Telecom Expands Digital Services


Telecom Expands Digital Services

Ethio-telecom upgraded its Telebirr application expanding its services with the new digital-financing application. The new service features micro-credit, credit pay, and micro-saving services were revealed at the launching ceremony held at the Science Museum last week. Firehiwot Tamiru, the Chief Executive Officer, said the application will bridge financial inclusion gaps enabling customers to have easy access to services. The state-owned telecom bagged 33.8 billion Br in revenues, showing a 20pc increase compared to the previous year. The net profit has reached 8.18 billion Br in the last six months. It has 31.3 million internet users from 70 million customers, showing a growth rate of 15.1pc from last year. Telebirr has paved the way for more than 200 private and public service providers to digitise their payment systems, with subscribers increased to 30 million from its inception in May 2021, a 38.8pc share of Ethiotelecom customers. The financial service app is currently integrated with 19 commercial banks, transacting more than 165 billion Br in the last six months, through which more than 82.5 million Br was earned.


Radar

New Unit to Oversee City Tax Audits

The Addis Abeba City Administration Revenues Bureau has launched a new work unit to ensure the quality of tax audit decisions through a re[1]auditing procedure. According to Adane Sule, the head of the bureau's office, the new audit quality assurance unit will seek to address gaps and malpractices that previously existed due to the absence of a similar body to verify tax audit decisions. He asserts that the unit's main goal is to re-audit decisions, verify their quality and relevance, and correc...


Radar

Shipping Behemoth Beats Profit Target Despite Cargo Dip

Ethiopian Shipping & Logistics (ESL) announced its six-month performance report for the fiscal year, revealing a mixed outcome. While it achieved 95pc of its operational service target, handling 2,880,187tn of cargo, this represents a slight decrease compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year. The ESL attributed this dip primarily to global difficulties, notably Red Sea shipping disruptions. Despite these hurdles, the company reported exceeding its profit targets. Projecting...


Radar

Customs Hits Revenue Target, Cracks Down on Smuggling

The Ethiopian Customs Commission announced that it has exceeded its revenue collection target for the first six months of the fiscal year. The Commission collected 203.75 billion Br, surpassing the planned 190.9 billion birr by 106.73pc, representing a 106.7 billion Br increase compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year. Commissioner Debele Kabeta noted that coordinated efforts with other institutions to prevent contraband contributed to the successful outcome, resulting in the seiz...