Ethiopian Birr

Speaking at the Finance Forward Ethiopia 2026 conference, the Prime Minister revealed that the project will be overseen by Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH), the nation’s state-owned sovereign wealth fund.

The initiative is designed to mitigate risks associated with the external printing of currency and to expand domestic production capacity.

The Prime Minister described the move as part of a broader goal to develop strategic national assets for public ownership. “The institution will build many key, untold strategic arms,” he told conference participants, noting that such structures are intended to be “transferred to the next generation.”

By establishing this capability, Ethiopia joins an elite group of African nations—including Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, and Kenya—that possess the infrastructure to print their own currency. Currently, only about 12 countries on the continent have achieved this level of monetary independence.

The project falls under the mandate of EIH, which was founded in December 2021 to optimize a vast portfolio of over 40 state-owned enterprises (SOEs). As Ethiopia’s strategic investment arm, EIH manages national assets with a focus on long-term wealth creation and sustainable development.

Prime Minister Abiy expressed high expectations for the holding company’s growth, projecting that it will contribute approximately 20% of Ethiopia’s GDP by 2030.

According to data from BirrMetrics and Business Insider Africa, EIH is leveraging modern corporate governance to enhance the output of state firms and attract both domestic and foreign investment. The transition to domestic currency printing is seen as a vital step in Ethiopia’s larger economic reform agenda, ensuring that the country’s financial “engine” is managed entirely within its borders.

The government maintains that this shift will not only provide greater security for the Birr but also foster a more resilient and self-sufficient national economy.