FORTUNE+ VIDEO SPONSORED CONTENTS ADVERTORIALS FORTUNE AUDIO Fortune Careers TRADE AFRICA Election 2026 New TIME REMAINING UNTIL ETHIOPIA’S NATIONAL ELECTION 0Days 0Hours 0Minutes 0Seconds




Switch Operator Executives Aspire 3b Br Capital

Mar 18 , 2023


[ssba-buttons]

Shareholders of EthSwitch decided to raise its capital to three billion Birr in the next five years during the general assembly held at Sheraton Hotel last week. Chaired by Solomon Desta, the National Bank representative, company executives plan to float some of the equity to new financial technology companies. The national switch operator has reported 221 million Br in gross profit last year, registering a growth of 153pc from the previous year. EthSwitch provides a domestic card scheme with Ethiopia ATM card services co-branding with banks. It has partnered with nearly a dozen banks, enabling customers to issue transactions from any bank. Under Yilebes Addis, the company generated 329.8 million Br in revenues last year, facilitating transactions worth 171 million Br. Several commercial banks and the central bank established the company in 2019, with 80 million Br capital. With commercial banks participating in the Post-of-Sale (POS) interoperability service as both acquirers and issuers, transactions accounted for close to 16pc of the total 2.3 million worth 62.18 billion Br last year, climbing by 230pc compared to the previous year.


Radar

Coffee Export Platform Links Ethiopian Roasters with Overseas Consumers

Ethiopian coffee roasters have gained a direct route to international consumers through a multi-brand e-commerce export platform launched by DHL Express Ethiopia and EXM Global PLC. The companies say it is the first platform of its kind in Ethiopia. Bringing together 10 Ethiopian coffee brands in a single digital marketplace, the platform enables overseas customers to order freshly roasted coffee in quantities ranging from speciality retail purchases to larger commercial volumes. DHL Express...


Radar

Addis Abeba Clears 59Km of Rivers, Remains Short of Halfway

Addis Abeba has completed 59Km of river cleanup and development work, although total coverage has yet to reach 50pc. Mayor Adanech Abebe said the 59Km stretch was transformed in one and a half years as she presented a comprehensive review of the city's strategic plan from 2022 to 2026. Mayor Abebe described the progress as a major "breakthrough", saying the work relied entirely on the city's funding, engineers, architects and workers. By comparison, she said, a world-renowned foreign contract...


Radar

Kisse Platform Brings Collateral-Free Microloans Through Agent Network

Mefithe Microfinance S.C., MZ Tech, and Arifpay Financial Technologies S.C. have launched “Kisse”, an agent-powered digital microloan platform designed to expand access to finance for micro and small enterprises. Through trained local agents, borrowers can apply for collateral-free, short-term business loans. Once approved, the funds are transferred to mobile wallets or bank accounts through Arifpay's payment gateway. The partners said loans can be disbursed within hours. Under the par...