Capital Gears Up for AU Summit

Feb 4 , 2023


African Union Summit will unfold in the capital from February 15-19, 2023. Three sessions of the AU Assembly and Executive Council are scheduled to endorse policies through a round of discussion for five days. Dubbed "Acceleration of AfCFTA Implementation", the session will begin with Permanent Representatives' committee meetings and continues to the Executive Council Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The intra-African trade agreement was established in 2018 with the goal of deepening trade ties between African countries by removing tariff and non-tariff barriers. Under the AfCFTA, Africa's expanded goods and labour markets will become more efficient, driving significant competition between the countries, according to a study conducted by the IMF. The National Committee, established to oversee preparations, discussed with representatives of the hotel and tourism sectors.  In the discussion, Birtukan Ayano, state minister for Foreign Affairs said the tourism industry players are essential to make Ethiopia a top conference tourism destination by offering excellent services to AU summit participants. The Minister of State for Tourism, Selamawit Dawit, said the upcoming conference is an opportunity to showcase the country's potential in the field of conference tourism, stating that the Ministry has prepared tour programs for the guests.


Radar

Ethiopia Buys Time, Not Relief as Creditors Stall on Debt Write-Off

Ethiopia's official creditors expect to finalise a draft restructuring of the country's debt in the coming months, granting the government more time to repay its obligations while avoiding a direct reduction to the initial debt amount. Ethiopia defaulted on its external debt in December 2023, before its leaders announced a preliminary deal in March with its Official Creditor Committee to reorganise 8.4 billion dollars, an essential step in moving beyond sovereign default. Under the agreement...


Radar

Road Injuries Increase by 35pc, with Pedestrians Most Affected

Addis Abeba's streets continue to present fatal risks for pedestrians, who account for 86pc of all traffic fatalities reported in 2023/24. Megenagna emerged as a particularly hazardous area, logging the highest number of fatalities, including 13 deaths. While the number of pedestrian deaths has dipped slightly, overall injuries have surged by 35pc since 2020/21, with eight out of 10 injuries involving those on foot. The Addis Abeba City Administration revised its 13-year road safety strate...


Radar

Awash Insurance Customer Week Discount

Awash Insurance Company(AIC), serving for over 30 years, gives a 25pc discount on Mortgage Redemption Insurance (MRI), Individual Life Insurance, Education Insurance, Workers' Compensation Insurance, and Fire & Lightning Insurance. This was announced during the celebration of Customer Week at their headquarters, on April 7,2025. Jibat Alemneh, CEO of the company said, Vehicles owners that purchased thier cars with full insurance coverage will receive enhanced benefits at no extra cost at...