Addis Ababa, October 13, 2025 — The 18th National Flag Day was commemorated at the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) Headquarters on Monday, October 13, 2025.
This year’s celebration was held nationwide under the theme: “Our Flag: A Herald of Prosperity for Ethiopians, A Symbol of Unity, Sovereignty, and Renaissance.”
Speaking on the occasion, Ato Fikadu Digafie, Chief Economist and Vice Governor of the National Bank of Ethiopia, underscored the special significance of this year’s observance, coming after landmark national achievements across multiple sectors.
He highlighted milestones such as the successful completion of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), progress in macroeconomic reforms, and other national initiatives that continue to strengthen Ethiopia’s development trajectory.
Ato Fikadu also emphasized NBE’s key reform achievements in monetary policy, foreign exchange management, and financial sector regulation, including the ratification of two critical legal frameworks — the National Bank of Ethiopia Proclamation No. 1359/2025 and the Banking Business Proclamation No. 1360/2025.
He noted that, as part of Ethiopia’s broader economic liberalization agenda, NBE has formally opened the financial sector to foreign banks — a transformative step aimed at attracting foreign capital, enhancing competition, and improving the quality of financial services.
The Vice Governor reaffirmed that these initiatives are pivotal to sustaining the nation’s growth and called upon all NBE staff to work collectively toward realizing the Bank’s strategic reforms and national development goals.
The ceremony, held at NBE Headquarters, brought together Vice Governors, Directors, management members, and staff from various departments and directorates.
National Flag Day continues to be celebrated annually in accordance with the Flag Day Proclamation No. 863/2006 (as amended), observed on the first Monday of October each year.
