Is Ethiopia Ready for Cyber Warfare?

With the growing use of information communication technologies, more and more organizations are increasingly becoming efficient. Business, education, even health care services are also getting more accessible. However, the battle between online protagonists and antagonists is at its highest point now than before. Ethiopia is no exception. EBR’s Ashenafi Endale consulted with technologists, government officials and research to explore the extent of the problem that the country could face and analyses its readiness to avert the challenges.

Ethiopia depends on its inland water bodies for its fish supply. The growing number of dams has increased its country’s potential of fishing. Though the culture and dietary tradition does not favor fish consumption throughout the year, the rise of population, urban centers and overall growth of the hospitality industry, in recent years, are creating a favorable condition. As a result production of fish ascended to 50,148 metric tonnes last year, up from 17,047 six years ago. The per capita consumption has also reached to 500grams in the year from less than 150 grams a decade ago.
However, with the rise of population whose purchasing power is fast growing and dietary culture changing, a big demand is being created. The ever burgeoning hospitality industry is also creating further demand. As a result, the significant growth of production did not match the supply especially in urban areas like Addis Ababa. EBR’s Ashenafi Endale consulted stakeholders and researches for this report.

More than Half of the Registered Investment in Ethiopia

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has many advantages to host countries. Especially in developing countries like Ethiopia, FDI provides scarce resources – finance, technology and management expertise.
Ethiopia has realized these decades ago and has since implemented structural reforms and trade liberalisation to attract more FDI. Accordingly, it has managed to attract a good deal of investment particularly in recent years.

Investors Shy Away T-Bills Due to Low Interest

As Ethiopia attempts to lay the foundations for economic transformation, it has embarked on highly ambitious development programmes. While heavy state-led investment has helped the economy grow at double digits for over a decade; there are costs attached to it. The huge finance needed to cover the construction of large infrastructure has created financial pressure leading to budget deficit.

Ethiopia’s Race to Middle Income

Middle-income countries are nations with a per-capita gross national income between USD1,036 and 12,615. Nations with lower per capita income than this are classified as low-income countries. This group – least developed countries (LDCs) – comprises 48 vulnerable countries including Ethiopia.
With a per capita income of around USD100 for much of the period before 2000, Ethiopia plans to become a lower middle-income country by 2025. In tandem with that, the country has been investing hugely in infrastructures and provision of basic social services.
The result has been robust as the country achieved double-digit economic growth for over a decade. Per capita income reached USD794 in June 2016. According to the WHO, life expectancy also reached to 64.8 years in 2015 from 47 in 1991. These astonishing performances compel many to believe that the country will achieve a middle-income status in nine years.
However, a recent UN report says Ethiopia will not graduate from LDCs list by 2025. EBR’s Ashenafi Endale delved into the details of this delicate issue by refereing research findings and consulting experts as well as government officials to offer this report.