It is not hard to explain why Ethiopia's economy remains uncompetitive. It is because businesses are not allowed to compete. When they do, it is with local firms that seldom present a threat given the enormous demand that exists. If one loses a customer, there is always another just around the corner. This is how the financial sector operates.
But as in politics, Ethiopia's economy is a walking contradiction. While we celebrate that we are one of the biggest recipients of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Africa, significant chunks of the service sector remain closed. In some cases, such as telecom, largely even to local investors.
...