Ride Readies for Djibouti Market Entry

Jul 2 , 2022


[ssba-buttons]

One of the Ethiopia's leading taxi-hailing services is set to enter the market in Djibouti. Incorporated as a subsidiary of Hybrid Designs Plc with SamrawitFikru as a co-founder in 2017, Ride has been among the biggest names in a rapidly growing industry. Last week, the company announced it had finalised preparations to begin offering services in the neighbouring coastal country. This is not the first time Ethiopian ride-hailing companies have announced plans for expansion into other African countries. Platforms like Catch taxi and ZayRide had previously shared similar goals, with Catch operating in Kenya for a few months before it withdrew, while ZayRide's aspirations failed to materialise. Last month, Hybrid Designs lost a copyright infringement lawsuit against ZayRide's parent company.


Radar

Ethiopia Unveils Consortium to Insure Millions of Farmers

Ethiopia has launched its Agricultural Insurance Consortium (AICE), pledging to protect three million farmers by 2026. Announced on July 3, 2025, at the Hyatt Regency, the initiative is backed by Pula Advisors and five major Ethiopian insurers. AICE plans to promote climate resilience through insurance bundled with the government's input voucher system. Leveraging AI platforms like Mavuno and PIE, it plans to standardise products, lower costs, and expand coverage to over 200 woredas. With agricu...


Radar

New Coopbank Partnership Targets Youth Economic Empowerment

The Cooperative Bank of Oromia (Coopbank) has signed a strategic agreement with Melka Ethiopia to provide loan services to over 120,000 young men and women nationwide. The partnership plans to promote youth economic empowerment by expanding access to finance and creating jobs, with a strong focus on rural and underserved areas. Both institutions held joint discussions to explore ways to improve youth livelihoods and financial inclusion. By closing access gaps, the partnership is expected to help...


Radar

Ethiopian Netpreneur Program Training Kicks Off

The Ethiopian Netpreneur 2025 Training Program has officially launched its first cohort in Addis Abeba with 64 entrepreneurs beginning their first round of training. Organised by the Global Digital Talent Academy, the initiative plans to empower local business owners, startup founders, and digital sector players with global-level e-commerce skills. At the launch event, Innovation and Technology Minister Belete Mola (PhD) urged participants to leverage the opportunity to build networks and shape...