Nairobi, Nov. 16 -- Ethiopia is planning to ease its restrictions on participation of foreigners in its domestic financial markets as it prepares to launch its local currency securities exchange platform next year.

The country has in the last two years opened up its telecommunications and banking sectors to participation of foreign firms, allowing Kenyan telco Safaricom and bank KCB to set up operations there.

Read: Ethiopia leads in Kenya's foreign investments

Other sectors have remained restricted, with only locals and Ethiopian diasporas allowed to invest or operate businesses in them, a factor which has greatly limited participation of foreigners in the country's financial markets.

Brook Taye, director-general of the Ethiopian Cap...