Investments in Hospitality Get Profit Tax Lifted

Sileshi Girma


Investments in Hospitality Get Profit Tax Lifted

The government has introduced a five-year zero profit tax policy for new investments in the hospitality sector. The decision, which was made in the hope of encouraging private sector investment in the tourism industry, selected seven eligible sites in Tigray, Amhara, Afar, Oromia and Southern Nations, Nationalities & People's (SNNP) regional states. Gheralta Mountains in Tigray, Simien Mountains National Park in Amhara, Abiata Shalla National Park in Oromia, and Nech Sar National Park in Southern regional states are among the areas included under the new policy. The profit tax incentives will be similar to tax and duty exemptions for the import of construction inputs, capital goods and vehicles, according to Sileshi Girma, director-general of Tourism Ethiopia. Developing world-class tourism facilities in the industry is expected to enable the creation of millions of jobs and boost revenue for the country, according to him. The new policy comes on the heels of the Dine for the Nation fundraising campaign organised by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) to develop three tourist sites in the country: Gorgora in Amhara, Wonchi in Oromia, and Koysha in SNNP regional states. So far, the campaign has garnered 1.4 billion Br of its three-billion-Birr goal.


Radar

Electricity Bills Get the VAT Jolt

The new Value Added Tax (VAT) has begun implementation on electricity consumption and various service fees affecting customers who use more than 200 kilowatt hours of electricity per month. Based on a directive from the Ministry of Finance, the tax will be applied to the excess amount of electricity consumption above 200 kilowatt hours. The Ethiopian Electric Utility (EEU) began implementing the VAT on bills starting from November though both prepaid and postpaid customers will have to pay V...


Radar

Gadaa Bank Expands Reach, Faces Lending Constraints

Gadaa Bank closed its first full fiscal year of operations with a net profit of 90.2 million Br. The 18-month-old Bank held its annual general assembly at Millenium Hall on Africa Avenue last week where the board announced that during the year, the Bank opened 15 branches and now has 85 operational branches. “Due to recently enacted policy measures on credit by NBE and unmet resource mobilization during the fiscal year, the Bank was unable to make loan disbursements,” stated Wolde...


Radar

Oromia Bank's Branch Expansion Weighs on Profits

Oromia Bank reported a 47pc decline in net profit to take in 840.9 million Br for the past fiscal year. Interest income grew by 21pc to reach 7.19 billion Br while personnel expense grew by 36pc to hit 3.16 billion Br. The opening of 72 new branches, bringing the total to 575, led to a four percent growth of deposits to 56.4 billion Br. The profits are “unsatisfactory against our ambitious moves,” said Assefa Seme (PhD), board chairperson. “The deviation is primarily attributed to our aggr...