Central Bank Tunes Forex, Cash Rules


Central Bank Tunes Forex, Cash Rules

Regulators at the central bank have introduced new rules on foreign exchange transactions as forex reserves dwindle and the federal government struggles with a widening budget deficit and falling external loan disbursements. The directive bans the use of foreign currency in local transactions. Central bank Governor Yinager Dessie (PhD) has also lowered the period of time that returning residents can hold on to foreign currency by two thirds to 30 days. Travellers entering or departing the country are allowed to carry a maximum of 3,000 Br in cash, while the ceiling is 10,000 Br for those travelling to neighbouring Djibouti. The directive quadruples the amount of foreign currency that nationals can bring into the country without a customs declaration to 4,000 dollars, while foreigners are not required to disclose less than 10,000 dollars to customs officials. The threshold was previously 3,000 dollars.


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...


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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...