Private Banks Eye Djibouti Market

Jun 11 , 2022


The executives of the Bank of Abyssinia and the newly-formed Siinqee Bank look to establish a presence in neighbouring Djibouti. Abyssinia's executives say they have completed preparations to open a branch in the small coastal nation, while their counterparts at Siinqee say they are actively working to gain a foothold in Djibouti. The state-owned Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) has been operating in Djibouti for the past two years. Abie Sano, president of the CBE, looks to expand on the "tremendous success" the Bank has enjoyed in the Djiboutian market. He led a delegation that visited the country last week and held discussions with players in the import-export business, as well as public officials. Formerly known as Oromia Credit & Saving S.C., Siinqee began its transition into a commercial bank last May following a recent rule by the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) allowing microfinance institutions (MFIs) to evolve into full-fledged banks. It appointed Neway Megerssa as its founding president earlier this year.


Radar

Sovereign Fund Reviews Mid-Year Performance of Line Companies, Calls for Strategic Improvements

Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH) launched its mid-year performance review for its portfolio companies, displaying mixed results for the first half of the fiscal year. Ethiopian Sugar Industry Group (ESIG) reached 95.3pc of its sales goal, selling 64,190tn of sugar for 6.1 billion Br—a 132pc year-on-year growth—despite capacity and supply issues. The Ethiopian Petroleum Supply Enterprise (EPSE) met 92pc and 97pc of its purchase and sales targets, respectively, stating it has benefitt...


Radar

Digital Pay Uptake Booms Among SMEs, Visa Study Finds

Over 80pc of surveyed small- and medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) have started accepting digital payments in the last two years, according to a new Visa report titled, ‘Value of Acceptance: Understanding the Digital Payment Landscape in Ethiopia'. Citing increased convenience, the report indicates reduced fraud risk and improved efficiency as factors in the uptake. A substantial 66pc of these SMEs believe that investing in digital payment technologies will support future business growth. The...


Radar

ILO Tackles Agricultural Wage Gap

The International Labour Organization (ILO) launched the Setting Adequate Wages in Agriculture (SAW-A) Project last week, with support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation & Development (BMZ), seeking to promote fair wage policies, enhance collective bargaining, and support the establishment of minimum wage mechanisms to improve the livelihoods of agricultural workers. The sector employs over 80pc of Ethiopia's workforce, making it the country's largest employment sec...