A draft proclamation, expected to be enacted this year, would transfer insurance supervision from the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) to an independent regulatory authority, to be called the Ethiopian Insurance Regulatory Authority (EIRA).
Developed with World Bank support, the proposed reform would introduce the most significant reforms to the Ethiopian insurance market in recent history, reported Capital Ethiopia.
The proposed new regulator, to be set up under the Finance Ministry, would have operational independence and broad powers to license and regulate insurance companies and intermediaries.
Another major change would be the removal of composite licences. By requiring separate licences for life and non-life operations, the proposed framework aims to boost the life insurance market.