The Ethiopian Securities Exchange (ESX) has launched a new digital trading platform aimed at widening public participation in the country’s emerging capital market.
The platform, called “Neway,” is the first web and mobile application designed to allow investors across Ethiopia to access and trade securities through digital channels. The initiative is expected to lower barriers to entry and improve access to investment opportunities in the country’s nascent stock market.
The platform was developed through a partnership between ESX and technology firm Infotech Private Limited. According to the exchange, the application is integrated with its broker back-office and Order Management System (OMS), enabling brokers to manage client registration, trading orders, and reporting more efficiently.
Designed for both first-time and experienced investors, the application allows users to register, open trading accounts, track market activity, and buy or sell listed securities—including equities and fixed-income instruments—through their mobile devices. Investors can also monitor and manage their portfolios in real time.
Officials say the platform could help address one of the major challenges facing Ethiopia’s capital market: limited investor participation and access to trading infrastructure.
Speaking at the launch event, ESX Chief Executive Officer Tilahun Esmael Kassahun described the platform as a key step toward building a modern and inclusive financial market.
“This marks an important milestone in our vision of establishing a world-class securities exchange in Ethiopia,” he said. “Through the ‘Neway’ app, investors can access the market anytime and from anywhere.”
Tilahun noted that the name “Neway,” which refers to wealth or assets, reflects the platform’s broader objective of making capital market participation accessible to a wider segment of the population.
“By placing the market in the hands of citizens, we are enabling more Ethiopians to participate directly in the country’s economic growth,” he added.
The platform is also expected to improve operational efficiency for brokerage firms by digitizing several functions traditionally handled through manual processes.
Market observers say digital trading platforms such as Neway will be critical for expanding the investor base and improving liquidity as Ethiopia works to develop a transparent and internationally competitive capital market.
