AfCFTA Strides, National Implementations Fall Behind


AfCFTA Strides, National Implementations Fall Behind

The 15th Council of Ministers Meeting of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) convened in Addis Abeba last week, bringing together stakeholders to discuss boosting trade integration and sustainable development on the continent. The AfCFTA aims to transform small and fragmented markets into a single market of over 1.4 billion people, looking to ensure heightened growth and development. It will enhance Africa's collective bargaining power on the global stage and aligns with the commitment to sustainable development goals and the African Union's Agenda 2063. Ethiopia, represented by the Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration has participated in the AfCFTA negotiation process and initiating pilot trades through the Guided Trade Initiative. The AfCFTA Secretary-General, Wamkele Mene, stressed the importance of accelerating implementation at the national level, emphasizing the need for the inclusion of the private sector, youth, and small and medium enterprises.


Radar

Electricity Bills Get the VAT Jolt

The new Value Added Tax (VAT) has begun implementation on electricity consumption and various service fees affecting customers who use more than 200 kilowatt hours of electricity per month. Based on a directive from the Ministry of Finance, the tax will be applied to the excess amount of electricity consumption above 200 kilowatt hours. The Ethiopian Electric Utility (EEU) began implementing the VAT on bills starting from November though both prepaid and postpaid customers will have to pay V...


Radar

Gadaa Bank Expands Reach, Faces Lending Constraints

Gadaa Bank closed its first full fiscal year of operations with a net profit of 90.2 million Br. The 18-month-old Bank held its annual general assembly at Millenium Hall on Africa Avenue last week where the board announced that during the year, the Bank opened 15 branches and now has 85 operational branches. “Due to recently enacted policy measures on credit by NBE and unmet resource mobilization during the fiscal year, the Bank was unable to make loan disbursements,” stated Wolde...


Radar

Oromia Bank's Branch Expansion Weighs on Profits

Oromia Bank reported a 47pc decline in net profit to take in 840.9 million Br for the past fiscal year. Interest income grew by 21pc to reach 7.19 billion Br while personnel expense grew by 36pc to hit 3.16 billion Br. The opening of 72 new branches, bringing the total to 575, led to a four percent growth of deposits to 56.4 billion Br. The profits are “unsatisfactory against our ambitious moves,” said Assefa Seme (PhD), board chairperson. “The deviation is primarily attributed to our aggr...