The Right to Regulate under Ethiopian International Investment Agreements

Starting from its conception, protection of investment has been main purpose of international investment agreements. However, international investment law has been criticized for its focus on the promotion of investor's right against host states right to regulate for public interest. Notably, the right to regulate has assented as a nascent concept in the international investment law regime. As a developing country, Ethiopia has entered in many IIAs with the purpose of attracting foreign investment. Investment protection remains the focal point of those agreements construing state's power to regulate in the interest of the general public. The objective of this study is to analyze the status quo of Ethiopia's right to regulate in international investment agreements with the objective of finding out the much needed balance between investor rights and host states interest. Starting from its conception, protection of investment has been main purpose of international investment agreements. However, international investment law has been criticized for its focus on the promotion of investor's right against host states right to regulate for public interest. Notably, the right to regulate has assented as a nascent concept in the international investment law regime. As a developing country, Ethiopia has entered in many IIAs with the purpose of attracting foreign investment. Investment protection remains the focal point of those agreements construing state's power to regulate in the interest of the general public. The objective of this study is to analyze the status quo of Ethiopia's right to regulate in international investment agreements with the objective of finding out the much needed balance between investor rights and host states interest.