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Innovation Ministry Taps KPMG for Startup Consulting, Policy Reform

Jul 13 , 2025

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The Ministry of Innovation & Technology has inked a strategic partnership with KPMG East Africa in a bid to bolster Ethiopia’s fledgling startup ecosystem. The collaboration will cover early-stage consulting, policy formulation, incubator support, and capacity building for public innovation institutions. Bayissa Bedada (PhD), state minister at the Ministry, underscored the initiative’s alignment with the “Digital Ethiopia Strategy” under the government’s 10-Year Development Plan. Vasken Sissian, associate director at KPMG, said the firm plans to blend global expertise with local insight to help drive inclusive economic transformation. A joint working group has been tasked with drafting an action plan and rolling out pilot projects. KPMG East Africa, which operates in Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and the DRC, will lead several innovation-driven projects across the region.

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Somali Region Advances Budget Independence as Revenues Rise

Somali Regional State is moving closer to fiscal independence, with nearly half its budget now funded locally. Officials point to rising agricultural output and stronger tax enforcement as key drivers behind growing revenues. The region plans to cover 32.5 billion Br from its own resources in the upcoming fiscal year. Communication Head Mohammed Abdi credited last year's tax collection of 18 billion Br, exceeding the 17 billion Br target, to agriculture, khat, and other taxable goods. The reg...

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Environmental Protection Authority Shuts Down Polluters

Addis Abeba's Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has taken enforcement action against 3,249 manufacturers and service providers found violating environmental standards in the 2024/25 fiscal year. The violations, ranging from air and noise pollution to improper waste disposal, were identified during inspections of 14,872 businesses citywide. Penalties included warnings and closures, with shutdown orders issued to six plastic factories, 23 block factories, a soft paper plant, 102 nightclu...

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Ministry Mandates Full Electronic Clearance for Top Taxpayers

Taxpayers under the Ministry of Revenues' Medium No. 1 branch will have to ditch paper filings and switch entirely to the e-Clearance system for non-audited services starting August 1, 2025. The mandate, routed through the Ministry's e-filing portal, is pitched as part of a broader push to modernise tax administration and advance the government's digital agenda. Officials say the platform lets users process clearance requests remotely via the Fayda national ID, cutting out manual paperwork. A...

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