What is holding banks back from entering Ethiopia?
LIVE WEBINAR | INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE
What will it take for the first bank to commit?
Ethiopia has opened its banking sector to foreign participation. The question now is, who moves first, and what will it take for them to commit?
Join Africa International Advisors (AIA) and Precise for a focused conversation on the opportunities, challenges and practical considerations for foreign banks looking to enter Ethiopia, and what role they can play beyond traditional banking in investment, capital markets and the country’s wider financial ecosystem.
Register now to join the conversationRegister on Zoom to receive your personal joining link by email.
The questions we’ll explore
Which perceived barriers are real, and which are misconceptions?
What institutional capabilities must banks have before entering?
What local partnerships could reduce market-entry risk?
Where are the opportunities beyond traditional commercial banking?
What needs to happen before the first serious institutional commitment?
Who should attend?
Bank executives, strategy, expansion and Africa-market teams
Capital-market professionals
Institutional investors
Advisers and transaction professionals
Professionals working across Ethiopia’s financial ecosystem
Moderators and panelists
Meet the moderators and panelists joining the Beyond Banking Ethiopia conversation.
Hasnayn Ebrahim
Moderator
CEO & Managing Partner
Africa International Advisors
Hasnayn leads Africa International Advisors, advising organisations on strategy, investment and growth while bringing a pan-African perspective to complex market decisions.
Henok Assefa
Moderator
Managing Partner
Precise Consult
Henok leads Precise Consult, advising organisations in Ethiopia on strategy and investment while bringing extensive insight into the nation's evolving business environment.
Yodit Kassa
Panelist
Chief Executive Officer
Ethiopian Securities Exchange (ESX)
Yodit leads the Ethiopian Securities Exchange and brings key practical insight into capital-market development, institutional readiness and Ethiopia's investment landscape.
Frezer Ayalew
Panelist
Director of Banking Supervision
National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE)
Frezer oversees banking supervision at the National Bank of Ethiopia and brings a regulatory perspective on reforms, market readiness and responsible banking-sector growth.
Rachel Freeman
Panelist
Chief Growth Officer
GoTyme
Rachel leads growth with GoTyme, bringing experience in digital banking, market expansion and strategic partnerships that advance accessible financial services across Africa.
Join the industry conversation
Wednesday, 28 October 2026
09:00–10:30 EAT / 08:00–09:30 SAST
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