Issue 140- Dialing Up the Pressure

Ethio Telecom Appeals Against VAT on Telecom Services

Ethiopia’s state-owned telecom operator has pleaded to lawmakers opposing the inclusion of telecom services in the new Value Added Tax (VAT) bill. According to Ethio Telecom's Director of Legal Affairs, Robel Tarkegn, the plan to impose VAT on the digital financial services provided by Ethio Telecom will impact the country's digital transformation. Read More.

Hulugram Reaches 1.5 Million Downloads

Leoul Mekonnen, Founder & CEO of Hulugram, the Telegram-based superapp, announced that Hulugram has reached 1.5 million downloads with an average of nearly an hour of daily usage. "We're a thriving community of hundreds of thousands of daily active users and ten thousand merchants," wrote Leoul. Read More.

TotalEnergies Flips the Switch on First EV Charging Station in Addis Ababa

Witnessing the growing number of electric vehicles (EVs), TotalEnergies Ethiopia is integrating electric charging points at its gas stations. Read More.

Coffee Capital Cleans Up

The Ethiopian Institute of Bio and Emerging Technology has teamed up with Jimma City to scale up waste collection and processing efforts, with the majority being converted into natural compost. Read More.

Jiji Expands Premium Services to Ethiopia

Jiji, one of the largest African classifieds platforms, has announced the launch of its premium services in Ethiopia.

Jiji’s premium offerings aim to provide sellers on the platform with tools to enhance their visibility, increase sales, and drive revenue growth. Read More.

Fed Pilots E-Fleet Management System to Reduce Wasteful Vehicle Utilization

In a move to optimize resource allocation, 13 government institutions are piloting a new E-Fleet Management System. This technology promises to curb wasteful vehicle deployment and utilization. Read More.

Ethiopia Gets $8 Million Boost for Solar Mini-Grids

The African Development Bank has approved $8 million to support a mini-grid project in Ethiopia. This initiative aims to attract private sector investment in energy access while also addressing the interconnected challenges of water, energy, and food security in the country.

Pilot mini-grids built across nine sites in Amhara, Oromia, Sidama, and the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region are expected to benefit nearly half a million people.

Opportunity Alert

WeVenture Partners with Dashen for the 3rd Kefita Entrepreneurship Contest

Applications Open for Local Agritech Competition with $20,000 Prize