2merkato

The Leather Industry Research and Development Center (LIRDC) has announced plans to establish a Leather Industry Park in Mojo, Oromia Region, following the completion of a government-approved feasibility study.

Here is the daily commodity trade data from Ethiopia Commodity Exchange (ECX) for items traded on 22 August 2025.

In the recently concluded fiscal year, Ethiopia exported 15,612 tons of spices, generating USD 14.94 million, according to the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority (ECTA).

The Hawassa City Administration has confiscated 15.7 hectares of land from 25 investors who failed to develop their projects, according to the city's Investment Promotion Office. The land, which was originally allocated for various investment projects, has been returned to the government's land bank.

The Benishangul Gumuz region has seen an increase in fish production, with the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) Lake emerging as a primary source for the burgeoning industry. The Regional Agriculture Bureau reported that in the 2024/25 fiscal year, fish production surpassed Birr 5,895 tons, with over 95 percent of the yield harvested directly from the dam's waters.

Here is the daily commodity trade data from Ethiopia Commodity Exchange (ECX) for items traded on 21 August 2025.

Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) is in negotiations with the National Bank of Ethiopia to acquire a stake in a local financial institution, CEO Paul Russo has confirmed. The move comes as Ethiopia gradually opens its banking sector to foreign players.

KCB is exploring entry through acquisition while considering an application for exemption from Ethiopia’s foreign ownership rules, which currently cap foreign shareholding at 49%. The bank is still searching for a local partner before formally approaching regulators.

Ethiopia began allowing foreign investors to apply for banking licenses in June 2025, a landmark reform that could reshape its financial landscape.

For KCB, expansion into Ethiopia aligns with its regional growth strategy. Subsidiaries outside Kenya contributed 36.6% of group profit after tax and 34% of total assets in the nine months to September 2024, compared to less than 5% a decade earlier. The bank reported an 8% rise in net profit in the first half of 2025, reaching USD 250 million.

Analysts say KCB’s entry could position it as a benchmark for Ethiopian banks preparing for the upcoming Ethiopian Securities Exchange.

Source: The Ethiopian Herald

Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH) has reported robust performance across its portfolio during the past fiscal year, driven by growth in energy, engineering, hospitality, logistics, and sugar production.

Here is the daily commodity trade data from Ethiopia Commodity Exchange (ECX) for items traded on 20 August 2025.

The Ethiopian government has set a target of USD 8 billion in remittances from its diaspora community during the 2025/26 fiscal year, building on efforts to expand remittance channels and strengthen economic diplomacy.