti from January 11 to 15 and held discussions with authorities on the country’s economic outlook, public finances, and efforts to strengthen reserves under the currency board, according to an end-of-mission statement released by the Fund.

The IMF estimates that Djibouti’s economy grew by 6.5 percent in 2025, driven by port services as well as construction, transport, telecommunications, and retail trade. Growth was slightly lower than in 2024 due to reduced transshipment activity, the Fund said.

Looking ahead, the IMF expects growth to average about 6 percent from 2027 onwards, supported by Ethiopia’s large and fast-growing market and planned joint infrastructure projects that are expected to increase demand for Djibouti’s port services.

Inflation eased sharply in 2025, falling to zero from 2.1 percent in 2024, as lower food prices were passed on to consumers. The IMF said this helped ease pressure on household purchasing power.

Public finances also showed improvement. The fiscal deficit narrowed to an estimated 0.7 percent of gross domestic product in 2025, down from 2.7 percent in 2024, mainly due to spending restraint. The 2026 budget projects a balanced position, with no deficit. However, the IMF noted that revenue collection remains weaker than expected.

Djibouti’s foreign exchange reserves increased in 2025, but the IMF said reserves remain below the level required under the country’s currency board arrangement, underscoring the need for continued fiscal discipline.

The IMF warned that rising tensions in the Horn of Africa could increase uncertainty, refugee inflows, and fiscal pressures, particularly amid declining humanitarian aid. The Fund also noted the risk of trade diversion to competing regional ports, although it said this could be partly offset by Ethiopia’s continued economic expansion.

To restore debt sustainability, the IMF called for faster fiscal consolidation through improved tax collection, reduced exemptions, and higher dividend transfers from state-owned enterprises. It also urged Djibouti to finalize debt negotiations with creditors and set binding limits on public and publicly guaranteed borrowing.

The IMF described Djibouti’s financial sector as stable and noted ongoing efforts to strengthen anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing frameworks under enhanced monitoring by the Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force.

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16/01/2026

Ethiopian Embassy hosts launch of teff-based milk alternative in London

Jan 16 , 2026

The Embassy of Ethiopia in London announced the launch of a teff-based milk alternative, marking the first product of its kind in the global market.

The launch event, organized by the Ethiopian Embassy in London in collaboration with the producers, introduced "The Original Teff-Ly" to an audience of business representatives, media, and industry specialists.

The embassy said the event aimed to promote teff to a wider international audience, at a time when demand for plant-based food alternatives is expanding in the United Kingdom and other European markets.

In his opening remarks, Ambassador Biruk Mekonnen highlighted the central role of teff in Ethiopian cuisine and its potential contribution to climate-resilient food systems research.

While currently manufactured in the United Kingdom, plans are underway to relocate the production process to Ethiopia in the future. This move is expected to expand domestic employment opportunities, add value to the teff supply chain, and position the product more competitively for the export market.

The founders of The Original Teff-Ly, quoted by the embassy, said the product is expected to open new market channels and increase global awareness of teff beyond its traditional uses.

The event, which included product tastings and cultural performances, served as a networking platform for the diaspora and business community, positioning the launch as a step toward integrating Ethiopian agricultural innovation into global markets.

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16/01/2026

Ethiopia’s Coffee Sector Faces 2.4 Billion Dollar Green Finance Gap : Study

Jan 16, 2026

Ethiopia’s coffee sector faces a critical green finance gap of $2.4 billion, severely limiting investment in climate adaptation and sustainable practices, according to a new World Bank-commissioned market study. The shortfall jeopardizes the future of the country’s most important export, which accounts for 30-35% of foreign exchange earnings and supports over 15 million livelihoods.

The study, conducted by First Consult Ethiopia, estimates the total potential demand for green finance across the coffee value chain at $2.5 billion. However, nearly 90% of surveyed micro, small, and medium enterprises identified access to finance as their biggest business constraint. This restricts their ability to invest in essential technologies such as energy-efficient processing, water-saving mills, and digital traceability systems needed to comply with stringent new international regulations.

Production is predominantly smallholder driven, with over 95 percent originating from farms smaller than 1 hectare. In the 2023/24 season, Ethiopia produced an estimated 501,000 metric tonnes of coffee, nearly half of which was consumed domestically, while the rest was exported mainly to Asia, the European Union, and the United States.

The human and economic risks are substantial. Climate change is already reducing yields, with projections indicating a potential 30-50% shrinkage of suitable Arabica-growing areas by 2050 without adaptation. In addition to this, new EU deforestation regulations threaten to cut export revenues by nearly one-fifth if producers cannot prove their coffee is deforestation-free. The report notes that only about a quarter of enterprises are currently aware of these requirements..

The study calls for urgent, coordinated action from government, financial institutions, and development partners. Key recommendations include expanding blended finance and risk-sharing mechanisms, building the capacity of local banks to assess green investments, and strengthening policy incentives to mobilize the capital required for a sustainable and competitive future for Ethiopian coffee.

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16/01/2026

State-Owned Enterprises Boost Forex Holdings to $48.66 Billion

Jan 16, 2026

The portfolio of companies managed by Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH) has grown their collective foreign exchange holdings to $48.66 billion, according to presentations made at the 'Finance Forward Ethiopia' conference attended by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Thursday in Addis Ababa.

The figure highlights the financial scale of 41 strategic state-owned enterprises now operating under a centralized sovereign wealth fund. Finance Forward Ethiopia convened stakeholders to review 5 years of macroeconomic reforms, highlighting financial inclusion and a stronger financial sector to support reform-driven growth.

In a presentation, EIH CEO Brook Taye reported that the total asset value of the entities under its umbrella has reached 8.2 trillion birr, equivalent to approximately 12 percent of Ethiopia's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The consolidated group of companies, which spans finance, infrastructure, energy, and manufacturing, has seen total revenue surge from 704 billion birr to 6.1 trillion birr over the past four years.

The CEO attributed the turnaround to the imposition of modern corporate governance, auditing standards, and management systems since EIH's establishment in 2021.

He stated that these reforms have transitioned the enterprises from losses to profitability and positioned them to become competitive players in the African market. The companies are currently participating in 36 major national projects.

Other key figures presented at the conference included a total tax contribution of 644 billion birr from the EIH portfolio and a collective investment amount of $3.9 billion.

EIH was established to manage and optimize Ethiopia's portfolio of key state-owned assets to drive national economic transformation.

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15/01/2026

OmoAddis, EVM Technology to Develop Ethiopia’s Largest Agricultural ERP Platform

Jan 15, 2026

OmoAddis AgriPlatform PLC and EVM Technology have signed an agreement to jointly develop what is described as Ethiopia’s largest and most comprehensive Agricultural Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, aimed at digitally integrating the agricultural value chain from farm production to export markets.

The platform is designed to link farming, agro-processing, and export operations into a unified digital infrastructure, addressing long-standing coordination gaps between producers, processors, and exporters, while enhancing traceability, efficiency, and compliance with international market standards.

Yabsira Abinet, Technology Advisor at OmoAddis AgriPlatform, said the system goes beyond existing ERP solutions currently available in Ethiopia and is built around three interconnected modules.

He explained that the platform includes a farm management system that captures detailed data on farm geography, climate, and production to support precision agriculture; a factory

ERP that digitally connects farms to agro-processing facilities through structured contracts, easing the flow of raw materials into industry; and a centralized export and supply chain management system that oversees exported goods, logistics, and supply chain coordination from production to final markets.

According to the companies, the integrated platform is expected to support Ethiopia’s broader efforts to modernize agriculture, strengthen agro-industrial linkages, and improve export readiness by enabling data-driven decision-making across the sector.

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15/01/2026

Coopbank Reports USD 303 Million in Forex Inflows for First Half of 2025/26

Jan 15, 2026

The Cooperative Bank of Oromia (Coopbank) recorded foreign currency inflows of USD 303.36 million in the first six months of the current fiscal year, according to performance figures shared with EBR. The figure represents a strong continuation of the bank's focus on international trade and remittances.

During the half-year period, the bank also mobilized total deposits of 36.71 billion birr from customers. Its loan disbursement reached 32 billion birr, contributing to a total outstanding loan portfolio of 140.12 billion birr. The bank's digital platform, COOPay e-Birr, processed a transaction volume of 4.87 trillion birr across more than 1.8 trillion transactions.

This half-year performance builds on the bank's full-year results for 2024/25. As of June 30, 2025, Coopbank reported annual forex earnings of USD 415 million, with over 95% sourced from exports and private transfers via SWIFT. The bank's total deposits at the last fiscal year-end stood at 175.19 billion birr, with a customer base of 14.74 million.

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15/01/2026

Domestic Drug Production at Just 29%, Says Health Minister

Jan 15, 2026

Ethiopia's domestic pharmaceutical manufacturers are currently operating at only 29 percent of their potential production capacity, Health Minister Mekdes Daba (PhD) revealed.

The figure underscores a significant gap in the country's self-sufficiency and was a central point of discussion at a recent meeting of the National Council of Manufacturing Industry.

Minister Mekdes stated that for locally made medicines to become the preferred choice, they must not only compete with but surpass the quality and reliability of imported products.

She emphasized that while a system has been established to prioritize domestically produced drugs for the national market, a major push to boost productivity is essential.

The Minister outlined two critical paths forward: first, enhanced coordination between government bodies and manufacturers to unlock the remaining 71 percent of idle capacity.

Second, she insisted that all local pharmaceutical firms must strictly adhere to international Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) to ensure the highest standards of quality and safety.

The National Council for Manufacturing Industry, which conducts reviews every 15 days, is focused on addressing these systemic challenges to strengthen a sector vital to national health security and economic growth.

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15/01/2026

U.S. Set to Freeze Immigrant Visas for 31 African Nations, Including Ethiopia

15, 2026

The United States is set to suspend all immigrant visa processing for nationals of 31 African countries, including Ethiopia, under a new global policy that will freeze applications from a total of 75 nations starting January 21, 2026.

The indefinite suspension, which targets applicants deemed likely to become a financial burden, will close a major legal pathway to permanent residency for nearly two-thirds of the African continent, reshaping long-standing migration and professional links.

A State Department directive, reported by multiple international news outlets including The Guardian and Reuters, instructs consular officers worldwide to refuse all new applications for permanent residency (green cards) from the listed nations. The suspension, which does not affect temporary tourist, business, or work visas, will remain in place while the U.S. reassesses its screening procedures.

The list of affected countries, spanning Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe, includes major U.S. allies and nations with long-standing migration pathways. Alongside Ethiopia, several other Horn of Africa nations like Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, and Djibouti are included. The policy revives a rarely used provision of U.S. immigration law and significantly expands the Trump administration's efforts to curtail both legal and illegal immigration.

For businesses and multinational corporations, the immediate impact is significant. The freeze disrupts plans to transfer key international employees to U.S. offices on permanent visas and complicates the recruitment of skilled professionals from the listed countries. Companies and affected families are now forced to explore alternative visa categories or consider other destinations like Canada or the United Kingdom.

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