The Ethiopian Securities Exchange (ESX) proudly announces it has received official operational license from the Ethiopian Capital Market Authority (ECMA). ESX is established as a public private partnership in line with Article 31 of the Capital Market Proclamation (No.1248/2021). Having obtained two critical licenses from ECMA, to operate a Securities Exchange and an Over the Counter (OTC) Market, ESX is now set to revolutionize the country’s financial sector, laying the groundwork for robust capital market and economic growth.

These licenses also grant ESX the authority to operate as a Self-Regulatory Organization (SRO) under the Capital Market Proclamation No. 1248/2021and the Directive on Recognition and Supervision of Self-Regulatory Organizations No. 1031/2024.

A Multifaceted Market Infrastructure

The licensing paves the way for ESX to operationalize multitude of markets and offer products and services that cater for various types of issuers and investors across its key marketplaces including equity, debt and OTC market space. Issuers of various spectrum including large, medium and small companies can list in its equity market. Similarly, its fixed income market will serve as platform to where various debt instruments including government treasury bills and bonds, corporate bonds, as well as Shariah compliant securities such as Sukuks are listed and traded.

In the past two years ESX has conducted various institutional readiness activities including a successful capital raise, putting in place a modern corporate governance, risk management and compliance framework, publication of comprehensive rulebook that regulate it markets. In addition, ESX has deployed a cutting-edge Electronic Trading Platform, a shared Broker Back Office and order management systems ensuring secure, efficient, and accessible trading for all participants. This platform supports real-time transactions and aligns with international standards, paving the way for ESX to be a modern exchange.