Ethiopia Begins Domestic Currency Printing

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) has said that his country is building domestic currency printing capacity.

He made the remarks on Thursday during a Finance Forward Ethiopia 2026 conference.

The Ethiopian leader said his country wants to reduce risks associated with producing banknotes abroad.

According to Abiy, the initiative would be operated by Ethiopian Investment Holdings, which oversees the government’s commercial enterprises.

“The institution will build many key, untold strategic arms,” he told participants.

Abiy said EIH has begun constructing a gold refinery, marking what he described as a shift away from exporting raw gold.

Ethiopia’s economy, “growth is expected to moderate to a still-robust 7.1% in 2026 and then rise to 7.7% in 2027,” citing improved monetary conditions, productivity gains, and a recovery in investment.

Ethiopia has emerged as one of Africa’s leading economic performers, achieving a robust 7.2% growth rate, bolstered by a thriving agricultural sector, increased gold and electricity production, and significant reforms, as reported in the World Bank’s latest Global Economic Prospects report.

Despite this positive momentum, the country faces considerable debt distress, even as its growth outlook remains one of the most promising on the continent.