Ethiopia To Allow Foreign Banks For First Time In 50 Years

Ethiopia’s central bank has issued a long-awaited directive allowing foreign banks and investors to formally enter its financial sector, marking a major step in the country’s broader economic liberalisation programme. Analysts say the move could inject new capital, boost competition, and accelerate the development of a sector that remains heavily dominated by the state-owned Commercial Bank of Ethiopia. The new licencing rules were published by the National Bank of Ethiopia, will provide a clear regulatory path for foreign banks to set up subsidiaries, open branches, or establish representative offices in the country. Foreign strategic investors can also acquire stakes in existing local banks, with individual ownership capped at 30%, and total foreign ownership capped at 40%.

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