Industry Players Counter the Chambers' Proposed Reform

May 13 , 2023


[ssba-buttons]

The national and city chambers and sectoral associations pleaded their case on the proposed amendment of the bill for their re-establishment which has been in the making for the past three years. The ailment of stipulating a regulatory body between the general assembly and boards of directors, the 'unsettling' responsibilities of the Addis Chamber and the Ethiopian Chamber, and the number of board members selected had been hot topics in the discussion. Yohannes Woldegebriel, arbitration institute director at the Addis Chamber of Commerce & Sectoral Association, was in fury because the Ministry of Trade & Regional Integration had failed to tend to the written recommendations submitted over a month ago. "Our inputs were not considered," he said. According to Yohannes, the bill is proposed to strengthen the Ethiopian Chamber & Sectoral Association, which was passive for the past two decades. Bekele Tsegaye, the Chemical and Manufacturers Association president, concurs that the Ethiopian Chamber lacks the competence to be given the power to control businesses and rule over the city chamber. He suggested that the roles of both parties should clearly be considered lest it creates a toxic competition among them. "That will make both grow weaker," he said. Another panellist, Gebrewold Ashengo, a business development specialist, said chambers should not be seen based on their hierarchies but rather on the roles they had played over the years. "This is not a political order," he told Fortune. He recommended the mandate to engage in foreign policies and national agendas should be given to the Addis Chamber as it has played a significant role for the past several years.


Radar

Milkii App Disburses 25 Million Br in Collateral-Free Loans in Two Months

Oromia Bank's new collateral-free digital lending app, Milkii, has disbursed 25 million Br in loans without requiring collateral. Of this, 16 million Br has already been repaid, generating 1.4 million Br in revenue within just two months. Developed in partnership with Quantum Technology PLC, the app plans to make lending more accessible and inclusive, aligning with Oromia Bank's contribution to the Digital Ethiopia initiative. According to a press release, Milkii promotes financial inclusi...


Radar

Ethiopia Partners with UK to Ease Shipping Bottlenecks

The Ethiopian Freight Forwarders & Shipping Agents Association (EFFSAA) and the British International Freight Association (BIFA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on May 27, 2025, at Hyatt Regency Addis Abeba, to address skills gaps, customs delays, and corridor inefficiencies in the freight and logistics sector. The partnership focuses on technical cooperation, training, and regulatory reform. With over 90pc of trade dependent on the Djibouti corridor, rising congestion, customs...


Radar

Education Authority Sanctions Mishqen College for Rule Violations

The Education & Training Authority has issued a decisive directive last week, mandating legal action against Mishqen College for persistently defying regulatory orders and unlawfully continuing to offer higher education services. Mishqen College had previously been licensed to conduct undergraduate distance learning programs across multiple regions from 2019 to 2022. However, after serious regulatory breaches, the institution was ordered to cease all instruction, complete pending academic...