Coopbank Bank of Oromia, a provider of digital financial solutions, has entered into a strategic partnership with Visa, a global digital payment solutions, with the aim of transforming the digital payment landscape in Ethiopia. This collaboration is said will introduce Visa-branded cards for multiple products, offering tailored solutions to meet the diverse needs of Coopbank’s customer base. Additionally, the partnership will lend support to the Ethiopian government’s National ID Project, a pioneering initiative that seeks to integrate digital identification systems with payments.

Hibret Bank, a private bank in Ethiopia, has announced its strategic investment in the Ethiopian Securities Exchange (ESX). The bank’s equity investment of ETB50 million represents a 5 % ownership share in the paid capital of ESX. This move aligns with Hibret Bank’s goal of actively participating in Ethiopia’s emerging capital market ecosystem.

The investment from Hibret Bank, along with the initial investment from Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH), is said will support the final preparations for the launch of ESX later this year. Other investors are also expected to join as shareholders in the coming months.

The Ethiopian Capital Market Authority (ECMA) has signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs). These agreements aim to enhance market integrity, promote transparency, and bolster technological capabilities for enhanced market surveillance. By doing so, the ECMA seeks to safeguard investors and foster confidence in the Ethiopian capital market.

The first MoU, titled ‘Capital Market Integrity Task Force Cooperation and Coordination Agreement No 01/2024,’ was signed by the ECMA, Ministry of Justice, Financial Intelligence Services, Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration, and the Federal Police Commission. This agreement establishes the “Capital Market Integrity Task Force,” which will collaborate to maintain the integrity of the capital market.

Mastercard, a renowned global technology leader in the payments industry, has partnered with EagleLion System Technology, a local financial solution provider. This strategic alliance intends to revolutionize access to innovative cashless payment solutions and empower Ethiopian businesses to seamlessly accept secure digital payments.

Ethiopia, like many nations, is currently undergoing a digital revolution, and the partnership between Mastercard and EagleLion is set to play a pivotal role in this transformative journey.

Dshen Bank’s newly elected Board of Directors has chosen to re-elect Dula Mekonnen as its Chairman. The decision was made during the 30th ordinary meeting of the bank’s shareholders, and Dula’s re-election took place during the Board’s inaugural meeting held on February 13, 2024.

Dula Mekonnen currently holds the position of Deputy Chief Executive Officer in the Mining sector of Midroc Investment Group. Having qualifications of BSc Degree in Electrical Engineering and an MSc Degree in Business Administration from Adama Science and Technology University. Additionally, he holds a Diploma in Agricultural Engineering.

Ethio Telecom, the leading telecommunications company in Ethiopia, has released its half-year report, showcasing notable growth and success in the first six months of the fiscal year 2023/24. The report, covering the period from July to December 2023, highlights the company’s efforts to expand telecom infrastructure, improve service quality, and meet the growing demand for telecommunications services in the country.

Ethio Telecom’s subscriber base reached 74.6 million, representing a 6.7 Pct increase from the previous year. Mobile voice subscribers accounted for 71.7 million, while fixed broadband subscribers reached 688.3 thousand. The company has been working on enhancing network capacity and coverage, resulting in the commercialization of 5G services in Addis Ababa and certain regional cities.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has announced the appointment of Hanna Arayaselassie as the new head of the Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC). This move comes as part of the government’s efforts to bolster foreign investment and improve the functioning of the EIC.

Prior to her appointment, she served as the CEO of Ethiopost, where she spearheaded transformative reforms that resulted in a remarkable improvement in service quality. Under her leadership, Ethiopost tripled its revenues and was honored with the prestigious Postal Excellence Award for the Africa Region in 2023 by the Universal Postal Union.

Itel Mobile, a well-established mobile phone manufacturer, has recently introduced its latest product, the Itel A70 model. With a decade of industry experience, Itel Mobile has been consistently delivering technological advancements to meet consumers’ needs.

The Itel A70 model is said that it focuses on enhancing camera capabilities. It features an 8-megapixel front camera and a 13-megapixel rear camera, designed to capture high-quality images. It is reported that, the camera performs well in low-light conditions and from a distance, enabling users to capture clear and colorful photographs in various settings.

Arifpay Financial Technologies S.C, one of the players in Ethiopia’s financial revolution, has announced the highly anticipated launch of its upgraded payment system, Arifpay 2.0. This milestone is said to mark a significant step forward in shaping the future of financial technology and digital payments within the country.

Arifpay 1.0, launched in December 2022, has already made waves within the industry, enabling merchants across various sectors such as healthcare, hospitality, and retail to embrace digital payments through the ArifPOS system. Notably, several banks have outsourced their point-of-sale (POS) operations to Arifpay, benefiting from streamlined merchant recruitment, customer service and support, as well as POS monitoring and management. This collaboration has not only improved operational efficiency but also facilitated deposit mobilization for the partnering banks.

Degol Gossaye has been appointed as the General Manager of Raxio Ethiopia, a prominent provider of carrier-neutral data centers across Africa. This announcement comes at a pivotal time for Raxio Ethiopia, following the recent launch of its flagship facility in Addis Ababa in November 2023. Degol will take over from Bewket Taffere, the outgoing GM who played a crucial role in establishing the Raxio Ethiopia brand and overseeing the construction of its Data Centre.