BGI Launches Alcohol-Free Drink

Oct 3 , 2020


BGI Ethiopia, the largest brewery in the country, introduced its first alcohol-free beverage, Senqe, last week. The new alcohol-free beverage, which is composed of caramel malt, vanilla and coffee, follows a new beer product line announced several months ago, Doppel Beer. The new products are launched under the same programme to awaken the slowing down of the economy due to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), which has led the brewer not to function at its top capacity, according to a statement from the company. The 96-year-old bottler has the product profiles of St. George, Castel, Panache, Zebidar and Raya. The last product, Raya, came after the full acquisition of Raya Brewery S.C. three years ago. The brewer, which was named the fifth top taxpayer in the country in the just ended fiscal year, functions with five breweries: Mexico Square, Kombolcha, Hawassa, Zebidar and Raya.


Radar

Horn Initiative Boosts Regional Development Agenda

A total of 20 projects worth three billion dollars are currently being implemented in Ethiopia under the Horn of Africa Initiative, which held a performance review platform last week. This initiative, established in 2019, seeks to economically integrate Horn of Africa countries through development projects. Finance Minister Ahmed Shide accentuated the initiative's goals of enhancing infrastructure connectivity, strengthening trade and economic integration, building resilience to natural and man...


Radar

Budget Woes Plague Region

The Amhara Regional State's six-month performance review revealed substantial budget shortfalls, achieving only 28.27pc of its targeted revenue. Chief Administrator Arega Kebede reported to the regional council that of the planned 71.65 billion Br for the current fiscal year, only 20.26 billion Br was collected. Despite this, revenue did see a year-on-year increase of four billion Birr. The regional state's tax-to-GDP ratio stands at a low 2.82pc, far below the national average of 7.05pc. Arega...


Radar

Modern Farming Boosted with New Centre of Excellence

The Agricultural Mechanization Centre of Excellence, built in the Qaliti area with collaboration from South Korea was inaugurated last week. The centre was constructed in seven months at a project cost of 14.7 million dollars funded by the South Korean government. It is expected to serve as a hub for inspecting, controlling, researching, and repairing agricultural mechanization machinery while also providing vocational training to develop skilled personnel in the field. Minister of Agricultur...