FORTUNE+ VIDEO SPONSORED CONTENTS ADVERTORIALS FORTUNE AUDIO Fortune Careers TRADE AFRICA Election 2026 New TIME REMAINING UNTIL ETHIOPIA’S NATIONAL ELECTION 0Days 0Hours 0Minutes 0Seconds




Awash Bank Launches Digital Lending Platform

Nov 8 , 2025


[ssba-buttons]

Awash Bank has rolled out Mesmer Digital Lending, a new platform offering loan services to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through a digital application. Developed in partnership with the MasterCard Foundation and First Consult, the initiative builds on the MESMER program, which has provided financial support and business training to thousands of SMEs over the past three years. The new digital system allows enterprises to access credit via the Awash Birr Pro app or by dialing *901#. Since the program's inception, over 66,000 SMEs have applied for financing, with more than 13,000 receiving a combined 1.3 billion Br in loans. Women entrepreneurs account for 32pc of beneficiaries. To enhance efficiency, 1,276 loan officers have been deployed to support applicants, strengthening the bank's role in expanding SME financing nationwide.


Radar

Coffee Export Platform Links Ethiopian Roasters with Overseas Consumers

Ethiopian coffee roasters have gained a direct route to international consumers through a multi-brand e-commerce export platform launched by DHL Express Ethiopia and EXM Global PLC. The companies say it is the first platform of its kind in Ethiopia. Bringing together 10 Ethiopian coffee brands in a single digital marketplace, the platform enables overseas customers to order freshly roasted coffee in quantities ranging from speciality retail purchases to larger commercial volumes. DHL Express...


Radar

Addis Abeba Clears 59Km of Rivers, Remains Short of Halfway

Addis Abeba has completed 59Km of river cleanup and development work, although total coverage has yet to reach 50pc. Mayor Adanech Abebe said the 59Km stretch was transformed in one and a half years as she presented a comprehensive review of the city's strategic plan from 2022 to 2026. Mayor Abebe described the progress as a major "breakthrough", saying the work relied entirely on the city's funding, engineers, architects and workers. By comparison, she said, a world-renowned foreign contract...


Radar

Kisse Platform Brings Collateral-Free Microloans Through Agent Network

Mefithe Microfinance S.C., MZ Tech, and Arifpay Financial Technologies S.C. have launched “Kisse”, an agent-powered digital microloan platform designed to expand access to finance for micro and small enterprises. Through trained local agents, borrowers can apply for collateral-free, short-term business loans. Once approved, the funds are transferred to mobile wallets or bank accounts through Arifpay's payment gateway. The partners said loans can be disbursed within hours. Under the par...