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




Water Bottling Industry to Save $50m

Nov 5 , 2022


[ssba-buttons]

A masterbatch that makes blue-colour plastic water bottles will no longer be imported. Ethiopian Beverages Manufacturing Industries Association leaders persuaded manufacturers to discontinue using the product due to pressure on the foreign currency reserve. It is hoped to save close to 50 million dollars spent to import the masterbatch. Close to 15 million litres of bottled water is consumed a day. The product is unsuitable for recycling, pollutes the environment and adds no value, Getnet Belay, president of the Association, told a press conference held last week at the Inter Luxury Hotel. The Association partnered with the Federal Food & Beverage Industry Research & Development Institute, led by Bekele Mekuria, to study the product's environmental impact for over a year. Following the request for the 20pc excise tax exemption on bottled water, the Institute has recommended the Association lower its operational costs.


Radar

Customs Commission Puts Government Transactions on Mesob

Public institutions must now process customs-related transactions through Mesob, a new electronic platform introduced to reduce manual procedures in government trade operations. The Customs Commission has directed the institutions to use the platform for customs clearance, transit processing, import and export procedures, transaction verification, and related services. Mesob became operational for public institutions on July 20, 2026, for customs services. Institutions must complete intern...


Radar

Addis Grants Extra Month for Residential Lease Renewals

Lessors and tenants in Addis Abeba have an extra month to renew residential lease agreements after the City Administration extended the registration deadline from August 6 to September 5, 2026. The Addis Abeba Housing Development & Administration Bureauattributed the extension to public requests for more time. Officials said it would ease congestion at registration centres and allow residents to complete the process more conveniently. The renewal exercise began in early July, following...


Radar

Government Procurement Goes Digital with 597b Br Turnover

More than 597 billion Br in government purchases passed through Ethiopia's electronic procurement platform during the 2025-2026 fiscal year, widening the use of digital systems in public finance. The platform was used by 172 federal institutions and 196 affiliated entities during the year. More than 135,000 suppliers were registered to provide goods and services through the system, which is intended to improve transparency, accountability and efficiency in public procurement. The governmen...