Ethiopia has been the number one foreign direct investment (FDI) recipient in East Africa, and the fourth largest FDI destination in Africa in 2019, the year's United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) report revealed.
The Ethiopian Intellectual Property Office issued 1500 separate patents and creative rights ownership certificates in the just concluded fiscal year it announced.
The office granted certificates after careful evaluation and all due consideration to ensure the originality of the creation both at home and internationally said Awkoke Shiferaw, Head of Communication Service with the office.
The office also took steps to publicize the ownership claim to public to entertain any counter claims to the creative rights of the creations before issuing final certification said Awkoke.
The National Bank of Ethiopia has issued the directive allowing banks and micro-finance institutions to offer transaction 
based mobile and agent banking services. The directive has come into effect as of the 1st of January.
Mobile banking services include deposits and withdrawals through electronic means as well as facilitating payment and money transfer.
The directive has been anticipated by banks such as Berhan, United and Zemen who have had acquired the capacity to offer e-services but have been unable to do so because awaiting the proper regulatory framework from the central bank.
The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) issued a license to Ethio Lease. This makes Ethio Lease the first foreign-owned entity to obtain a license for financial services in Ethiopia.
The Ethiopian Investment Commission announced that it has issued licenses for 130 investment projects worth 20.2 billion Birr capital in the first quarter of this fiscal year.
