RE: 15p Target4 May 2025 09:17
Parliament meets regularly every Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. local time in Addis Ababa. If negotiations are to continue, meetings may be necessary until 5:00 p.m.
Ethiopian parliament is currently addressing a legislative matter concerning the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC). On December 17, 2024, the House of Peoples’ Representatives passed a banking business proclamation that allows foreign banks to enter the Ethiopian market. This move is considered a significant step toward modernizing the country's financial sector.
Key points of the newly approved law:
Entry of foreign banks:
The law permits foreign banks to establish subsidiaries, open branches, or set up representative offices in Ethiopia.
Ownership restrictions:
It sets a limit of 40% ownership for strategic foreign investors in any local bank, with an additional 7–10% allowed for non-strategic foreign investors.
Total foreign ownership cap:
The combined ownership of foreign entities and foreign-owned Ethiopian organizations in a local bank may not exceed 49% of the bank’s total shares.
Domestic ownership requirement:
The remaining 51% of shares must be held by Ethiopian nationals, ensuring local control of the banking sector.
This legislative step is part of a broader economic reform initiative launched in 2019, aimed at encouraging private investment and modernizing Ethiopia’s financial system. The reform is expected to increase competition, improve access to finance, and support economic growth.