Council Endorses Bill for Budget Expanded by 23pc

Jun 7 , 2020


[ssba-buttons]

The Council of Ministers has approved a budget that proposes 476 billion Br in federal spending, which is 23pc higher than the current fiscal year. The proposed federal budget allocates 160.4 billion Br for capital expenditures and 133.3 billion Br for recurrent spending, 30 billion and 24 billion Br more than was allocated for the current fiscal year, respectively. It also allocated 176 billion Br for regional block grants and six billion Birr for sustainable Development Goal (sDG) projects. During the session that was held this saturday, the Council approved the bill and endorsed it to the parliament for legislation. The new budget is highly influenced by fears of the economic repercussions that could be caused by the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Prepared by the Ministry of Finance, the bill aims to cover a little over half of the budget with domestic tax revenues, while 100 billion Br will be sourced with external loans. In terms of foreign currency, the budget stands at 13.7 billion dollars, a slight increase from the current fiscal year's 13.4 billion dollars and a considerable increase from the 12.6 billion dollars that was allocated two years ago.


Radar

New Directive Hikes Service Fees for Foreign Investors in Free Trade Zones

The Ethiopian Investment Board has issued a new directive revising the service fees from foreign investors payable in dollars to the Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC), introducing updated rates for both the One Stop Shop and designated Free Trade Zones. The revised directive came into effect this April following its publication on the websites of the Ministry of Justice and the EIC. Issued pursuant to Article 23 of the Special Economic Zone Proclamation, the directive outlines charges for...


Radar

City Tables 350B Br Budget Plan for Upcoming Fiscal Year

The City Administration has approved a resolution to submit a proposed budget of 350 billion Br for the 2025/26 fiscal year to the City Council for deliberation. According to the Administration's statement on its official social media page, the draft budget is designed with a central focus on poverty reduction, encompassing targeted subsidies for sustainable development, investment in large-scale job-creating projects, and enhanced service delivery to address the growing demands of the reside...


Radar

Ethiopia, UN Launch Joint Plan to Drive Development Through 2030

The Ethiopian government and the United Nations (UN) have signed a five-year development plan outlining national priorities from 2025 to 2030. Signed on June 20 at the Ministry of Finance, the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) with implications that it aligns with Ethiopia's reform goals and the Sustainable Development Agenda. The plan is backed by a projected 6.5 billion dollars, though only 1.5 billion dollars is currently secured. It focuses on closing t...