Privatisation Bill Reaches Legislators

Dec 21 , 2019


A new bill that will gear up the privatisation process of public enterprises has been tabled to parliament. If legislated, the proclamation will replace the existing two-decade-old law. The existing law indicates that a privatisation process will be made within the mandates of the Public Enterprise Holding & Administration Agency. The revised draft recognises the Council of Ministers and the Ministry of Finance as stakeholders in the process. The Council of Ministers will determine which enterprises will be privatised and approve their transfer to the Agency. The Council also approves the use and structure of golden share vote and veto rights for any decision deemed against the public interest. The Ministry of Finance will conduct the valuation of the assets and share values of the public enterprise under consideration and decide on the floor price for the transaction. The transactions can be made through a competitive tender, a public auction or an initial public offering (IPO) on a stock exchange or another suitable trading platform. The revised draft proclamation also requires the revenue from privatisation to be deposited in a special account designated for the Industrial Development Fund administered by the Ministry of Finance after the associated costs for the transaction are duly deducted.


Radar

Ministry Ponders Tax Waivers for Rural Energy Solutions

Tax exemptions for off-grid energy technologies like solar pumps and mini-grids are under discussion, spearheaded by the Ministry of Water & Energy. Commonly used by rural households, officials disclose their simultaneous plan to develop 300 mini-grids in the next six years. According to Birhanu Weldu, the lead executive of rural energy technology development, the initiative tackles the country's low electrification rate and reliance on charcoal and firewood. Charcoal, fuel wood, and...


Radar

Rural Land Proclamation Comes to Light

A landmark legislation that grants title holders in rural areas the right to use the property as collateral was unanimously ratified by Parliament last week. It primarily focuses on extending access to finance for farmers and pastoralists, through a structured land title system. It also introduces criminal penalties for the illegal transfer of property. Replacing the 18-year-old proclamation for rural land management, the law sentences individuals engaging in land invasions and unauthoris...


Radar

Ethiopian Unveils $50m Domestic Terminal Renovation

With a rising demand for domestic travel, Ethiopian Airlines has renovated its terminal at Addis Abeba Bole International Airport with 50 million dollars to handle customers. The expanded terminal has doubled its previous size to 25,750Sqm and accommodates 200 daily flights to and from 22 domestic destinations. It includes four contact gates, 10 remote departure gates, 22 check-in counters with automated baggage screening systems, shops and restaurants. The terminal also features a dedica...


Back
WhatsApp
Telegram
Email