ADDIS ABABA –Some 2,537 new investors have been licensed over the past ten months, according to the Addis Ababa City Administration Investment Commission (AAIC).
AAIC’s Communications Director Meseret Woldemariam told the Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA) that the Commission issued licenses to 2,537 new investors during the first ten months of the current Ethiopian fiscal year.
Of these, 334 investors were granted amended investment licenses, 99 received replacement licenses, and 115 were issued employment licenses for foreign nationals. Additionally, the Commission renewed investment licenses for 2,760 investors, she noted.
In April alone, during the 2025 fiscal year, the AAIC issued new investment licenses to 399 investors. Alongside these, 22 investors were granted expansion licenses, 44 received amended licenses, and 5 were issued replacement licenses, Meseret added.
Following the strategic plan for the 2025 budget year, the AAIC has been actively involved in identifying and promoting investment opportunities, issuing licenses, and implementing projects through support and monitoring mechanisms, the Director explained.
She also stated that over 7 billion Birr has been invested during the budget year. Furthermore, 245 investors received expansion investment licenses.
Meseret elaborated that duty-free privileges were granted to various institutions, including 818 for capital goods, 106 for construction materials, 14 for vehicles, 32 for spare parts, 93 for income tax relief, and 51 for raw materials.
Regarding infrastructure, she emphasized that efforts are underway to facilitate workplace access and reduce pressures on investors by strengthening organizational structures and collaborating with stakeholders.
She also highlighted that the city has demonstrated improved performance in terms of investment flow and project implementation compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year.
Related to infrastructure, she expressed that efforts will be made to facilitate work place to reduce the pressures on the investor by strengthening the existing organizational structure and working with stakeholders.
Meseret also noted that the city has performed better in terms of investment flow and project implementation compared to the same months of the previous fiscal year in terms of investment promotion.
She noted that the institution has been working by identifying key problems and taking advantage of strengths and filling existing gaps.
The Director concluded by stating that the Commission continues to address key challenges, leverage existing strengths, and close operational gaps to improve service delivery and investment outcomes.
BY ESSEYE MENGISTE
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SUNDAY EDITION 11 MAY 2025
