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Ethiopia Gets Local Angel Investors

Sep 27 , 2020

Addis Abeba Angels Network, the first local angel investors group, has entered the scene to invest in high-risk ventures to build an ecosystem of start-ups. The Network is founded by Shem Asfaw, an investor operating in Canada, Ethiopia and Kenya; Addis Alemayehou, chairperson of  Kazana Group; and Henok Assefa, founder of Precise Consult. Adam Abate, CEO of Paga Ethiopia, Joseph Kibur, founder and CEO of Yaya Investments, and Levi Girma, cofounder at Nest Ventures, are also members. The new angel investors have completed the first investment in Across Express, a tech start-up that aspires to change the transport and logistics sector using technology. The company provides delivery services through designated drivers. It also plans to modernise the freight booking and fulfilment procedures for mid and long-distance trucks.

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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Radar

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...

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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...

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