Ethiopia's Silicon Valley Gets New CEO

Oct 31 , 2020


[ssba-buttons]

Feven Dagnchew, the chief executive officer of ICT Park, has resigned from her post after serving for three years. Surafeal Shemiles, currently the director of the information technology department at the Industrial Park Development Corporation (IPDC), assumed the post as an acting CEO.  Feven had been heading the nation's first ICT park after it was moved under the IPDC. Feven has a bachelor's degree in agricultural engineering from Haramaya University and two master's degrees from Addis Abeba Institute of Technology and Leadstar University in energy technology and business administration, respectively. Before joining the Park, she worked at the Science & Technology Information Centre as an assistant analyst and as a junior energy consultant at GIZ. Surafeal has been working as the director of the information technology department at the IPDC, a department which was recently decentralised from the planning department in the Corporation. The new acting CEO still serves as the director of the information technology department.  Surafeal completed his bachelor's degree in computer science at Haramaya University and later went on to study project management at St. Mary's College three years back. Before joining the Corporation, he worked at Ethio telecom for close to a decade in different capacities from programmer to project manager. ICT Park, which is located close to Bole Lemi Industrial Park, is considered Ethiopia's Silicon Valley, and it is currently a home of many private operators such as ZTW, Techno Mobile and Security Innovation Network, among others.


Radar

Construction Sector Faces 'Serious Trouble,' Minister Warns

The construction industry in Ethiopia is in "serious trouble," said Chaltu Sani, Minister of Urban & Infrastructure Development, citing major challenges with finance, competitiveness and material costs. Speaking at the opening of the BIG 5 Construct Ethiopia expo and the inaugural East African Infrastructure & Water Expo at Millennium Hall last week, Chaltu stressed the need for concerted efforts from government, private sector, and international partners to support the 67 billion dol...


Radar

Wegagen Bank, Gift Real Estate Partner to Promote Diaspora Homeownership

Wegagen Bank S.C. and Gift Real Estate Plc. signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on June 23, to offer housing loans for homebuyers, with a special focus on the Ethiopian diaspora. The agreement enables eligible diaspora members to access loans covering up to 80pc of a home's value at reasonable interest rates. The bank's Deputy CEO Kidane Gebreselassie noted the deal will promote the real estate sector and expand homeownership options. Founder and CEO of Gift Real Estate, Gebreyesus Igata...


Radar

Jimma University Signs Sports Science Agreement to Strengthen National Programmes

Jimma University has signed a four-party Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ethiopian Academy of Sciences, Derartu Tulu Sports Training & Research Institute, and the Oromia Youth & Sport Bureau to advance Ethiopia's sports science and training capacity. Signed on June 26, the agreement includes joint research, shared facilities, and hosting of national and international competitions. It is expected to strengthen youth development, public health, and national pride through coor...