WB Loans $100m for Women Entrepreneurs

Dec 26 , 2020


[ssba-buttons]

The World Bank has provided a 100-million-dollar loan to Ethiopia to finance the Women's Entrepreneurship Development Project (WEDP). The funds will be used to provide credit and training support to micro and small enterprises (MSEs) solely or partly owned by female entrepreneurs. The loan agreement was signed by Yasmin Wohabrebbi, state minister for Finance, and Ousmane Dione, World Bank country director for Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan and Eritrea. The funding will support women-owned businesses, disproportionately affected due to limited access to credit, according to Yasmin. She added that the project would address liquidity constraints faced by enterprises that are otherwise viable. The additional financing for the project is expected to bolster previous gains made. In the past, it has enabled access to loans for first-time borrowers through introducing data-driven credit scoring technologies and reduced collateral requirements.


Radar

EthSwitch Sees Record Profit, Expands Digital Payment Reach

EthSwitch, the national switch operator, reported a record 1.4 billion Br gross profit for the fiscal year ending June 2025, a 34pc increase from last year's 1.06 billion Br. The performance was driven by a sharp rise in interoperable transactions, reflecting the country's growing embrace of digital payments. Person-to-person (P2P) transfers led revenue generation with 902.6 million Br, nearly half of total income, followed by ATM transactions contributing 825.1 million Br. Overall revenue cl...


Radar

Lion Bank Delivers Robust Results, Rewarding Shareholders

Lion International Bank S.C. posted a profit before tax of 1.8 billion Br for the last fiscal year, marking a 94pc surge from the previous year. The announcement was made during the bank's General Assembly held last week at the Sheraton Addis Hotel. After provisions and taxes, the bank registered a net profit exceeding 900 million Br, with shareholders earning 27pc per share. Deposits climbed by 23pc to 44 billion Br, up from 35.6 billion Br, while total loans and advances reached 36.2 billio...


Radar

Berhan Bank Lifts Earnings as Reforms Ease Forex Strain

Berhan Bank reported a 28.1pc growth in its latest fiscal year, buoyed by economic reforms and relaxed forex directives. The Bank's total deposits climbed to 44.5 billion Br by June 30, 2025, up 7.6 billion Br from the previous year. Net profit distributed to shareholders rose by 36pc, while total income reached 10.3 billion Br, marking a 61.4pc increase. Interest income accounted for nearly 59pc of total earnings, driven largely by the repeal of the National Bank's 70pc forex surrender rule...