Ethiopian Business Review

Ethiopia's Horticulture Exports Generate $490 Million, Sector Targets $575 Million Next Fiscal Year #EBR_News Jul 24, 2026 Ethiopia's horticulture sector generated $490 million in export earnings during the 2025/26 fiscal year, with the government setting a target to increase revenues to $575 million in the coming fiscal year as it seeks to strengthen the country's foreign exchange earnings through higher-value agricultural exports. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, flower exports accounted for $412 million of the total revenue, while vegetables generated $57 million and fruit exports contributed $21 million. For the 2026/27 fiscal year, the Ministry plans to export 357,457 tones of flowers, vegetables and fruits to achieve the $575 million revenue target, representing an increase of about 17% over this year's performance. Horticulture has become one of Ethiopia's leading agricultural export industries after coffee, with flower exports remaining the sector's dominant source of foreign exchange. Follow EBR for the latest business news, trends, and expert analysis: Telegram (https://t.me/ebr_news) Facebook (https://bit.ly/3OodjMF) LinkedIn (https://lnkd.in/eAVk65Xv) WhatsApp (https://bit.ly/4tH4NIR

WFP Seeks $182 Million as Funding Shortfall Forces Food Ration Cuts in Ethiopia #EBR_News Jul 23, 2026 The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) says it requires USD 182 million over the next six months to sustain its humanitarian operations in Ethiopia, warning that funding constraints have already forced reductions in food assistance despite persistent humanitarian needs across the country. According to the WFP's July 2026 Ethiopia Country Brief, the agency assisted 1.8 million people during June by distributing 10,700 metric tones of food and transferring USD 4.5 million in cash assistance. However, resource shortages have compelled the agency to reduce cereal rations to 60% of the standard allocation in order to maintain supplies until August 2026. The WFP said humanitarian needs remain high as conflict, displacement, economic pressures and climate-related shocks continue to affect vulnerable communities across Ethiopia. The agency noted that insecurity in Amhara, Oromia and Somali regions, together with tensions in Tigray, has disrupted livelihoods and constrained the delivery of assistance. Ethiopia is also hosting around 1.1 million refugees while nearly 1.9 million people remain internally displaced. According to the report, fuel shortages and disruptions to fertilizer supplies linked to broader regional instability have contributed to higher food prices, raising concerns ahead of the upcoming agricultural seasons. Malnutrition also remains widespread, particularly among children and pregnant and breastfeeding women. During June, the WFP reached more than 449,000 people through moderate acute malnutrition treatment programmes and provided school meals to over 408,000 children across 1,034 schools. The agency also supported 40,500 households through climate-smart agriculture, irrigation, market systems and livelihood programmes aimed at strengthening resilience to future shocks. The WFP said its 2026 Country Strategic Plan remains significantly underfunded, with additional resources needed to maintain emergency food assistance, nutrition programmes and resilience-building activities across Ethiopia. Follow EBR for the latest business news, trends, and expert analysis: Telegram (https://t.me/ebr_news) Facebook (https://bit.ly/3OodjMF) LinkedIn (https://lnkd.in/eAVk65Xv) WhatsApp (https://bit.ly/4tH4NIR

Ethio Telecom Registers 32 Million Ethiopians for Digital ID, Making Up 69% of National Registrations #EBRNews Jul 24, 2026 In just over two years since joining Ethiopia's National Digital ID programme, Ethio telecom has registered nearly 32 million citizens accounting for 69% of all national registrations in what is rapidly emerging public digital infrastructure programmes on the African continent. According to Ethio telecom's 2025/26 Annual Business Performance Report, the company joined the National Digital ID programme on 24 April 2024 and has since built one of the largest identity registration networks in Ethiopia. During the 2025/26 budget year alone, 20.19 million citizens were registered and 17.17 million Foundational Identification Numbers (FINs) were generated, with the cumulative total of FINs reaching 27.1 million since the company's participation began. The network Ethio telecom has established to deliver this programme covers all 12 regional states and both city administrations, reaching 119 zones representing 98% of all zones, 986 woredas covering 79% of the national total, and 1,376 cities, supported by more than 3,340 active registration kits deployed across service centres, franchise outlets, and mobile registration teams. The state owned operator describes this as one of the largest National ID service networks in the country, built on Ethio telecom's existing telecommunications infrastructure and customer facing distribution footprint, an asset base that no other entity in Ethiopia has been able to replicate at comparable scale or speed. According to the report, over 4 million farmers were registered in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, whilst 28,000 internally displaced persons were registered through partnerships with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Norwegian Refugee Council. Additional registrations were conducted for beneficiaries of the Productive Safety Net Programme, students, returnees, and other priority groups ensuring that the programme's reach extends beyond urban, economically active populations to some of the country's most vulnerable communities. According to the report, 9.35 million National ID cards have been printed from 9.4 million orders, representing a 99% fulfilment rate, supported by 19 regional printing centers, 27 printers, and more than 500 pickup locations equipped with One Time Password based secure card distribution systems. During the budget year specifically, 7.45 million cards were printed. The report also notes that the initiative has created employment opportunities for more than 4,000 citizens and has expanded business prospects for franchise partners involved in the distribution network. Follow EBR for the latest business news, trends, and expert analysis: Telegram (https://t.me/ebr_news) Facebook (https://bit.ly/3OodjMF) LinkedIn (https://lnkd.in/eAVk65Xv) WhatsApp (https://bit.ly/4tH4NIR

Jotun Ethiopia Expands Manufacturing Capacity with New Bole Lemi SEZ Investment #EBR_News Jul 24, 2026 Jotun Ethiopia, the local subsidiary of Norwegian paint manufacturer Jotun, has signed an agreement with the Industrial Parks Development Corporation (IPDC) to expand its manufacturing facility at the Bole Lemi Special Economic Zone, in a move expected to increase domestic paint production. According to IPDC, the agreement, signed on Thursday, allocates 6.4 hectares of land within the Bole Lemi Special Economic Zone for the expansion project. It was signed by Fitsum Ketema, Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Operations and Park Management at IPDC, and Mohammed Sharib, General Manager of Jotun Ethiopia. Fitsum said the agreement supports the Corporation's five-year strategy of facilitating the expansion of investors operating in Ethiopia's Special Economic Zones and industrial parks. He noted that Jotun Ethiopia has become an important supplier to the country's paint industry and said the expansion is expected to increase local manufacturing capacity, meet growing domestic demand and strengthen the company's ability to serve export markets across Africa. Mohammed described IPDC's continued support as instrumental to the company's growth, adding that the new investment will enhance Jotun Ethiopia's production capabilities, improve its competitiveness and expand its footprint in regional export markets. Follow EBR for the latest business news, trends, and expert analysis: Telegram (https://t.me/ebr_news) Facebook (https://bit.ly/3OodjMF) LinkedIn (https://lnkd.in/eAVk65Xv) WhatsApp (https://bit.ly/4tH4NIR

NBE Clarifies Virtual Asset Ban, Expands Prohibition Beyond Cryptocurrencies #EBR_News Jul 23, 2026 The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) has clarified that Ethiopia's prohibition on virtual assets extends beyond cryptocurrencies, warning that a broad range of virtual asset activities remain illegal unless explicitly authorized under the country's existing legal framework. In a public notice issued on July 23, the central bank said the ban covers the use, purchase, sale, exchange, transfer, trading, settlement and facilitation of transactions involving virtual assets. It stressed that the restriction applies not only to cryptocurrencies but also to any digital representation of value that can be electronically traded, transferred, exchanged or used for payment, investment or similar purposes. The NBE further specified that prohibited activities include exchanging virtual assets for fiat currencies, exchanging one virtual asset for another, transferring virtual assets, providing custody or administration services for virtual assets or instruments that enable control over them, and offering financial services related to the issuance or sale of virtual assets. The central bank urged members of the public to refrain from engaging in virtual asset transactions, warning that participants could face legal consequences as well as risks associated with fraud, scams, cyberattacks, operational failures, market manipulation and substantial financial losses. Follow EBR for the latest business news, trends, and expert analysis: Telegram (https://t.me/ebr_news) Facebook (https://bit.ly/3OodjMF) LinkedIn (https://lnkd.in/eAVk65Xv) WhatsApp (https://bit.ly/4tH4NIR

telebirr Processes 4.19 Trillion Birr in Transactions, Equivalent to a Fifth of Ethiopia's Economy #EBR_News Jul 23, 2026 Ethiopia's leading mobile financial services platform, telebirr, processed ETB 4.19 trillion in transactions during the 2025/26 budget year a sum the company's annual report equates to approximately 20% of Ethiopia's gross domestic product cementing its position as the most consequential fintech instrument in the country's financial inclusion drive. According to Ethio telecom's 2025/26 Annual Performance Report, telebirr handled 2.61 billion transactions during the year, surpassing its target of 2.09 billion and achieving 124.6% of the plan. This represented a remarkable 145.3% year-on-year growth in transaction volume, driven by accelerating customer adoption, higher transaction frequency, and an expanding ecosystem of integrated financial products. Since its launch, telebirr has cumulatively processed 9.13 trillion Birr. The platform's subscriber base reached 60.6 million customers by the close of the budget year, with 8.54 million new customers added during the period. Customer engagement also deepened considerably, with 19.48 million 90-day active users recorded and more than 11.57 million SuperApp users, a segment that engages with telebirr's broader suite of digital services beyond basic money transfers. The report notes that data quality was simultaneously improved through the removal of 6.85 million inactive accounts, even as 13.29 million new accounts were registered. telebirr's growing integration with the formal financial sector has strengthened its role as a foundational layer for Ethiopia's digital economy. The report indicates that interoperability with 33 banks, microfinance institutions (MFIs), and savings and credit cooperatives (SACCOs) has been completed, enabling seamless bank-to-telebirr and telebirr-to-bank transfers. The platform's agent and merchant network expanded to 410,700 agents and 440,100 merchants, a distribution footprint that is critical to extending cash-in and cash-out services into areas where traditional banking infrastructure remains limited. Digital lending and savings have emerged as particularly significant growth areas, and represent telebirr's most consequential departure from its origins as a simple payments tool. The report shows that 19.51 billion Birr in collateral-free digital loans was disbursed to 5.65 million customers during the year, achieving 87.7% of the annual target. Digital savings reached ETB 18.75 billion from 1.3 million customers, a 66.9% increase over the previous year signalling that telebirr is successfully transitioning from a transactional platform to a more comprehensive financial services ecosystem. A significant external validation came during the reporting period with telebirr securing the GSMA Mobile Money Certification, a globally recognized benchmark that validates operational processes, governance controls, and consumer protection standards. Follow EBR for the latest business news, trends, and expert analysis: Telegram (https://t.me/ebr_news) Facebook (https://bit.ly/3OodjMF) LinkedIn (https://lnkd.in/eAVk65Xv) WhatsApp (https://bit.ly/4tH4NIR

MIDROC Partners with Signify to Deploy Energy-Efficient Lighting Across Hotel Projects #EBR_News Jul 23, 2026 MIDROC Investment Group has signed a strategic agreement with global lighting company Signify to supply energy-efficient LED lighting systems for its hotel projects under construction and renovation, as the Ethiopian conglomerate moves to standardise sustainable building technologies across its hospitality portfolio. Under the agreement, Signify will provide modern LED lighting products and related services designed to improve energy efficiency, reduce environmental impact and enhance the quality of lighting installations in MIDROC's hospitality developments. MIDROC said the partnership is expected to streamline procurement processes, ensure consistent product quality, strengthen project competitiveness and improve service delivery while supporting the implementation of innovative and sustainable construction practices. The investment group described Signify as an international supplier of high-capacity LED lighting solutions, noting that the collaboration will introduce environmentally friendly lighting technologies to its ongoing hotel developments. The agreement comes as developers increasingly adopt energy-efficient building systems to reduce operating costs and meet growing sustainability standards across the hospitality industry, where lighting represents a significant share of electricity consumption. MIDROC Investment Group operates across six sectors in Ethiopia manufacturing, construction and real estate, agriculture, mining, commerce and hospitality and says its businesses employ more than 80,000 people. The company also states that it allocates 10% of its annual income to corporate social responsibility initiatives. Follow EBR for the latest business news, trends, and expert analysis: Telegram (https://t.me/ebr_news) Facebook (https://bit.ly/3OodjMF) LinkedIn (https://lnkd.in/eAVk65Xv) WhatsApp (https://bit.ly/4tH4NIR

Data Overtakes Voice for the First Time as Ethio Telecom Posts 215.82 Billion Birr Revenue #EBR_News Jul 23, 2026 Ethio telecom's data and internet services have surpassed mobile voice as the single largest revenue contributor in the company's history, as the state-owned operator posted ETB 215.82 billion in total revenue for the 2025/26 fiscal year, a 33.2% year-on-year increase that signals the decisive arrival of a digital economy in Ethiopia. According to Ethio telecom's 2025/26 Annual Business Performance Report, data and internet services accounted for 31.1% of total revenue during the year, overtaking mobile voice, which contributed 23.5%. The report notes that data revenue has registered a cumulative average annual growth rate (CAGR) of 35.9% since June 2018, compared to just 9.5% for voice over the same period. For over a century, voice remained the company's primary revenue engine; its displacement by data marks a fundamental reorientation of how Ethiopians communicate, transact, and consume services. The report indicates that EBITDA reached ETB 113.1 billion, representing a 52.4% margin and 101% of the planned annual target, a fivefold increase compared to 2018 figures. Operating profit (EBIT) rose 47.5% to ETB 92.9 billion, whilst total assets grew 27% to ETB 420 billion, underpinned by capital investments that expanded the company's asset base to ETB 75.66 billion during the year alone. Beyond data and voice, Value-added services and international services contributed 9.1% and 8% of total revenue respectively, whilst enterprise solutions added 7.1%. Telebirr, the company's mobile financial platform, contributed 3.6%, device sales accounted for 4%, and the National Digital ID programme generated a 3.3% share, a multi-stream structure that reduces dependence on any single segment and supports a more resilient long-term growth trajectory. International performance also delivered a meaningful contribution. According to the report, the company generated USD 139.9 million from global roaming, wholesale connectivity, and strategic international partnerships. Total foreign currency earnings reached USD 188.48 million, a critical figure given Ethiopia's ongoing foreign exchange constraints, and one that underscores the operator's growing role as a significant earner of hard currency for the national economy. Cost discipline has been equally central to the performance story. The company's Do2Save operational excellence initiative delivered ETB 14.6 billion in efficiency gains during the year, with 96% of those savings derived from network capacity management, energy efficiency, international connectivity, and supply chain optimization. Chief Executive Frehiwot Tamiru noted that despite rising operational costs driven by fuel price shocks and broader global economic pressures, the programme was instrumental in delivering top-tier results. Frehiwot added that final audited figures will be published shortly, with shareholder dividend distributions to follow immediately thereafter. Follow EBR for the latest business news, trends, and expert analysis: Telegram (https://t.me/ebr_news) Facebook (https://bit.ly/3OodjMF) LinkedIn (https://lnkd.in/eAVk65Xv) WhatsApp (https://bit.ly/4tH4NIR

Kenya Introduces New Licence for Telecom Equipment Importers, Tightens Market Compliance #EBR_News Jul 23, 2026 Kenya has introduced a new licensing requirement for businesses importing and distributing telecommunications equipment, adding another compliance layer for suppliers as the country strengthens oversight of its fast-growing ICT market. The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) announced that companies seeking to import or distribute communications equipment on a wholesale basis must now obtain a Communications Equipment Distributor (CED) licence before applying for equipment type approval and customs clearance through the TradeNet system. The new requirement follows the Revised Telecommunications Market Structure published under Gazette Notice No. 3335 on 6 March 2026 pursuant to the Kenya Information and Communications Act. According to the Authority, the measure takes immediate effect for both new entrants and existing market participants. The regulator said companies already holding Telecommunications Equipment Contractor (TEC) or vendor licences must also apply for the new CED licence if they intend to continue importing or distributing communications equipment in Kenya. Under the revised framework, businesses will now be required to complete three regulatory steps before bringing communications equipment into the Kenyan market: obtain a CED licence, secure equipment type approval confirming compliance with national technical standards, and complete customs clearance through the TradeNet platform. The Communications Authority warned that operating without a valid licence constitutes an offence under the Kenya Information and Communications Act, with penalties including fines of up to KSh1 million (about USD 7,750), imprisonment for up to three years, or both. The regulatory changes come as Kenya continues to experience rising demand for smartphones, broadband connectivity and enterprise networking infrastructure. By introducing the additional licensing requirement, the Authority aims to strengthen oversight of communications equipment entering the market while enhancing regulatory compliance across the telecommunications supply chain. The move also reflects a broader trend among East African regulators to tighten governance of digital infrastructure and telecommunications markets as governments accelerate digital transformation and expand technology-driven economic activity. Follow EBR for the latest business news, trends, and expert analysis: Telegram (https://t.me/ebr_news) Facebook (https://bit.ly/3OodjMF) LinkedIn (https://lnkd.in/eAVk65Xv) WhatsApp (https://bit.ly/4tH4NIR