AfDB Country Director Meets Finance Minister


AfDB Country Director Meets Finance Minister

The newly appointed African Development Bank (AfDB) Country Director for Ethiopia met with Minister of Finance Ahmed Shide last week, signing a one million dollar Grant Agreement to support communities affected by recent floods and landslides. Ahmed emphasised the crucial role the AfDB has played in supporting Ethiopia's development efforts, particularly in the infrastructure sector. He stressed the government's need for continued assistance from the Bank to advance its reform agenda. Leandre Bassole (PhD) acknowledged Ethiopia's progress and reaffirmed the AfDB's long-standing commitment to supporting the country's development. He assured the Minister of the Bank's dedication to exploring new financing opportunities and strengthening its partnership with Ethiopia. Bassole came after a serious diplomatic matter where two international staff of the Bank Group based in  Ethiopia were severely assaulted by security agents six months ago was resolved.

[ssba-buttons]

Radar

Hijra Bank Backs Young Innovators with Awards, Loans

Hijra Bank has awarded five young Ethiopian innovators in the final round of its “Sirara” Creative Spark Awards, selected from over 27,000 applicants. The programme targets practical innovations in agriculture, sustainability, and appropriate technology. Top winner Milkias Ahmed (PhD) received a 300,000 Br prize and a 3 million Br interest-free loan for developing an organic soil conditioner from animal bones. Second and third prizes went to Yusuf Ali and Muhammad Juhar for a crop-harvest...


Radar

Bright Vision Centre Rolls Out First Refractive Eye Surgery Service

Bright Vision Special Eye Care Center, based in the Bira Building near Wollo Sefer, has become the first facility in Ethiopia to offer refractive eye surgery. The service was made possible through support from the London Vision Clinic, which provided specialised equipment and professional training. The quick procedure, completed in under 10 minutes, treats common vision impairments such as nearsightedness and farsightedness. Previously unavailable in the country, access to this type of treatm...


Radar

Fertiliser Shipments Gain Momentum Ahead of Planting Season

Over 15.2 million quintals of fertiliser have entered Ethiopia through the Djibouti corridor as of July 20, 2025, according to the Ethiopian Maritime Authority(EMA). The shipments form part of the 24 million quintals earmarked for the 2025/26 production year. Of the total delivered, 12.8 million quintals arrived by dry freight trucks crossing land borders, while 2.4 million quintals were transported via the Ethio-Djibouti Railway. Another 50,777tn of soil fertiliser remains stationed at port...