Central Bank Approves Debub Global Interest Free Banking Venture

Dr. Tesfaye Boru


Central Bank Approves Debub Global Interest Free Banking Venture

The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) has greenlighted Debub Global Bank's proposal to kick off an interest-free banking operation. Debub Global, which profited 1.1 billion Br in the last fiscal year, is going to avail Wadi'a saving, investment saving, financing services, international banking, foreign exchange services, bank guarantees, and remittance services through its IFB window. Several banks have already begun interest-free window operation services including, Dashen Bank, Bank of Abyssinia, Wegagen Bank, and the Cooperative Bank of Oromia. Debub Global, which was established in 2012, plans to begin operation in dedicated windows selected among its 110 branches in Addis Abeba and other cities. In 2008, the central bank issued a proclamation that allowed interest-free banking service, but it limited it to window service. A later directive issued, however, has relaxed the rules and allowed the establishment of fully-fledged interest-free banks, and the likes of ZamZam and Hijra are gearing up to start operations in the coming months.


Radar

Tech Ministry Falters as Audits Expose Mismanagement, Unmet Ambitions

The Ministry of Innovation & Technology is under scrutiny after an audit revealed lapses in project management and financial oversight. This raised questions about governance standards within a Ministry central to the country's tech-driven growth ambitions. According to the Federal Auditor General, the Ministry has completed only 11pc of its planned projects with its overall financial administration standing at 37.4pc for a year-long project that commenced in 2022. Budget mismanagement an...


Radar

Central Bank Keeps Lending Lid Tight as Inflation Squeezes Economy

The Central Bank has reaffirmed its decision to maintain an 18pc cap on credit growth, reinforcing a commitment to tighter monetary policy during persistent inflation and economic uncertainty. The National Bank of Ethiopia's (NBE) monetary policy committee cited ongoing concerns over inflation, which stood at 19.9pc year-on-year (YoY), and liquidity imbalances as reasons to uphold the restriction on lending. Bankers and analysts interpret this move as evidence of regulators' determination to...


Radar

Ethio Telecom Expands Services with DStv Streaming

Ethio telecom enters the entertainment pool with bundled DStv streaming services through high-speed broadband internet and mobile data packages. The partnership with MultiChoice Ethiopia aspires to merge the telecom's fiber broadband and mobile network with DStv's content. Subscribers can access DStv channels through mobile data or fiber broadband bundles, with discounts of up to 35pc through Telebirr or My Ethiotel (*999#) and up to 26.5pc at sales centers for fiber broadband bundles. Acc...