Chinese Institution Covets Bamboo Development


Ethiopia aspires to develop the bamboo industry through technology, research, and training partnering with China’s Nanjing Forestry University last week. Officials at the Ethiopian Forestry Development said that the industry remains underdeveloped considering the large resources available with 1.47 million hectares of bamboo forest. Average exports of bamboo products only accounted for 0.02pc of global exports, proving that the country has not used it even to its minimal potential. According to the Bamboo World Map report, the lack of skills in bamboo management and the absence of technologies to increase lifespan and upgrade the production chain has made the country incur a low economic return. China’s bamboo forest area and accumulation are among the leading in the world. It has more than 6.67 million hectares of bamboo forests with an annual output value of the industry projected to exceed 110 billion dollars in 2025.


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Tech Ministry Falters as Audits Expose Mismanagement, Unmet Ambitions

The Ministry of Innovation & Technology is under scrutiny after an audit revealed lapses in project management and financial oversight. This raised questions about governance standards within a Ministry central to the country's tech-driven growth ambitions. According to the Federal Auditor General, the Ministry has completed only 11pc of its planned projects with its overall financial administration standing at 37.4pc for a year-long project that commenced in 2022. Budget mismanagement an...


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Central Bank Keeps Lending Lid Tight as Inflation Squeezes Economy

The Central Bank has reaffirmed its decision to maintain an 18pc cap on credit growth, reinforcing a commitment to tighter monetary policy during persistent inflation and economic uncertainty. The National Bank of Ethiopia's (NBE) monetary policy committee cited ongoing concerns over inflation, which stood at 19.9pc year-on-year (YoY), and liquidity imbalances as reasons to uphold the restriction on lending. Bankers and analysts interpret this move as evidence of regulators' determination to...


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Ethio Telecom Expands Services with DStv Streaming

Ethio telecom enters the entertainment pool with bundled DStv streaming services through high-speed broadband internet and mobile data packages. The partnership with MultiChoice Ethiopia aspires to merge the telecom's fiber broadband and mobile network with DStv's content. Subscribers can access DStv channels through mobile data or fiber broadband bundles, with discounts of up to 35pc through Telebirr or My Ethiotel (*999#) and up to 26.5pc at sales centers for fiber broadband bundles. Acc...