Tamirat Astatkie – Page 3 – Ethiopian Business Review

Tesfaye Muhiye (PhD) serves as the Director General of the Higher Education Relevance and Quality Assurance Agency (HERQA). It’s the entity responsible for ensuring higher education institutions (HEIs) meet certain standards regarding their organisational structure and academic programmes so that they offer quality and relevant education to aid the country’s development. This is an especially important task, given the government’s push to increase access to higher education and the proliferation of private institutions.

Investors from Ethiopia’s far-flung Diaspora are helping shape the country’s economy. This is especially true of the service sector. According to the Ethiopian Investment Commission, Diaspora investors have implemented 421 businesses in the hotel and restaurant sub-sector since 1999. Studies suggest that a friendly business environment is likely to expand the influence of these investors, especially in the fields of healthcare and financial services. To that end, the government is pursuing policies to make investing easier for this community. But has enough been done? EBR’s Tamirat Astatkie spoke with business owners and government representatives to learn about the realities on the ground and what’s being done to make investing easier for the Diaspora.

A Sector Trapped by ‘Bold’ Individuals with Limited Competence

Companies use advertising to relay messages about their products in an attempt to sell them to the public and increase market share. A study by the World Federation of Advertisers demonstrates that the practice can have a positive impact on economic growth. However, in Ethiopia, industry insiders and regulators say that the sector is plagued by a lack of professionalism and creativity, among other issues. EBR’s Tamirat Astatkie spoke with key stakeholders to learn more about the country’s growing advertising industry.

Supermarkets are increasing in Ethiopia’s capital. According to the Addis Ababa Trade Bureau, 331 received licenses last fiscal year – that figure is up from 175 four years prior. Market watchers say this trend makes sense, given that changes in the lifestyles of city dwellers prompts them to demand the convenience and reliability that supermarkets provide. But, as EBR’s Tamirat Astatkie reports, there may be added benefits to the proliferation of retail supermarkets in Addis Ababa.

It Produce Due to Poor Distribution

Before assuming his current position of Chief Executive Officer at the Ethiopian Electric Utility (EEU) in August 2015, Gosaye Mengistie had many years of experience in the present Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Electricity. He started his career as an expert for energy in the Ministry, where he also served for more than 15 years as director for several offices.
Gosaye has been a focal person for Africa in the World Energy Council Forums. In fact, he’s been serving as a secretary of the Council representing Ethiopia for the last ten years. He also served as member of the board for the former Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCo) for eleven years before assuming his current position. EEPCo split into EEU and Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP) in December 2013. He says this is a company he knows the ins-and-outs. He used to closely regulate, monitor and supervise its operations while working in the Ministry. Gosaye earned a BA Degree in Economics from Addis Ababa University and MSc in Energy Economics from the University of Dundee in Scotland.
EBR’s Tamirat Astatkie spoke with him about energy efficiency in Ethiopia and the institutional transformation he leads at EEU. The following is an excerpt.

‘We are not in a capable position… to discharge our responsibilities

Diaspora Investors Bring Skill Promise to Service Sector

Advertising in Ethiopia

A Sector Trapped by ‘Bold’ Individuals with Limited Competence

The Rise of Supermarkets in Addis

Ethiopia Loses More than 21% of the Electricity

It Produce Due to Poor Distribution