Ethiopia began selling shares to raise funds required to set up its first-ever securities exchange as Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed pushes to modernize eastern Africa’s largest economy.

The sale, which kicked off in the capital, Addis Ababa, on Tuesday aims to mobilize 75% of the required funding, said Michael Habte, a project manager for the planned Ethiopia Securities Exchange, or ESX. The remaining 25% of the shares will be held by Ethiopian Investment Holdings, the nation’s sovereign wealth fund.

The authorities want the bourse to be fully operational by 2024, and at least five state-owned enterprises to be listed soon after. The ESX stake is on offer to local and foreign investors, according to Michael who didn’t say how much money is being raised. The government expects local banks and insurance companies to invest.

Introducing a securities exchange is in line with Abiy’s plan to boost Ethiopia’s financial sector to rival African peers including South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Morocco. The Horn of Africa nation’s economy was one of the world’s fastest growing before it was disrupted by a civil war and the coronavirus pandemic.