The Ethiopian Securities Exchange (ESX) has confirmed that the Addis Ababa Stock Exchange will officially commence trading operations in early 2026, marking a historic milestone for Ethiopia's financial markets.
The exchange, which has been in development since 2020, will initially list government bonds and a select number of state-owned enterprises slated for partial privatization. CEO Tilahun Kassahun outlined the phased approach at an investor conference.
"Phase one will focus on establishing a robust trading infrastructure and building market confidence," Kassahun explained. "We expect to see private company listings beginning in the second half of 2026."
The exchange has partnered with leading international exchanges for technical support, including the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange Group. A state-of-the-art electronic trading platform has been developed with real-time settlement capabilities.
Analysts predict that the stock exchange will unlock significant investment opportunities and improve corporate governance standards across Ethiopia's rapidly growing private sector.
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