Ethiopia's Small-Scale Oil Producers Are Coming Back. But the Rules That Once Squeezed Them Out Haven't Left.

Ethiopians are pressing their own noug oil again, powered by cheap machines and a booming TikTok trade. Regulatory standards could shut them down again.

A Record Budget Denominated in a Moving Target

Ethiopia just approved its largest-ever budget: 2.34 trillion birr. The catch is the currency it's counted in, which has lost more than half its dollar value since the 2024 float.

Ethiopia Set to Redraw Its Payment Landscape

Ethiopia’s fintech story is hitting an inflection point. New rules aim to strengthen the system but could price out smaller players.

Ethiopia’s EdTech Progress Confronts a Wall of Fragmentation

Ethiopia’s EdTech challenge is no longer just about access, it’s also about connection. Fragmented systems, limited financing, and weak integration are keeping promising solutions stuck in pilot mode.

Loosening the Grip: The NBE's Paired FX Directives

As the IMF’s 5th review looms, Ethiopia’s central bank has rolled out its most substantive FX changes since the 2024 float, delegating trade finance decisions to banks and formalizing Franco Valuta flows.

Ethio Telecom Shares Begin Trading as Disclosure and Governance Timeline Remains Pending

Ethio telecom shareholders can now trade their shares marking a shift in Ethiopia’s economic history. But trading has opened before audited accounts, dividend policy, and AGM decisions are in place.

Collecting More, Returning Less

Ethiopia’s new VAT Refund Directive promises faster payouts, 7 days for exporters, 45 for standard claims but embeds tighter audits, heavy documentation, and penalties for delay.

The Right to Know: What Ethiopia's Draft Freedom of Information Proclamation Means for Economic Life

A new Freedom of Information draft law in Ethiopia could transform accountability, fiscal transparency, and economic credibility if institutions enforce it beyond paper commitments.