Introduction The Ministry of Revenue has issued a new directive on Tax Administration Penalty Waiving, Directive No. 189/2025 on February 2025. The directive provides a structured framework for the waiver of administrative tax penalties. The directive introduces specific classifications, conditions, and procedures governing penalty waivers, aiming to improve fairness and efficiency in tax administration. Scope...Read More

Ethiopia’s Council of Ministers recently introduced amendments to the Investment Incentive Regulation (No. 517/2022), on January 14, 2025 These changes aim to enhance employment opportunities, streamline tax exemptions for investment-related assets, and attract investments in the mining sector. The changes will take effect upon their official publication in the Negarit Gazette. For foreign and local investors,...Read More

With its recent economic liberalization and fresh moves to join the WTO, Ethiopia is becoming an increasingly attractive market. Bruk Geremew and Iyasu Teketel believe a revamped PPP regime could help usher in an exciting future. With one of the largest sub-Saharan economies, and some of Africa’s greatest potential for renewable power production, Ethiopia is...Read More

Ethiopia’s Parliament has approved a new banking proclamation that paves the way for foreign banks to enter the country’s financial sector. The legislation permits foreign banks to purchase shares in local banks and, with case-by-case approval from the National Bank of Ethiopia, fully acquire them. This marks a major step in opening up Ethiopia’s banking...Read More

With its economic liberalization and transformed legal practice, Ethiopia is fast becoming an attractive market for investors. The partners of DABLO Law Firm LLP spoke with Craig Sisterson about new hires, rapid growth, and an exciting future. Revolutionary changes to Ethiopia’s legal system and wider economy provide exciting opportunities and spurred the creation and rapid...Read More

Overview of Ethiopia’s Draft Real Estate Development and Real Property Marketing and Valuation ProclamationRead More

The National Bank of Ethiopia has introduced Directive No. SBB/92/2024, which serves to regulate the investment activities of banks within the country. This directive is designed to effectively manage risks, encourage diversification of business activities, and establish clear investment limits. Key definitions are provided for terms such as “Bank,” “Banking Business,” “Capital Market Service Provider,” and...Read More

The Ministry of Finance (“MoF”), with its set vision of having a systematized excise assurance mechanism in the way of digital and physical stamps, has issued a directive on excise stamp management named the “Excise Stamp Management Directive No 1004/2024”. The intent as set in the Directive’s introduction is aimed at prevention of illicit trade,...Read More

In a seamlessly apparent manner, Ethiopia enhanced its pursuit of setting up measures to safeguard its forestry throughout its utilization by enacting an enforcement law in the form of a Council of Ministers (“CoM”) Regulation on Forest Development, Protection, and Utilization. This legislation is a follow-through to the parliamentary enactment made in 2018, the Forest...Read More

Download the PDF version of the full Legal Update here:Download Throughout the years, the development and implementation of aspects of industrial parks have been one of the identifying traits of the Ethiopian investment schemes to boost trade and attract foreign investment. Key policy considerations were taken throughout the development and implementation of industrial parks, some...Read More