ZamZam Bank Strikes a Pact to Digitise Pilgrimage Packages


ZamZam Bank struck a deal with Link All Technology S.C. for a product that links to travel agencies and hotel bookings during travels to Saudi Arabia last week. Dubbed Guzo le-Umrah, the product is expected to assist customers who have saved in Mudarabha Hajj & Umrah accounts to facilitate pilgrimage arrangements. Kedir Bedewi, the vice president of the Bank, pointed out that the expansion of branches has to go in tandem with digital banking to warrant operational efficiency. Over 400,000 people from Ethiopia are estimated to yearly partake in the journey to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Yenus Abdi, the CEO of the tech Company, and Melkia Bedri, president of the Bank, signed the memorandum of understanding at the Al-Nahari Hotel, Ethio-China Street.


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Regional Development Banks Tie-up for Private Sector Growth

Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) and Trade Development Bank Group (TDB) signed a 100-million-dollar disbursement for a hybrid capital instrument last week on the sidelines of the African Union summit. Admassu Tadesse, president and managing director of TDB Group, and Sidi Ould Tah (PhD), president of BADEA were the signatories at the event attended by Central Bank Governor Mamo Mihretu, CEO of the Ethiopian Securities Exchange Tilahun Kassahun (PhD), and Deputy Chairperson of...


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National Bank Reports Five-Year Low Inflation, Record-High Exports

The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE), in its six-month snapshot on monetary and external sector developments, reports that inflation has dropped to 15.5pc, the lowest in five years and a 13.9pc decline from last year's 29.4pc rate. Headline inflation stood at 34.5pc during the same period in 2022. The report also shows a sharp decline in food inflation, which fell by 16.6pc, from 32.3pc in January 2024 to 15.7pc in January 2025. Non-food inflation dropped by 10.2pc, from 25.3pc last year to 1...


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Horn Initiative Boosts Regional Development Agenda

A total of 20 projects worth three billion dollars are currently being implemented in Ethiopia under the Horn of Africa Initiative, which held a performance review platform last week. This initiative, established in 2019, seeks to economically integrate Horn of Africa countries through development projects. Finance Minister Ahmed Shide accentuated the initiative's goals of enhancing infrastructure connectivity, strengthening trade and economic integration, building resilience to natural and man...