Ethiopian Business Review

Ethio Telecom to Pay ETB 43.1 Billion in Dividends, Reinforcing State Revenue Role #EBR_News Sep 4, 2026 Ethio telecom expects to contribute ETB 43.1 billion in dividends during the 2026/27 budget year, according to the company's Next Horizon Year II Annual Business Plan. The figure underscores the state-owned operator's continuing role as a major source of government revenue, even as it channels significant capital into network expansion and digital diversification under its three-year Next Horizon: Digital & Beyond 2028 strategy. Beyond dividends, the plan projects direct and indirect tax contributions totaling ETB 83.8 billion for the year. This includes corporate income tax, VAT, employment taxes, withholding taxes and customs duties, the report states. The company frames these payments as driven by robust revenue growth, job creation, supplier activity and strategic investment across its operations. A dedicated ETB 8.1 billion of that tax contribution has been earmarked for Ethiopia's National Disaster Risk Response Fund, according to the plan, positioning the company as a direct contributor to national emergency financing alongside its routine tax obligations. The fiscal contributions sit alongside a broader set of national development commitments outlined in the report. Ethio telecom states it will support more than 644,000 ecosystem partners, including agents, local suppliers, franchisees and value-added service partners, while sustaining its workforce of 49,200 employees. Building on what the company describes as a historic contribution of 2.4 million direct and indirect livelihood opportunities, the plan targets an additional 163,375 direct jobs and income streams through network and digital platform expansion during the year. The plan also references an estimated ETB 533 million in corporate social responsibility investment, described as separate from the company's broader national development initiatives, which it says reflects its ongoing commitment to community development. Together, the dividend, tax and disaster fund figures point to a company whose fiscal footprint extends well beyond its balance sheet, with the government drawing directly on its performance to help finance both routine budgetary needs and emergency response capacity. The scale of these commitments will depend on Ethio telecom meeting the wider revenue and profitability targets set out elsewhere in the plan, including its projected ETB 295 billion in total annual revenue for the year. Follow EBR for the latest business news, trends, and expert analysis: Telegram (https://t.me/ebr_news) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/share/1DAKyvnWSN/?mibextid=wwXIfr) LinkedIn (https://lnkd.in/eAVk65Xv) WhatsApp (https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb7VyjjADTOJXYi7bN35)

SOS Children’s Villages Urges National Action to Support Young Care Leavers #EBR_News Sep 4, 2026 SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia convened a National Impact Forum on Thursday at the Marriott Executive Apartments in Addis Ababa, calling for sustained national action to support young people transitioning from alternative care to independent living. The event marked the culmination of the five-year Leave No Youth Behind project, funded by the Danish International Development Agency. Held under the theme "From Care to Resilience: Building Sustainable Life Pathways for Young People," the forum brought together government officials, development partners, civil society leaders, and young care leavers to address systemic barriers facing youth exiting care, including limited access to employment, housing, financial inclusion, and social protection. Over its five-year implementation period, the Leave No Youth Behind project directly supported 1,259 young care leavers, established the National Coalition of Young Care Leavers Associations, and strengthened three care leavers' associations representing 749 members. The initiative also backed the establishment of the Family Savings and Credit Cooperative Organization, built the capacity of 1,407 care professionals and government social workers across nine government sectors, and reached approximately 2.5 million people through public awareness campaigns. In addition to direct youth empowerment, the project contributed to structural policy reforms in collaboration with the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs, including the development and adoption of the National Minimum Standards for Preparation of Leaving Care and Aftercare Support. Addressing attendees, Ministry of Women and Social Affairs representative Debebe Barud (PhD) reaffirmed the government's commitment to building frameworks that allow transitioning youth to participate in national social and economic development, emphasizing that supporting care leavers remains a collective societal responsibility. SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia is a non-governmental child welfare organization operating across nine regions and two city administrations in Ethiopia, focusing on family strengthening, alternative care, system advocacy, and youth empowerment. Follow EBR for the latest business news, trends, and expert analysis: Telegram (https://t.me/ebr_news) Facebook (https://bit.ly/3OodjMF) LinkedIn (https://lnkd.in/eAVk65Xv) WhatsApp (https://bit.ly/4tH4NIR)

OrbiX Launches Integrated Digital Ecosystem to Streamline Urban Mobility and Public Services #EBR_News Sep 4, 2026 Ethiopian technology startup OrbiX Technologies PLC launched its multi-sector digital platform , introducing a unified ecosystem designed to connect urban mobility, municipal infrastructure, civic reporting, and tourism services across Ethiopia. The announcement was made during a press briefing held yesterday on thursday at the company's premises. The platform marks a structural departure from traditional, single-purpose mobile applications. Rather than treating services in isolation, OrbiX brings everyday urban operations into a single digital environment where routine user interactions generate data for municipal planning and service optimization. The initial launch unifies four main operational pillars into this single network. Its Smart Parking module replaces attendant-driven operations with a self-service model that allows drivers to locate, reserve, and pay for parking in under 30 seconds. Alongside parking, the OrbiX EV component manages charging station discovery, real-time availability tracking, and digital payments to support Ethiopia's national goal of deploying 2,230 EV charging stations nationwide. This mobility framework links directly with civic management through iHub, a tool enabling residents to report road damage, utility issues, and vehicle collisions with photo and location evidence, turning public feedback into tracked agency workflows. Completing the interconnected setup, the Ethio Parks module digitizes national destinations and historical sites, offering booking and navigation tools for domestic tourists and international delegates attending events like UN COP32. "Our ambition is not simply to put existing services on a smartphone," said Founder and CEO Seyoum Tesfay. "We want to build an ecosystem where services connect, information becomes actionable and technology helps people and institutions make better decisions." OrbiX Technologies PLC is an Ethiopian startup building homegrown intellectual property to drive digital transformation. The firm focuses on creating scalable software systems that unify people, infrastructure, and public institutions to build connected, data-driven cities aligned with the Digital Ethiopia 2030 strategy. Follow EBR for the latest business news, trends, and expert analysis: Telegram (https://t.me/ebr_news) Facebook (https://bit.ly/3OodjMF) LinkedIn (https://lnkd.in/eAVk65Xv) WhatsApp (https://bit.ly/4tH4NIR)

Namibia Confirms Talks With Ethiopian Airlines on New National Carrier, Calls Discussions Exploratory #EBR_News Sep 3, 2026 Namibia's Ministry of Works and Transport has confirmed it is holding ongoing discussions with Ethiopian Airlines and consulting local aviation operators on the establishment of a proposed new national carrier, Namibia Air, but stressed that the talks remain analytical and that no binding commitments have been made with any party at this stage, ch-aviation reported. According to ch-aviation, the ministry's statement rejected as unauthorized an internal briefing document published by the Windhoek Observer newspaper, saying it did not recognize the document as an official or accurate reflection of the government's work, deliberations, or policy. The ministry described any suggestion that the document represented concluded government decisions or agreements as "misleading and without foundation." Ch-aviation reported that the ministry said consultations with Ethiopian Airlines form part of a broader process to evaluate the most viable and sustainable model for launching Namibia Air, with any decisions to be based on technical, financial, and commercial assessments. The government said the process is intended to avoid the mistakes that led to the collapse of former flag carrier Air Namibia.The ministry's response followed a Windhoek Observer report on meetings held in Addis Ababa on August 21 and 22, 2026, between a Namibian delegation and Ethiopian Airlines. According to ch-aviation's account of that report, Ethiopian Airlines proposed an ATR72-600-based operating model along with technical assistance, training, maintenance support, aircraft sourcing assistance, and a possible management contract. The report said Ethiopian Airlines was not prepared to commit to an equity investment at this stage, citing the need for a commercially viable business plan, and indicated that any future equity partnership would require management control, including key executive positions. Ch-aviation noted that Ethiopian Airlines already operates several joint ventures across Africa, including ASKY Airlines in Togo, Air Congo in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawian Airlines, and Zambia Airways. Ethiopian Mozambique Airlines ceased operations in 2021 after the COVID-19 pandemic reduced demand, while a joint venture with the Nigerian government, Nigeria Air, was abandoned in 2023, and talks with South Africa and Ghana never progressed further. Separately, ch-aviation reported that Namibia Air reached a regulatory milestone in August 2026 after receiving scheduled and non-scheduled air service licences from Namibia's Transportation Commission, clearing the way to acquire aircraft ahead of a planned commercial launch in December 2026. Follow EBR for the latest business news, trends, and expert analysis: Telegram (https://t.me/ebr_news) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/share/1DAKyvnWSN/?mibextid=wwXIfr) LinkedIn (https://lnkd.in/eAVk65Xv) WhatsApp (https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb7VyjjADTOJXYi7bN35)

Ethio Telecom Targets 295 Billion Birr in Revenue This Fiscal Year #EBR_News sep 3, 2026 Ethio Telecom is targeting ETB 295 billion in revenue in the 2026/27 fiscal year, a 36.7 percent increase from the previous year, as it enters the second year of its three-year “Next Horizon: Digital & Beyond 2028” strategy. Digital and adjacent businesses are expected to generate ETB 77.45 billion, accounting for 26.3 percent of total revenue. The company is also targeting ETB 154.4 billion in EBITDA, representing a margin of around 52 percent, and operating profit of about ETB 127 billion. International business, infrastructure sharing and international money transfer services are expected to generate USD 253.7 million in foreign currency earnings. The company also plans to secure ETB 10.87 billion in efficiency gains through cost savings and revenue enhancement. Ethio telecom expects its total customer base to reach 96.2 million, while mobile data users are projected to rise 16.5 percent to 60.01 million. Fixed broadband customers are expected to increase 25.6 percent to 1.26 million. Its digital financial service, telebirr, is projected to reach 67.69 million active users, with transactions expected to reach 4.99 billion, valued at ETB 7.4 trillion. Microcredit disbursements are targeted to rise to ETB 33.08 billion, while digital savings are expected to reach ETB 26.42 billion. The plan also targets expanded network coverage, including 11,014 4G sites and 648 5G sites, while extending the national fiber backbone to 25,642 kilometres. The company expects to contribute ETB 43.1 billion in dividends and ETB 83.8 billion in direct and indirect taxes to the government. Follow EBR for the latest business news, trends, and expert analysis: Telegram (https://t.me/ebr_news) Facebook (https://bit.ly/3OodjMF) LinkedIn (https://lnkd.in/eAVk65Xv) WhatsApp (https://bit.ly/4tH4NIR)

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Kenya Orders Foreign Small Traders and Hawkers to Shut Down From September 7 #EBR_News Sep 3, 2026 Kenyan President William Ruto has directed the government to begin a crackdown on foreign nationals operating small businesses and hawking in the country, with enforcement set to start on Monday, September 7, Kenyans co ke reported. Ruto issued the directive while addressing Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise traders at State House, Nairobi, on Wednesday. "From next week, all traders doing those small businesses should close them," Ruto said, as reported by the country's media outlet,Kenyans co ke. The president argued that small-scale trade and hawking should be reserved for Kenyan citizens, and that improvements to the country's economy were not intended to attract foreign hawkers. Kenyans co ke reported that Ruto also called for the acceleration of the Local Content Bill, 2025, which proposes to reserve certain businesses exclusively for Kenyan citizens by law. The bill would require foreign firms to ensure at least 80 percent of their workforce, including senior management and chief executive positions, are Kenyan citizens, and to procure at least 60 per cent of their goods and services locally. For agriculture-related manufacturing, the bill requires companies to source all their agricultural produce locally, while the 60 per cent local content threshold would also apply to financial, insurance, construction, transport, warehousing, logistics, and security services. According to another report, Ruto directed Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui to begin the enforcement exercise upon his return from Addis Ababa, where he had been attending a regional trade meeting, and asked National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah to support the bill's passage through Parliament TUKO reported that the Local Content Bill, 2025, is sponsored by Laikipia Woman Representative Jane Kagiri. "Starting Monday, September 7, all foreigners engaging in small businesses should either close," Ruto said, as quoted by TUKO. The president specifically cited hawking and small retail shops, including the sale of items such as duvets, as businesses that should be reserved for Kenyans. The government said it remains open to foreign investment directed toward job creation and production, and is separately considering amendments to the Public Procurement Act to strengthen local participation in the economy. Follow EBR for the latest business news, trends, and expert analysis: Telegram (https://t.me/ebr_news) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/share/1DAKyvnWSN/?mibextid=wwXIfr) LinkedIn (https://lnkd.in/eAVk65Xv) WhatsApp (https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb7VyjjADTOJXYi7bN35)

Ethiopia to Establish First Mortgage Refinance Company, Capitalized at 100 Billion Birr #EBR_News Sep 3, 2026 Ethiopia has signed a landmark Framework for Cooperation between the National Bank of Ethiopia and the International Finance Corporation to establish the country's first dedicated Mortgage Refinance Company, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) said in a post on X. Abiy said he oversaw the signing. The agreement was signed by National Bank of Ethiopia Governor Eyob Tekalign and Ethiopis Tafara, IFC Vice President for Africa. According to Abiy, the new wholesale institution will be capitalized at 100 billion birr, with the IFC set to contribute a minimum of $200 million. He said the institution is designed to resolve long-standing liquidity mismatches in Ethiopia's banking sector and unlock accessible mortgage financing across the country. Abiy described the partnership as a critical step toward the government's goal of delivering 1.5 million affordable, dignified homes for Ethiopian families, while also expanding private-sector participation in the country's financial system. Follow EBR for the latest business news, trends, and expert analysis: Telegram (https://t.me/ebr_news) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/share/1DAKyvnWSN/?mibextid=wwXIfr) LinkedIn (https://lnkd.in/eAVk65Xv) WhatsApp (https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb7VyjjADTOJXYi7bN35)

ApexBrasil Opens First Africa Office in Ethiopia as Bilateral Trade Rebounds to 25 Billion Dollars #EBR_News Sep 2, 2026 The Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) inaugurated its first permanent office in Africa in Addis Ababa on Tuesday, making Ethiopia as Brazil's institutional entry point into the continent after years of declining trade between the two sides. The Addis Ababa opening capped a weeklong Southern Africa business mission that began on 26 August 2026 in Johannesburg, South Africa, and continued through Lusaka, Zambia, and Maputo, Mozambique, where Brazil served as Guest Country of Honour at the Maputo International Fair, according to Brasil 247. The Ethiopia leg was the mission's final and only stop outside Southern Africa, and the one where ApexBrasil formally opened its new office. The office follows a proposal from the Ethiopian Investment Commission after ApexBrasil led its largest ever business mission to Ethiopia in February 2026, according to Meles Alem, director general for European and American affairs at Ethiopia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. That mission brought more than 70 Brazilian delegates to Addis Ababa, produced over 300 business-to-business meetings, and resulted in memoranda of understanding, including one between Ethiopia's Kerchanshe Group and Brazil's agricultural research corporation, Embrapa, Meles said. The inauguration builds on recent diplomatic momentum. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil visited Ethiopia in 2024, while Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) visited Brazil the following year, with the two leaders agreeing to deepen economic ties at the Rio Summit in July 2025, Meles said. Ethiopia and Brazil are marking 75 years of diplomatic relations this year, and both countries are members of the BRICS bloc. Laudemir Müller, president of ApexBrasil, said Brazil's trade with Africa had grown from around five billion dollars in 2002 to 28 billion dollars in 2013, before falling to a low of 11.5 billion dollars in 2020. Trade has since recovered to 25 billion dollars in 2025, Müller said, adding that Ethiopia was selected for the agency's first African office partly because its economy is projected to grow nine percent this year and its imports already exceed 23 billion dollars. Ethiopian Investment Commissioner Zeleke Temesgen (PhD) said the office arrives as Ethiopia carries out reforms under its Homegrown Economic Reform Agenda, including a market-determined exchange rate, a modernised monetary framework and steps to strengthen financial sector resilience. Zeleke said these measures had contributed to declining inflation, expanding foreign exchange availability and rising investor confidence, and noted Ethiopia's recent accession to the New Development Bank as a further source of financing for large scale investment. Meles said Ethiopia's position as a diplomatic and aviation hub, supported by Ethiopian Airlines' daily direct flight to São Paulo, gave Brazilian companies unmatched access to the continent, while the country's membership of the African Continental Free Trade Area opens a market of over 1.4 billion consumers. The office is expected to focus on sectors including agriculture, agroprocessing, pharmaceuticals, textiles, mining and renewable energy, according to the Ethiopian Investment Commission. Müller said the new office would allow ApexBrasil to pursue opportunities in Ethiopia and the wider East African market on a continuous basis rather than through periodic missions, describing permanence as a way to carry relationships and projects through from start to finish. Follow EBR for the latest business news, trends, and expert analysis: Telegram (https://t.me/ebr_news) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/share/1DAKyvnWSN/?mibextid=wwXIfr) LinkedIn (https://lnkd.in/eAVk65Xv) WhatsApp (https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb7VyjjADTOJXYi7bN35)

ILO Skills Programmes Reach Over 250,000 People Across 30 African Countries #EBR_News Sep 2, 2026 ILO-supported skills and lifelong learning initiatives reached more than 250,000 people across 30 African countries in 2024–25, with twelve countries updating their skills or TVET policies and then advancing apprenticeship reforms, according to the International Labour Organization. The figures were disclosed during the Conference on Accelerating Domestication of the Continental TVET Strategy 2025–2034, held from 17 to 21 August 2026 at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa. According to the ILO, the conference brought together governments, TVET authorities, social partners, development partners, and training institutions to move the African Union's Continental TVET Strategy from continental policy commitments toward national-level implementation. The ILO said it has provided technical support throughout the development of the strategy and is contributing to its implementation through policy and governance reform, quality apprenticeships, recognition of prior learning, green and core skills, labour market information, and institutional capacity building. Twaha Adam Twaha of Tanzania's National Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training said the ILO's support has been critical in translating the Continental TVET Strategy into practical national reforms. He said Tanzania sees further ILO support as important for quality assurance, recognition of prior learning, and certification, particularly for workers who acquired skills in the informal economy, and described the ILO as a potential "bridge between policy and practice" as countries develop implementation roadmaps. In Malawi, a participant said the ILO has been a key actor in championing recognition of prior learning and the Decent Work Agenda. According to the ILO, its support is also contributing to the development of Malawi's Labour Market Information System, which is designed to centralise labour market statistics for evidence-based policymaking. More than 200 national labour market indicators covering employment, unemployment, wages, education, and skills are being developed and populated with verified national data as part of that system. A delegate from the Sub-Saharan Africa Skills and Apprenticeship Stakeholders Network described ILO support as "strategic and transformative," citing its work on policy and governance reform, financing, quality apprenticeships, work-based learning, green and core skills, and labour market information systems. The ILO said its skills programmes across Africa contribute to all four areas, and that the current challenge is translating the strategy into effective implementation, converting commitments into sustained investment, and turning fragmented interventions into coherent national and continental systems. Follow EBR for the latest business news, trends, and expert analysis: Telegram (https://t.me/ebr_news) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/share/1DAKyvnWSN/?mibextid=wwXIfr) LinkedIn (https://lnkd.in/eAVk65Xv) WhatsApp (https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb7VyjjADTOJXYi7bN35)

Ethiopian Commodity Exchange Trades 48.83 Billion Birr in Commodities in 2025/26, Beating Target by 167.8% #EBR_News Sep 2, 2026 The Ethiopian Commodity Exchange, an institution accountable to the Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration, announced that it traded commodities worth 48.83 billion birr during the 2025/26 budget year, achieving 167.8 per cent of its annual target, according to a statement on the Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration's social media page. According to the statement, ECX had planned to trade export commodities worth 29.1 billion birr during the budget year but exceeded that target substantially. The 48.83 billion birr figure represents an increase of 21.63 billion birr, or 79 per cent, compared to the same period in the 2024/25 budget year. The statement said that over the past 12 months, the exchange issued quality assurance certificates for 8,499 coffee samples and 5,828 oilseed and pulse samples, totalling 14,327 samples. It also conducted quality inspections and issued grade certification for 2,314 vehicles carrying 38,710 tons of commodities for cooperative unions and direct market linkage participants trading outside the exchange floor. Weighing services were provided for 17,648 vehicles loaded with 695,073 tons of commodities during the budget year, according to the statement. The statement also said that ECX finalized the preparation of product quality grading contracts to introduce three new commodities, opal, cotton, and hides and skins, into its trading system, as part of efforts to expand the range of commodities incorporated into the exchange. Follow EBR for the latest business news, trends, and expert analysis: Telegram (https://t.me/ebr_news) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/share/1DAKyvnWSN/?mibextid=wwXIfr) LinkedIn (https://lnkd.in/eAVk65Xv) WhatsApp (https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb7VyjjADTOJXYi7bN35)