United Arab Emirates gives Ethiopia $1 billion lifeline to ease foreign exchange crisis

The Eritrean connection came in handy to facilitate the lifeline.
Key Points
Ethiopia's foreign exchange shortage is due in part to its spending big on infrastructure projects. The current total left in the East African country's coffers is equivalent to less than one month's worth of imports, Reuters reported.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is to deposit $1 billion in Ethiopia's central bank to ease the latter's foreign exchange shortage.
The sum is part of a $3 billion aid and investment pledge from the UAE to Ethiopia announced Friday. The news came as Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in Addis Ababa.
Ethiopia's foreign exchange shortage is due in part to its spending big on infrastructure projects. The current total left in the East African country's coffers is equivalent to less than one month's worth of imports, Reuters has reported.
In April, Abiy said that Ethiopia's foreign exchange shortage could last 15 to 20 years, and that more cooperation with the private sector was needed to secure the country's finances.
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/18/united- ... risis.html
