Ethiopia Secures Safe Travel Stamp

Feb 6 , 2021


[ssba-buttons]

Ethiopia has been granted the safe travel stamp given to countries that have complied with Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) health and hygiene protocols by the World Travel & Tourism Council.  The validation, a result of a collaboration between the government and the private sector in implementing protocols, is expected to further revive the tourism sector amidst the pandemic. The stamp is intended to restore confidence in travelers and revive global travel and tourism by allowing for easy identification of safe destinations.  The Ministry of Culture & Tourism along with Tourism Ethiopia, the Addis Abeba Hotel Owner's Association, the Hotel Marketing Association, and the Ethiopian Chef's Association, crafted the Ethiopian Tourism & National Safe Travel Protocol aimed at ensuring safe travel in the country in mid-2020. Prepared following international guidelines issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Centres for Disease Control (CDC), the Protocol has four broad sections of applicability. The first three focus on tour operators, attraction sites and hospitality establishments, while the remaining section is applicable to meetings, incentives, conferences & exhibitions (MICE). The Council was established in the 1980s with the aim of representing the travel and tourism sector globally; and prioritising security and travel facilitation, crisis preparedness and management, and sustainable growth.


Radar

Bank of Abyssinia Signs Partnership with Droga Cooperative

Bank of Abyssinia has entered into a partnership agreement with Droga Health & Financial Savings and Credit Cooperative to provide financial support and services for its members. The agreement was signed yesterday at the Bank's headquarters. The deal aims to strengthen collaboration between the two institutions, enabling cooperative members to access tailored banking services. It was signed by Wosenyeleh Abera, Deputy CEO for Customer Relations and Marketing at the bank, and Zelalem Yilma...


Radar

Wegagen Introduces Real Time SWIFT Tracking

Wegagen Bank has launched a new mobile app feature enabling customers to track international SWIFT payments in real time. The bank is the first in Ethiopia to introduce an online SWIFT payment tracking system. By integrating SWIFT Global Payment Innovation, customers, particularly those involved in import-export trade, can monitor cross-border transactions using a Unique End-to-End Transaction Reference (UETR) directly from their smartphones. To use the service, customers select the SWIFT...


Radar

National ID, Zambia Partners to Expands Program Reach

The National ID Program has signed an agreement with Zambia's counterpart to provide consulting services for the development of software that will issue digital IDs. It is the first time the institution has extended its expertise beyond national borders, a sign of growing recognition for its rapid progress. Program officials described the partnership as a milestone in their effort to position themselves as a regional player in digital transformation. The collaboration is expected to center...