Oromia State's Tax Revenues to Double Through Ethiotelecom Deal

Jun 24 , 2023


A new partnership with Ethio telecom is hoped to more than double revenues for the Oromia Regional State. The Oromia Regional Revenue Bureau partnered with Ethiopia's leading telecom provider, Ethiotelecom, leveraging the Telebirr digital platform. The Bureau aims to rake in tax revenues exponentially in the next fiscal year. The partnership is an ambitious undertaking that merges Ethiopia's push for digitisation with the country's expansive taxation agenda. According to Meskerem Debebe, head of the Oromia Regional Revenue Bureau, the objective is to accrue a formidable 130 billion Br in the next year, signalling a significant 55.3pc surge compared to previous collections. The Bureau's tax collection through the Telebirr platform has been off to a promising start since its launch in June this year. Within the first two weeks, it registered more than 39,251 transactions, cumulatively yielding over 44 million Br. Ethiotelecom's Chief Mobile Money Officer, Biruk Adhana, described the extent of the new tax collection infrastructure, which now seamlessly incorporates the Telebirre system. With this integration, 409 tax collection centres spanning across 23 towns, 42 districts, 21 zones, and 323 woredas have become part of this digital network. The system is not only intended for domestic taxation. Four customs revenue stations, in West Arsi (Shashemene), West Harergie (Bordade), East Harergie (Aweday, Babile, Dhegago, and Gursum), and South West Shewa (Teji), will also be utilizing the platform for more streamlined collection procedures.


Radar

Parliament Reviews Bill Allowing Foreign Property Ownership

A draft proclamation that would allow foreigners to own or occupy immovable property in Ethiopia has been submitted to parliament by the Council of Ministers. Designed to attract foreign investment, the draft law plans to ensure that Ethiopian citizens retain their right to land ownership and use. According to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office, the draft was among six agenda items discussed and approved during the Council's regular session held on May 2, 2025. The proclamation is e...


Radar

Speeding in the Spotlight as New Safety Drive Begins

The Road Safety and Insurance Fund Service has stated that drivers are responsible for 68 percent of traffic accidents in Ethiopia, with the remainder mainly caused by pedestrians and road conditions. On this topic, the service launched a one-month mass media campaign on last week focused on raising awareness about speeding, the leading cause of traffic accidents. The campaign, under the motto "Slow Down, Speeding Ruins Lives," plans to shed light on the dangers of speeding. Yohannes Lemma, E...


Radar

Askari Metals Secures Five Gold Licenses in Untapped Adola Belt

Askari Metals has acquired 100pc of Rift Valley Metals, gaining five gold exploration licences covering 460sqkm in Ethiopia's Adola Greenstone Belt, part of the southern Arabian-Nubian Shield, a mineral-rich but underexplored region. "The exploration areas—Sakaro, Sakaro West, Lega Dembi South, Megado, and Wayu Boda—lie near Ethiopia's top gold mines, including Lega Dembi and Sakaro, which have produced over three million ounces of gold. The area is known for orogenic gold systems hosted...