Addis Ababa, November 29, 2025 (FMC) – During its 50th regular session held today, Ethiopia’s Council of Ministers approved several key regulations and forwarded bills pertaining to IDA loans and bilateral legal cooperation to the House of People’s Representatives for endorsement.
The Council first discussed the Digital Ethiopia 2030 Strategy, which had been endorsed and forwarded earlier this week by the National Digital Transformation Council for final approval. The strategy aims to create new opportunities for citizens, enhance technological capabilities and infrastructure, promote good governance, and accelerate economic growth. After extensive discussions, the Council unanimously approved the strategy, deciding that it will take effect immediately from the date of approval.
Next, the Council addressed two financial support agreements signed with the International Development Association (IDA). The first agreement is a loan of SDR 294,900,000 for the Sustainable and Clean Energy Transition Program, to be completed over 38 years, including a six-year grace period. The second is a loan of SDR 20,000,000 for the East Africa Skills Transformation and Regional Integration Project, to be completed in 31 years, including a six-year grace period. Both loans are interest-free and carry a service fee of 0.75 percent. The Council decided to forward the agreements to the House of People’s Representatives for final endorsement, ensuring alignment with the country’s debt management strategy.
The Council then discussed draft regulations to determine service fees for services provided by the Ethiopian Environmental Protection Authority and the Ethiopian National Theater. These regulations aim to cover operational costs, enhance service quality, and improve customer satisfaction, while considering the customer’s ability to pay. After detailed deliberation, the Council unanimously approved the regulations, which will take effect upon publication in the Federal Negarit Gazette.
Following this, the Council reviewed bills pertaining to four bilateral agreements. These include a mutual legal cooperation agreement in criminal matters with the Government of the People’s Republic of China, prisoner transfer agreements with China and Brazil, and an extradition agreement with the Government of the Republic of South Africa. After deliberations, the Council decided to forward the draft bills to the House of People’s Representatives, noting that ratification would establish a legal framework for effective bilateral cooperation in crime prevention.
The session also addressed the draft regulation on electronic signatures, prepared to ensure full and accountable implementation of Proclamation No. 1072/2010 and its amendment under Proclamation No. 1358/2017. After extensive discussion, the Council approved the regulation, which will take effect upon publication in the Federal Negarit Gazette.
Finally, the Council deliberated on a regulation amending Council of Ministers’ Regulation No. 114/1997 on Immigration. The amendment is designed to enable the Ethiopian Immigration and Citizenship Services to fully execute the functions and responsibilities assigned by law. After thorough discussion, the Council unanimously approved the regulation, which will also take effect upon publication in the Federal Negarit Gazette.