The 2026 Ethiopia–Brazil Economic Cooperation Forum convened more than 130 Brazilian companies and delegates in Addis Ababa—one of the largest Brazilian business missions to the Horn of Africa to date. Hosted at the Skylight Hotel, the forum underscored the growing strategic alignment between the two countries in agriculture, logistics, energy, and industrial development.

A high-level Turkish trade delegation is scheduled to arrive in Addis Ababa this week to explore expanded commercial cooperation with Ethiopia

Ethiopia’s digital payment ecosystem recorded an unprecedented expansion in the 2017 fiscal year, exceeding 17.7 trillion birr in total transactions. Mobile banking accounted for over 76% of the total, reflecting a rapid shift from traditional ATMs and POS to mobile-based platforms such as TeleBirr and digital wallets. The trend highlights Ethiopia’s accelerating transition toward a cash-light economy, driven by improved connectivity, financial inclusion, and fintech innovation.

The Ethiopian Railways Corporation (ERC) is finalizing a transformative investment strategy aimed at attracting private and foreign investors through PPPs and joint ventures. The plan features major projects, including the redevelopment of ERC’s Lagar site into a mixed-use urban complex, new logistics hubs in Indode, Mojo, and Dire Dawa, and continued expansion of key railway lines — signaling Ethiopia’s shift toward a modern, partnership-driven transport economy.

The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) has warned businesses and individual traders against using personal or third-party bank accounts for official transactions, citing risks of tax evasion and illicit financial activity.