Addis Ababa, December 2, 2025 (FMC) — As Ethiopia ushers in a new era of financial transformation, the operational launch of its capital market marks a decisive turning point — providing long-term financing opportunities, stimulating private-sector growth, and reshaping how investment flows across the economy, National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) Governor Eyob Tekalign said today.
Speaking at the second regional Capital Market Conference at the New International Conference Center, Governor Eyob highlighted that comprehensive macroeconomic reforms have created a predictable, transparent, and conducive capital market environment, laying the groundwork for sustained economic growth.
“The rise of the capital markets is not accidental. It is a deliberate milestone aligned with Ethiopia’s aspiration to foster market-based growth,” he said, noting that the reforms have strengthened bank deposits, created job opportunities, and enabled a competitive, market-oriented financial system.
Governor Eyob emphasized that the Ethiopian Capital Market Authority (ECMA) is no longer a beginner in the financial system but an established institution, actively expanding a diversified market system that serves as a catalyst for private-sector participation.
“When businesses — large and small — can access long-term, affordable financing, they innovate, scale, and create the jobs that drive national prosperity,” he said. “The capital market now provides an entirely new platform to mobilize capital efficiently and allocate it to its most productive uses.”
He added that the reforms and market development have positioned Ethiopia as a leading investment destination, contributing significantly to the country’s prosperity by establishing a favorable investment environment.
The Governor also noted the NBE’s continued role in ensuring the smooth functioning of the financial system, working alongside ECMA to build a transparent, resilient, and vibrant capital market.
On her part, ECMA Director-General Hanna Tehleku said that the authority has carried out numerous initiatives in a short period, modernizing the Ethiopian financial system and forging strong partnerships with regional and international financial institutions. She emphasized that licensing of market participants has been done carefully to reflect Ethiopia’s current economic realities and called on all stakeholders to collaborate in strengthening the country’s capital market.
Through these efforts, Governor Eyob said, Ethiopia is entering a new phase where the capital market will mobilize both domestic and foreign capital, support infrastructure development through instruments such as green bonds, municipal bonds, revenue bonds, and investment funds, and empower the private sector to drive sustainable economic growth.