Ethiopia Loses 14.3b Br to Franco Valuta

Dec 10 , 2018


[ssba-buttons]

Ethiopia has lost 14.3 billion Br in franco valuta, a license issued to importers of goods on which no foreign exchange is payable in the past three years. The system was given to people living in peripheral areas of the country where the infrastructure development is very low, according to State Minister of Revenues Zemede Tefera. The Ministry found out that the scheme was misused for commercial purposes inside the country. “We will implement strong controls on this system, from issuing the permits to tracking the merchandise,” says Adanech Abebe, minister of Revenues. The investigation on the scheme also pointed out that government official have been engaged in the fraud. “Since government officials are also part of the problem, an extensive investigation must be done to get a lasting solution,” she added.


Radar

Somali Region Advances Budget Independence as Revenues Rise

Somali Regional State is moving closer to fiscal independence, with nearly half its budget now funded locally. Officials point to rising agricultural output and stronger tax enforcement as key drivers behind growing revenues. The region plans to cover 32.5 billion Br from its own resources in the upcoming fiscal year. Communication Head Mohammed Abdi credited last year's tax collection of 18 billion Br, exceeding the 17 billion Br target, to agriculture, khat, and other taxable goods. The reg...


Radar

Environmental Protection Authority Shuts Down Polluters

Addis Abeba's Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has taken enforcement action against 3,249 manufacturers and service providers found violating environmental standards in the 2024/25 fiscal year. The violations, ranging from air and noise pollution to improper waste disposal, were identified during inspections of 14,872 businesses citywide. Penalties included warnings and closures, with shutdown orders issued to six plastic factories, 23 block factories, a soft paper plant, 102 nightclu...


Radar

Ministry Mandates Full Electronic Clearance for Top Taxpayers

Taxpayers under the Ministry of Revenues' Medium No. 1 branch will have to ditch paper filings and switch entirely to the e-Clearance system for non-audited services starting August 1, 2025. The mandate, routed through the Ministry's e-filing portal, is pitched as part of a broader push to modernise tax administration and advance the government's digital agenda. Officials say the platform lets users process clearance requests remotely via the Fayda national ID, cutting out manual paperwork. A...