Ethiopia: Contracts and Commercial Law

Ethiopia stands out as one of Africa's fastest-growing economies and a key gateway for investment in East Africa. In recent years, the Ethiopian government has modernized its business laws - notably with the Commercial Code Proclamation No. 1243/2021 - to make registering a company more transparent and investor-friendly. For foreign investors, this means clearer rules and a defined process for entering the market.

Every business operating in Ethiopia — whether a domestic manufacturing company, a foreign-invested enterprise, a bank, or a multinational project developer — is ultimately subject to a single judicial institution that defines the boundaries of Ethiopian law with final and binding authority: the Federal Supreme Court Cassation Bench

Ethiopia’s post-July 2024 foreign exchange (FX) reforms—anchored in the National Bank of Ethiopia’s Foreign Exchange Directive No. FXD/01/2024—represent a structural shift from administratively constrained FX allocation toward a more market-based exchange rate and broader authorization of current-account FX transactions through the banking system.

Ethiopia has of late taken measures that liberalize the financial sector. The issuance of the new Banking Business Proclamation No. 1360/2025 (Banking Business Proclamation) and Capital Markets Proclamation No. 1248/2021 (Capital Market Proclamation) are salient examples.

People who control a company, be they directors, managers or controlling shareholders, may use their power to divert the company's wealth to unfairly enrich themselves or others.

Reasons ranging from macro-economic conditions to poor management may result in placing a business in financial distress.