Capital Ushers Insurance Technology Ventures

Jul 15 , 2023


[ssba-buttons]

Insurance regulators and providers from nine African countries convened in the capital last week at the Sheraton Hotel on Taitu St. It was part of FSD Ethiopia's Knowledge series with the aim of shaping the future of insurance and technology in Africa. Bimalab Accelerator Program, which is working on 23 insurance startup ventures, went on two-day missions across different sectors to identify gaps in Ethiopia's insurance sector. Presentations by the members indicated that the complexity of insurance claims along with tedious bureaucracies was the reason for the underdevelopment of the sector in Ethiopia's economy. Vice Governor of the National Bank of Ethiopia, Solomon Desta, revealed that Ethiopia's insurance sector contributes a mere one percent to the country's GDP much below the three percent continental average. The collaboration between innovators and regulators was deemed necessary to realise the full of potential of Ethiopia's insurance sector. Yared Molla, president of the Ethiopian Insurers Association and Nyala Insurance and Zufan Abebe, president of Nib Insurance were part of a panel discussion on how to harness technology to bolster the insurance sector in the country.


Radar

Debt Crisis in Focus as Central Bank Governor Visits China

Eyob Tekalegn (PhD), newly appointed governor of the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE), made his first official overseas trip to China to discuss debt restructuring. He met with senior officials from China's Ministry of Finance, the People's Bank of China, and the Export-Import Bank of China, and is expected to hold talks with leading financial and commercial institutions. State media reported that the visit builds on the recent debt restructuring agreement with the Official Creditors Committee...


Radar

Blueprint for Safety, Builders Face Tough New Standards

Four key institutions in Ethiopia's construction sector signed an MoU at Skylight Hotel to address chronic safety lapses that cost lives and damage property. The deal brings together the Ethiopian Construction Authority, the Construction Management Institute, the Addis Abeba Construction Permit & Regulation Authority, and the Ethiopian Construction Work Contractors Association. Assistant Director Engineer Abebe Dinku warned that accidents persist despite booming activity, with 24,000 acti...


Radar

Licenses of Ten Auditors at Risk After Alleged Tax Irregularities

The Addis Abeba Revenue Bureau has asked the Accounting & Auditing Board of Ethiopia to revoke the licenses of ten accountants and auditors accused of preparing flawed taxpayer records during the 2024/2025 fiscal year. Officials say a preliminary audit uncovered irregularities that may have cost the government revenue. While disciplinary measures are yet to be confirmed, the Bureau said it would no longer accept financial statements signed by the professionals under scrutiny. Citing pr...