MTN Opts Out of Second Telecom Bid

Aug 14 , 2021


[ssba-buttons]

The MTN Group will not be participating in the second telecom license bid, its executives announced. It was one of the two bidders that were vying to get the first-ever private telecom license earlier this year. MTN was rejected after offering 650 million dollars, much lower than the 850 million dollar bid from the Safaricom-led consortium. Following the award of one of the two licenses to the consortium, the Ethiopian Communications Authority re-floated the bid this month after adjusting policy restrictions, such as the provision of mobile financial services. The ban that prevented foreign operators to involve in mobile banking services will be lifted, according to officials. The government of Ethiopia is also in progress to sell off a 40pc stake in the state-owned Ethio Telecom. It already called for an expression of interest a month ago, though it is yet to announce the number of interested bidders.


Radar

New Directive Hikes Service Fees for Foreign Investors in Free Trade Zones

The Ethiopian Investment Board has issued a new directive revising the service fees from foreign investors payable in dollars to the Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC), introducing updated rates for both the One Stop Shop and designated Free Trade Zones. The revised directive came into effect this April following its publication on the websites of the Ministry of Justice and the EIC. Issued pursuant to Article 23 of the Special Economic Zone Proclamation, the directive outlines charges for...


Radar

City Tables 350B Br Budget Plan for Upcoming Fiscal Year

The City Administration has approved a resolution to submit a proposed budget of 350 billion Br for the 2025/26 fiscal year to the City Council for deliberation. According to the Administration's statement on its official social media page, the draft budget is designed with a central focus on poverty reduction, encompassing targeted subsidies for sustainable development, investment in large-scale job-creating projects, and enhanced service delivery to address the growing demands of the reside...


Radar

Ethiopia, UN Launch Joint Plan to Drive Development Through 2030

The Ethiopian government and the United Nations (UN) have signed a five-year development plan outlining national priorities from 2025 to 2030. Signed on June 20 at the Ministry of Finance, the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) with implications that it aligns with Ethiopia's reform goals and the Sustainable Development Agenda. The plan is backed by a projected 6.5 billion dollars, though only 1.5 billion dollars is currently secured. It focuses on closing t...