Addis Abeba Bans Three-Wheeled Vehicles

Mar 11 , 2023


Banning three-wheeled vehicles on Addis Abeba streets has resulted in lengthy queues at public transport terminals, impacting the over 2.7 million residents who depend on the city's public transport system. The Addis Abeba Trasport Bureau has registered over 6,100 Bajajs in the past eight months alone. Mitiku Asmare, head of the city's Transport Bureau, imposed the ban last week until a "proper regulatory framework" is in place and the relevance of the service is assessed. Ensuing a bill proposed four months ago by the city's Transport Bureau and the Ministry of Transport & Logistics, plans are to limit the movement of Bajaj vehicles to designated areas, establish tariffs, the number of passengers to three, and offer fuel subsidies for Bajaj drivers.


Radar

Ethiopia Revives WTO Ambitions After Five-Year Stall

Ethiopia's trade delegation led by Kassahun Gofe (PhD), a chief negotiator in the WTO accession talks, is reviving a long-stalled effort to join the World Trade Organisation (WTO), signalling renewed ambition following a five-year hiatus. He travelled last week to Geneva, Switzerland, where the WTO is headquartered, to conclude negotiations for membership by March next year. If successful, Ethiopia's accession to the world's trade body will be timed, with the 14th ministerial conference set t...


Radar

First Digital Insurance, Loan Services Launched

A new digital insurance and loan service platform christened 'Agar' - translated as a partner - has debuted in the market, marking a notable entry into the financial sector. The initiative, a collaboration among Global Bank Ethiopia, Lucy Insurance, and Kacha Digital Financial Services, pledged to transform access to insurance and credit for various user groups, including insurance policy buyers, taxi drivers, and salaried employees. For Abraham Tilahun, CEO of Kacha Digital Financial Service...


Radar

City Forms Task Force to Regulate Informal Street Vendors

A new task force under the city administration will enforce new regulations designed to restore order on the streets of Addis Abeba and address concerns over cleanliness and public safety. The task force has been established to enforce regulations imposed on informal street vendors. The city's Trade Bureau launched the initiative to address the increasing informal trading, which city officials say has been "disruptive to the established trade system." The task force is headed by Deputy Mayor...