Addis Ababa, December 9, 2025 (FMC) – Ethiopia currently records 18.5 trillion birr in digital money transfers annually, reflecting the rapid growth of the country’s digital economy, Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Truneh said.
Speaking at the 2nd Ethiopian Digital Payment Conference, Temesgen highlighted that the digital economy infrastructure developed over the years provides a strong foundation for ongoing sectoral transformation.
He pointed to key reforms, including the national digital ID (Fayda), which serves as a gateway for citizen participation and integrates various institutions to expand access to digital services. Temesgen also noted that one-stop service centers demonstrate Ethiopia’s digital transformation in practice, providing efficient and modern service delivery.
While digital access has expanded significantly, Temesgen stressed that the next phase must focus on meaningful and inclusive usage. He noted gaps between men and women, rural and urban communities, and formal and informal enterprises, emphasizing the need to ensure that digital tools reach smallholder farmers, pastoral communities, women, and micro enterprises to boost productivity, resilience, and economic empowerment.
Temesgen called for deeper collaboration across government, financial institutions, innovators, development partners, and academia, noting that the national digital strategy must focus on building trust, enhancing cybersecurity, supporting innovation, expanding interoperability, and meeting the real needs of citizens.
He said, “With sustained commitment, Ethiopia can create a digital economy where innovation thrives, women and youth are empowered, businesses grow, and technology becomes a bridge to broader opportunity and shared prosperity.”