Ashewa Technology Solution, a digital commerce platform provider, embarks on a new venture in digital business.
This time around, the tech company has spread its wings to add a delivery and logistics service for Addis Ababa buyers.
The company which was formed in alignment with government’s Digital Ethiopia 2025 strategy has successfully been running its ecommerce platform through the ashewa.com trading platform and currently provides services for 1,600 traders to sell over 5,000 products.
Recently, the company has disclosed that as one of the 11 digital businesses, it targets to operate on the delivery and logistics sides of its business in the capital city.
According to Daniel Bekele, CEO of Ashewa, the logistics and delivery service will accommodate 15,000 traders, 10,0000 customers and 5,000 products in a month’s time.
To introduce the new venture, the company has facilitated three warehouses that will be increased to eight in the fiscal year.
According to officials of the digital company, the new scheme has a role to tackle price hike besides creating an opportunity to connect farmers to customers without middlemen.
Ashewa Tech bridges logistics gap in Addis
Water, Energy Ministry hosts summit to harness solar potential
Ministry of Water and Energy prepares new investment policy to encourage private sector investment engagement in solar energy investment.
Ethiopia last week has hosted the fourth Regional Committee Meeting for the Africa Region of the International Solar Alliance /ISA/ from 29-31 August 2022.
“Ethiopia has potential to produce 100 GW energy from solar yet the country is generating only 4500 MW per annum,” said Sultan Wali, State Ministry of Water and Energy, adding, “The sector wants high investment. It is only the government and its partners so far who are investing in the sector. We are working to create and strength partnership between government and the private sector.”
The meeting proceedings featured detailed discussions on the progress and achievements thus far and future plans.
Ministers from Ethiopia, Central African Republic, Guinea, Ghana, Mali, Guinea-Bissau, Comoros, and Somalia attended the meeting along with Ajay Mathur, Director General of ISA participating in the first ISA’s physical meeting in the region organized in partnership with the Ministry of Water and Energy of Ethiopia.
The meeting discussed the roadmap for mobilizing USD 1 trillion in solar investments by 2030. Blended finance risk management strategy, international grids development and implementation of the ISA’s green hydrogen program were also discussed.
ISA’s head underlined that the African continent is blessed with unlimited potential for renewable energy, including abundant solar energy to the capacity of 10 TW.
“We are working towards mobilizing USD 1trillion of investment for a massive deployment of solar energy technologies and for expanding solar markets. With the right interventions, planned approach and support of the leadership, Africa can move towards providing electricity to all the 600 million people, while supporting economic growth, jobs, and a safe and healthy environment in the region,” the ISA head stated.
The ISA has 107 member countries with 38 engaging as Member Countries and 6 as signatories from the African continent. In Africa, ISA has projects in Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Gambia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, Niger, Senegal, Seychelles, Sudan, Togo, and Uganda. In Ethiopia, ISA is working on the development of 410MW Solar Park providing 2,250 solar pumps for irrigation and 1,400 solar water pumps for drinking water purposes.
Ethiopia ranks 9th globally in food inflation
Ethiopia ranks 9th in the world having high food price inflation according to the World Bank latest food security update.
The report indicates 10 countries with the highest food price inflation, in nominal and real terms, using the latest month for which data are available between April and July 2022.
Lebanon sat at the top having the highest nominal food inflation in the world with 332 percent followed by Zimbabwe 309, Venezuela 155, Türkiye 95, Sri Lanka 91, Iran 90, Argentina 66, Suriname 38, Ethiopia 38, and Moldova 34.
“Domestic food price inflation remains high around the world, with high inflation continuing in almost all low and middle-income countries and the share of high-income countries with high inflation increasing sharply,” reads the World Bank’s update.
Inflation continues to be a daunting macroeconomic challenge facing the Ethiopian economy over the past five year. Headline inflation hit a record 33.5 per cent in July year on year, while food inflation hit 45.5 percent.
Food inflation has notably increased faster than headline inflation over the past several years. The rising price of wheat, edible oil, and fertilizer in the global market in particular transmits to the local market since Ethiopia is dependent on the international market for import.
The impact of the Northern conflict, impact of COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain disruptions, recurrent drought in Southern and Southeastern Ethiopia, and spikes in the global food prices mainly due to the war in Ukraine are putting multiple pressure on inflation and the Ethiopian economy.
Following the worst hunger crises in the greater Horn of Africa region in the last 70 years, according to the World Health Organization, trade openness and continuous movement of goods has been cited as vital for food security. In eastern Africa, the most traded commodities are maize and wheat. Other food staples that are traded and are essentials in the household food basket also include rice, sorghum, and sugar. Trade between countries in the region for the aforementioned commodities increased to above-average levels, such as exports from Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Uganda to food-deficit countries including Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, and South Sudan. Furthermore, reduced rainfall and droughts have affected trade in other protein-rich food sources such as livestock.
The World Bank currently is helping countries boost food and nutrition security during the current crisis through the 2.3 billion dollar Food Systems Resilience Program for Eastern and Southern Africa which helps countries in Eastern and Southern Africa increase the resilience of the region’s food systems and ability to tackle growing food insecurity. The program will enhance inter-agency food crisis response and also boost medium- and long-term efforts for resilient agricultural production, sustainable development of natural resources, expanded market access, and a greater focus on food systems resilience in policymaking.
Back to “Mechal” the Army side in huge face lifting
The Army side back to its old-age popular name “Mechal ” is busy in the transfer market, overhauling its squad under newly appointed Head Coach Fasil Tekalegn. Though Fasil’s track record as EPL coach shows walking out before end of season both at Baherdar and Adama, he appears to have a free hand in players’ transfer window thus nearly a dozen new faces joining the ranks.
Ethiopian national team attacking midfielder Kenan Markneh and former national team defensive midfielder Tesfaye Alebachew are the two biggest fishes in Fasil’s hunt. Kenaan left champions St George due to some disagreement on his contract extension while Tesfaye the giant tackler who played for number of clubs including St George left Hossana following his contract termination.
The winger Bereket Desta and left full back Amsalu Tilahun left former champions Fasil Ketema to sign a two year contract with Mechal. The giant central defender from Adama Tomas Semeretu from Adama, two defenders from Baherdar Ahemed Reshid and Menyelu Wondemu, Fitsum Alemu from relegated side Addis Ababa, goalkeeper and Dagem Tefera from Hawasa are part and parcel of the New Face Mechal. Left winger Samuel Saliso also joined the side for his third spell. Former Sidama Bunna goal keeper Teklemariam Shanko is the latest to join Mechal in a one year contract.
Issued the tough task of bringing one of the oldest yet much decorated Mechal out of obscurity, Fasil started-off his signing many players he worked with at Baherdar and Adama. The welcome addition of defensive midfielder Tesfaye Alebachew and the versatility of Kenaan Markneh is a massive boost for Mechal and both will have pivotal parts to play in the club’s big future.
One of the highest spenders in the transfer market and back to its old yet popular name “Mechal” the Army side is expected to be the real face of the Army it represents.
