Specialty Coffee & Oilseed Export Trading Company Under Directive 1082/2025

Ethiopia is experiencing a sustained FDI acceleration, recording USD 4.32 billion in inflows for fiscal year 2025/26—an 8% year-on-year increase—driven by sweeping macroeconomic reforms including birr floatation, forex liberalisation (FXD/04/2026), and the landmark Directive 1082/2025 that opens previously closed export, import, wholesale, and retail sectors to foreign investors. The 4th 'Invest in Ethiopia 2026' forum produced investment accords spanning renewable energy, manufacturing, mining, and real estate. Solar manufacturing capacity is scaling dramatically at Hawassa Industrial Park, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) became fully operational in September 2025, and WTO accession negotiations reached a decisive juncture in April 2026. The Ethiopian Securities Exchange (ESX) launched in January 2025 with three listings and a growing pipeline. Risks include Eurobond restructuring uncertainty, persistent double-digit inflation, birr volatility, and residual ethnic-conflict risk in some regions.

Directive 1082/2025, enacted in June 2025, for the first time authorises foreign investors to directly export raw coffee, oilseeds, and livestock from Ethiopia—ending a half-century of restriction. Analysts specifically flag agribusiness and logistics as the sectors most likely to attract multinational entrants under this directive, while FDI permits issued in the newly opened import-export trade segment already numbered 61 in the first year of reform.

Market drivers:

- Ethiopia is the birthplace of Arabica coffee and the continent's largest producer; specialty and single-origin segments command 3-5x commodity premiums in European markets

- Directive 1082/2025 creates a first-mover window before large multinationals scale operations; European diaspora investors have language, cultural, and supply-chain advantages

- Ethiopia–Kenya cross-border trade MoU under AfCFTA and advancing WTO accession will progressively reduce tariff and logistics friction for exporters

Risks:

- USD 10 million minimum annual purchase commitment for raw coffee export eligibility is a barrier; investors must qualify via the oilseed or manufactured-goods routes at lower thresholds

- Ethiopia's Eurobond default and ongoing debt restructuring create reputational friction with European banking partners needed for trade finance