Ethiopia Unveils Digital Strategy Oversight Body

Apr 1 , 2024


[ssba-buttons]

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) announced plans for the formation of a national council force to oversee the execution of the "Digital Ethiopia 2025" strategy during a recent event held at the Adewa Museum Hall. Led by Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Tiruneh, it is expected to be established in the coming weeks. The event brought together government officials, including regional presidents and city administrators. They showcased the successes of the Digital Ethiopia Strategy so far, including advancements in data centre infrastructure, the digital ID program, and the evolving financial payment system. Telecom expansion, digital transactions, the use of artificial intelligence, data security and privacy and education reform were part of the discussion. National Bank of Ethiopia Governor, Mamo Mihertu, anticipates a significant transformation in the financial sector with 4.2 trillion Br transacted digitally in the past six months. Digital transactions have surpassed cash payments and the number of mobile phone users has doubled to 76 million in the last five years. Ethiotelecom is actively expanding its reach, bringing 4G services to 340 cities and launching a 5G network while Artificial Intelligence Institute is focusing on training individuals and developing educational materials to support the strategy. Meanwhile, concerns related to data security and privacy were raised. The City Administration pledged to address concerns in the digitalisation of services while the Ministry of Education disclosed its plan to revamp the curriculum for high schools and reform software engineering programs at universities.


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...