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Central Bank Nods to Telebirr Credit Services

May 28 , 2022


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Regulators at the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) have given the go-ahead to Ethio telecom to launch a proposed micro-loan and credit scheme through its Telebirr mobile money platform. The state-owned operator has been launching a slew of products and services in recent months, ahead of pending competition from Safaricom Ethiopia Plc, which won an operators' license after bidding 850 million dollars last year. Earlier this month, Ethio telecom began piloting pre-commercial 5G network services. It also recently launched an online retail platform. Telebirr has facilitated transactions valued at close to 10 billion since it was launched last May. Safaricom Ethiopia was expected to begin commercial operations last month, but has yet to do so.


Radar

Federal Prosecutors Accuse Public Officials, Contractors of Corruption, Alleged Illicit Fund Transfers

Federal prosecutors have filed corruption and money laundering charges against 11 defendants, including Nigstu Bogale, Coordinator of the Development Project for Response to the Impact of Refugees in the Horn of Africa at the Ministry of Agriculture, Biniyam Fantaye and Taye Habte, senior irrigation engineers involved in the Development Response to Displacement Impacts Project (DRDIP-II), as well as private individuals and construction company representatives. The case alleges losses and illicit...


Radar

EIH Transitions to New Headquarters as It Oversees Major State-Owned Enterprises

Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH) is relocating its headquarters from its current site on General Wingate Street. The former headquarters was located behind the Ministry of Industry and near Abrehot Library. The new office is expected to be on Mozambique Street, along the route from Mexico Square to Bulgaria Road. The building belongs to one of EIH's subsidiaries, and all departments are set to move there as interior design and finishing works continue. Under the leadership of Brook Taye...


Radar

Import Substitution Push Lifts Domestic Manufacturing, Industrial Recovery

A push for import substitution and industrial expansion has prioritised 96 strategic products for local manufacturing. The “Ethiopia Tamirt” initiative reports 4.85 billion dollars in savings, supported by trade fairs linking local producers to domestic and international markets. On average, 700 new projects enter the market annually, contributing to more than 2,800 investments over four years. At the grassroots level, 18,000 SMEs have been established, while 993 dormant factories have...