Ethiopia’s Economic Transformation Opens New Horizons for Investment: United Capital Group CEO

Addis Ababa, October 10, 2026 (ENA)—The ongoing structural shift in Ethiopia’s economic policy landscape is creating unprecedented opportunities for regional and international investment, Peter Ashade, Chief Executive Officer of United Capital Group PLC, said.

In an exclusive interview with ENA, Ashade lauded the Ethiopian government’s decisive policy direction, emphasizing that deliberately opening the economy to foreign investors marks a monumental milestone for the nation's financial sector development.

United Capital Group has recently received its official regulatory license to establish operations and deliver investment banking and financial services within Ethiopia, positioning the firm as a prominent participant in the country's evolving financial market.

“It is quite very exciting coming to Ethiopia. I must say that Ethiopia has achieved a significant milestone in opening the economy for foreign investors,” Ashade underscored.

Highlighting the core pillars of the national reform agenda, the Group CEO described the establishment of crucial capital market infrastructure, most notably the licensing of the Ethiopian Securities Exchange (ESX), as a true game-changer for the country's economic empowerment.

“The establishment of the capital market infrastructure and the licensing of Ethiopia Securities Exchange is a real game changer,” he elaborated.

 

"Capital markets play a very pivotal role in achieving significant economic development," Ashade noted, drawing parallels to regional benchmarks where deep capital markets have successfully catalyzed multi-billion-dollar industrial and infrastructure mobilizations.

Ashade also praised the recent maturation of Ethiopia's macroeconomic and regulatory frameworks, underscoring that the transition toward a market-determined foreign exchange regime has fundamentally transformed the investment climate.

He noted that predictable policy frameworks, coupled with government-backed profit repatriation guarantees, provide international institutional investors with the essential assurance required to deploy long-term capital.

Commending the Ethiopian government for its strong political will and bold reform trajectory, Ashade highlighted that the country has achieved a significant milestone in opening up its economy to foreign direct investment.

Drawing parallels from regional markets such as Nigeria, where capital market depth has enabled multi-billion-dollar corporate mobilizations, he emphasized that a thriving capital market plays a pivotal role in accelerating national economic growth.

Furthermore, Ashade welcomed the National Bank of Ethiopia's ongoing regulatory alignment with international benchmarks, noting that these disciplined steps signal a focused, determined environment that international investors can confidently engage with.

As Ethiopia continues to deepen its market liberalization policies, financial sector leaders view the nation as one of Africa’s most promising growth frontiers, primed to harness private sector dynamism for sustained national transformation.