The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) and the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) today announced that Ethiopia has officially joined the PAPSS network, a milestone in the country's integration into Africa's financial and payments ecosystem.

PAPSS was established under the auspices of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), the African Union and the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as core infrastructure supporting the continent's economic integration and its intra-African trade ambitions.

Ethiopia's participation in PAPSS will allow the country's financial institutions to connect to the PAPSS network and take part in cross-border payments with financial institutions across Africa, creating new opportunities for businesses and consumers in Ethiopia to transact with the rest of the continent.

The announcement was made by H.E. Dr. Eyob Tekalign, Governor of the National Bank of Ethiopia, and Mr. Mike Ogbalu III, Chief Executive Officer of PAPSS, at a joint press conference held on the sidelines of the Ethiopia Finance Forum (EFF) in Addis Ababa.

At the press conference, the NBE and PAPSS also officially announced that Ethiopia will host the PAPSS COWRY Africa Payments Conference 2026 on 26 and 27 November 2026 at the Ethiopian Skylight Hotel in Addis Ababa, co-hosted by PAPSS and the National Bank of Ethiopia.

Held under the theme "Scaling Sovereign Payments in Africa: From Continental Connectivity to Global Integration", the 2026 Global and Regional Payments Conference will bring together the leaders shaping the future of payments in Africa and connect the continent's payments ecosystem with leading players from around the world.

H.E. Dr. Eyob Tekalign, Governor of the National Bank of Ethiopia, said: "Ethiopia's accession to the PAPSS network is an important step in our ongoing efforts to modernize our financial system and deepen our economic ties with the rest of Africa. It opens new opportunities for Ethiopian financial institutions and businesses to participate more actively in cross-border payments and intra-African trade. We are also pleased to co-host the PAPSS Global and Regional Payments Conference 2026 and to welcome Africa and the global payments community to Addis Ababa at an important stage in the transformation of Ethiopia's financial sector."

Mr. Mike Ogbalu III, Chief Executive Officer of PAPSS, said: "Taking part in the Ethiopia Finance Forum allowed me to witness first-hand a vibrant and innovative financial ecosystem, in which institutions and entrepreneurs are eager to adopt new technologies, build new partnerships and play a bigger role in Africa's financial transformation. Ethiopia's accession to the PAPSS network is an important milestone, connecting Ethiopian financial institutions to a growing continental payments infrastructure and opening new horizons for cross-border payments with the rest of Africa.

"I would like to thank Governor Eyob for his vision and his support for PAPSS, and for agreeing to co-host the PAPSS Global and Regional Payments Conference 2026 with us. We aim to deliver an African-owned conference that matches the standards of any leading international payments conference and brings together the people shaping the future of payments in Africa and globally."

Africa's payments landscape is evolving rapidly: payment systems are becoming more interconnected, fintech innovation is accelerating, new technologies are changing how money moves, and growing intra-African trade is driving demand for efficient cross-border payments. The Global and Regional Payments Conference will provide a platform bringing together the public and private sectors to address these developments and turn them into practical opportunities for Africa.

Over two days, discussions will cover cross-border payments, local-currency settlement, interoperability, financial infrastructure, artificial intelligence, stablecoins, digital assets, cybersecurity and Africa's integration into global payment networks.

The PAPSS Global and Regional Payments Conference 2026 is expected to attract more than 1,000 delegates, feature over 60 speakers and host more than 35 exhibition stands. Participants are expected to include central bank governors, bank CEOs, fintech founders, payment switches, global payment networks, technology companies, regulators, corporates and other industry leaders from Africa and beyond.

Alongside its high-level program, the conference will offer extensive opportunities for networking, bilateral meetings, partnerships and business development, as well as an exhibition showcasing solutions and innovations from across the payments industry.

The PAPSS COWRY Awards will also be presented at the PAPSS COWRY Gala Dinner on the evening of 26 November, recognizing outstanding contributions across Africa's payments ecosystem.

Financial institutions, fintechs, payment and technology companies, corporates, policymakers and payments professionals from Africa and around the world are invited to attend the PAPSS Global and Regional Payments Conference 2026 in Addis Ababa.