In the context of a new law enabling the registration and licensing of law firms, a new firm, Aman & Partners LLP is yet another corporate legal service provider that has completed its registration as a de jure law firm obtaining its license from the Ministry of Justice. First founded by Aman Assefa, a reputed corporate lawyer with over two decades of experience, the new firm is established based on a partnership agreement signed between four advocates: Aman Assefa, Bahakal Abate, Ermias Ayalew and Micael Sehul bolstering a combined experience of more than 70 years in the legal profession.
The firm is currently advising on major foreign direct investments in their legal needs across various sectors and industries including telecommunications, infrastructure, healthcare, manufacturing, textile, beverage, fin-tech, media, data protection, acquisitions, corporate governance and many others. In the practice of corporate and commercial law for over two decades, the firm currently employs 20 staff members in total who hold diverse specializations in various fields of law from reputed universities in the USA, UK, Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands, South Africa and Australia.
Having worked and practiced together in a de-facto partnership since 2017, the team at Aman Assefa & Associates Law Office have had a strong and dependable working relationship and a synergy that is reflected in the recently announced legal awards by IFLR, a law firm rating institution, that awarded the team to be the winner in the “National Firm of the Year” category.
It is also remembered that Bowmans, a reputed Pan-African law firm, had signed an alliance agreement with the founders of Aman & Partners LLP back in 2019. A statement shared by Richard Harney, Senior Partner and founder of the Bowmans Kenya team celebrated the new development by saying “we congratulate the whole team at Aman & Partners LLP on this timely transition into a full-fledged law firm. At Bowmans, we continue to be optimist about the potential of Ethiopia as a vibrant and burgeoning market and are very happy that our alliance partners in Ethiopia are taking this historical step in institutionalizing their high-end corporate legal service in the market.”
Aman who was appointed as the first Managing Partner for Aman & Partners LLP said,“ I am thrilled to witness this historic transition and even more so in anticipation of what our strong and tested track record would mean in continuing to provide increased quality of service to clients and realizing our dream, which was, and still is, establishing a firm that will outlive the founders.” Aman stated this in light of the law which allows establishment of law firms which will help formalize and ensure the continuity of legal partnerships and institutionalization of legal service delivery in Ethiopia.
It is to be recalled that one of the biggest challenges to the legal industry has been lack of appropriate legal framework to institutionalize and guarantee the continuity of legal service to clients. It is not so long ago that the late Teshome Gebremariam’s law office had to close its doors due to the sudden passing away of its founder; alas at a time when law firms did not have the opportunity to institutionalize and register under the relevant legislation at the time.
Since the enactment of the new law, it is recalled that firms such as Habesha Advocates LLP and Mihrteab & Getu Advocates have also been incorporated. In a joint statement from Aman & Partners LLP, the team has emphasized that they will “continue to elevate the standard of legal service delivery in Ethiopia through thought leadership and ensuring dependable and tailored legal service to investors and businesses in Ethiopia.”
Institutionalization of corporate legal service continues to thrive
BASF bridges gaps
A year ago, BASF, a German multinational chemical company and the largest chemical producer in the world, through its blossoming business stated that the first seeds produced at BASF’s state-of-the-art production facility in Ethiopia entered the global vegetable seed markets. The facility built offered an ideal year-round production conditions for sweet pepper, tomato and cucumber and was BASF’s first high-tech greenhouse complex in Africa.
Following a similar culture of easing business for the Ethiopian market and the region, BASF has opened a Djibouti base, which is very beneficial to its customers in the region, more so Ethiopia. Capital’s Editor-In-Chief, Groum Abate, caught up with Gift Mbaya, Business Lead and General Manager BASF Trade Representative Office, for insights on what this new endeavor means to the firm’s customers. Excerpts;
Capital: You recently set up an office in Djibouti. How has that helped your business with the Ethiopian Market?
Gift Mbaya: Setting up a base in Djibouti has been very beneficial for our Ethiopian market. It has given more access to our customers to get our products, thus helping to bridge the gap between BASF Europe and Ethiopia. Furthermore, the office that has been set up takes ownership and responsibility for the full customer order import and export management process into Ethiopia.
The Djibouti office offers seamless transactions where prior to that, customers had found it difficult in terms of the length of time it took to provide supply as well as availability and access to products.
Currently, the office in Djibouti is responsible to manage the customer order export process from the Djibouti Port, in and out of the Free Trade Zone at efficient, timely and satisfaction levels. In addition, it manages and coordinates all activities for inbound/outbound and logistics operations for Ethiopia.
At the end of the day, this whole project came to fruition in order to make it easy for customers to do business with BASF.
Capital: How in particular does it make it easier for the Ethiopian customers?
Gift Mbaya: For customers who are buying products from Europe usually takes a longer time to get to Ethiopia. Thus, BASF Djibouti will buy from BASF Europe and bring the product to Djibouti. Thus Ethiopian customers can get their products at a quicker and easier way, without going through the traditional longer route.
Capital: Are you going to assist customers on opening up LCs to access your product? If so, how are you going to do that?
Gift Mbaya: We will assist them in terms of the paperwork. But the issue of raising LC between Ethiopia and Europe or Ethiopia and Djibouti will remain the same.
Capital: How would you evaluate the current foreign exchange shortage with regards to its effect to your business?
Gift Mbaya: Because of the foreign currency shortages our customers are not buying as much products as they can. This might not be due to unavailability of the product but rather shortage of currency which can control the purchasing power.
And as BASF Djibouti, we are here to assist, for example, customers who used to buy full container loads from Europe, but have seen sudden decrease owing to foreign currency shortage struggles. Such customers stand to benefit since through Djibouti they can buy little product loads at the various different frequency that they require.
This will also enhance the cash flow of the customers since you won’t be put at a point of spending all the eggs in one basket, and since the quantities are purchased in birr, saving on your cash can mean customers can use the cash for their factories for future longevity.
Capital: How do you assess business in Ethiopia? Is there potential for growth?
Gift Mbaya: Ethiopia is the place to be and as far as BASF is concerned business is thriving with room for potential growth. Our field of business enables industrialization, which the government of Ethiopia is advocating and promoting.
In recent weeks stories have been published showing that Government wants to increase its efforts in industrialization; in addition to wanting to increase wheat production by over 70%; to which we can participate in. To this end, we want to participate in helping our farmers grow more so as to make Ethiopia self-sufficient.
With the increasing population of Ethiopia, the market is therefore for all of us to grow and if we map that to the manufacturing industry stance, we notice that they equally want to grow, thus the potential growth of business is limitless. We see manufacturers wanting to grow and improve their production, and we can partner with them in such through capacity building and working in partnership in areas of mutual interest.
Capital: How is BASF’s seed business progressing?
Gift Mbaya: The seed business, which we’ve been part of from four years back is an investment that is doing well. We have a production facility now, where we are growing seeds of peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes. This can be noted as a visible investment which brings innovation into the country, to which the country then benefits because of the export to Europe and ultimately to global distribution reach. Overall, the project is reeling in positive results.
Capital: Do you have any other new projects?
Gift Mbaya: Not at the moment, but we’re expanding our product ranges. BASF is one potential of 85 different business units globally. And right now in Ethiopia we’re dealing with about 12 or 13 of those. We want to expand that because we are interacting with a lot of customers who have expressed interest in our products.
So as we find new business opportunities for them, we want to expand our base. Right now we are into agriculture, pharmaceuticals, home and personal care business, leather business, polyurethanes for shoes, furniture, mattresses and pillows, human nutrition, and vitamins. To this regard we often say we are creating chemistry for a sustainable future.
Capital: Can you tell us about the kids’ Lab program?
Gift Mbaya: With the belief that students today can become innovators and leaders of tomorrow, BASF established Kids’ Lab in Germany in 1997 with the aim to nurture children’s interest in chemistry; and to help young generation recognize how chemistry around us can help protect the environment and create a sustainable future.
The BASF Kids’ Lab program is an interactive, fun and free chemistry education program designed for kids aged 6 to 12 years to discover the world of chemistry through simple and safe experiments. This program has been brought to more than 30 countries across the globe.
Here in Ethiopia we have gathered these kids in schools such as the German school where other schools are invited to be part of this initiative. To show them real life scientific works we take them to our customers who interact with them and give them inspiration through showcasing their various projects to build excitement in their ambitious hearts.
Within the program, we schedule two to three hours to create excitement around chemistry and lab works to spark their interest, so when they resume normal classes they can aspire to be scientists of tomorrow.
This program will continue to expand across Africa in order to propel and inspire innovations and harbor scientists of tomorrow.
Capital: Do you have plans on expanding to public schools?
Gift Mbaya: Working through the German school, our program is open to both public and private schools and we often do that by inviting students as well as staff from neighboring schools.
In order to conduct such activities in public schools, authorization is needed. To this end, we have been in talks with the Ministry of Education so as to provide these opportunities to a wider range of schools.
Capital: Is there anything you want to add?
Gift Mbaya: I think it’s a great time to be part of the business scene in Ethiopia, owing to the country’s commitment to expand and grow its various sectors. As BASF we see incredible potential in this country and we look forward to partnering and playing pivotal roles in improving the country in our own way. We also look forward to spearhead innovations through our work as well as continue to inspire the future generation.
SITA unveils e-visa and eta to transform borders and boost growth
SITA announced the launch of SITA eVisa and SITA Electronic Travel Authorisation to meet the rapidly growing demand from governments for digital visa systems to stimulate national economies after COVID-19, strengthen security and improve the travel experience.
Governments globally are shifting to modern travel authorisation solutions, like electronic visas and Electronic Travel Authorisations (ETAs). According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), traditional visas – applications made via a consulate or embassy – decreased from 77% in 2008 to 53% in 2018. There is a growing demand for digital travel solutions.
The advantages of digital authorisation solutions include improved security, reduced administrative burden, easier travel, and increased visitor flows, promoting spending that benefits local economies and creates employment. For example, one government’s introduction of an eVisa scheme covering 40 plus countries in 2014-2015 led to a 21% increase in international visitor arrivals and the creation of 800,000 jobs accounted for around 20% of the growth seen in the country’s travel and tourism over the period.
DANGEROUS NARRATIVES
Almost all major narratives that are currently dictating the organization and various pursuits of the human collectives are based on extremely flawed and dangerous conceptions. The spheres of politics, economics, culture, science & technology, etc. all depend on these short sighted and destructive principles for their operational blueprints. These dominant paradigms are construed as if they were benign necessities that are neither harmful to social harmony nor detrimental to the planet’s ecosystem! Expectedly, trying to deconstruct these farcical narratives can trigger untold aggression from global establishments, whether they operate at the local or global level. In this regard, the role of the ‘deep state’ is paramount! To recall; we have defined the ‘deep state’ as the military-intelligence-industrial-banking-media-complex of the core states of the world system!
The current global economic model is constructed and maintained, primarily to serve the interests of the 1%. The old justification of the system, which was to ‘pacify the struggle for existence’, has been passé for decades! Unnecessary services/overproduction in all sectors of economic activities are causing damage to the ecosystem and have failed to bring much desired happiness to the consuming sheeple. Granted, there are still plenty of sheeple that still don’t have the basics on our planet, but the way to go about furnishing the essentials to them, (with what they need, not what they want) must be changed, per force. The fact is; the ‘limit to growth’ is upon us and we cannot pretend as if nothing has changed since the start of industrialization. Moreover, the entrenched polarization the world system has created, both within and between countries, is not a sustainable model to pursue, even from narrow point of view of geopolitics. Alternative systems of collective existence must be swiftly initiated if humanity desires a bit more time on the blue planet!
Why is such an obvious destructive system still pervades life? Amongst other things, the system has honed very effective tools to numb incipient alternatives. A worldwide indoctrination network, pointedly leveraging the various organs of orientations, is one of the major weapons of the system. Educational institutions, the media, the globalized entertainment systems (including spectator sports), occupations, etc., all play decisive roles in the project of zombifying the world’s sheeple. Otherwise, how on earth can people accept the irrational notion of ‘infinite growth on a finite planet’? It is the cumulative result of powerful indoctrination as well as the subtle economic serfdom bestowed on the sheeple that has solidified the prevailing collective economic consciousness, which is based on insanity, literally speaking! What is even worse is the fact that this distorted economic narrative forms the foundation of all other institutional superstructures. Electoral democracies, even interpersonal relationships like love, are increasingly dependent on derived values, from the logic of un-tempered accumulation, facilitated by the prevailing unholy ideology of neoliberalism.
‘Neo-liberalism: A form of free market fundamentalism that has been the dominant global economic ideology for the last 30 years in which profit and ‘efficiency’ are the central goals of society. It is a framework focused on reducing the role of the state and taxation, while promoting privatization, deregulation and corporate trade deals. This has led to soaring inequality, whereby just 8 people have the same wealth as half the world’s population and an environmental crisis in the form of unprecedented species loss and dangerous climate change.’ (FOE)
These days even the sciences are tainted. Interaction between the sheeple and the scientific community seems to be vacuous. The intention of neoliberalism seems to be the baffling of the sheeple so that critical collective consciousness is frustrated, derailed and stunted. Overwhelming the sheeple is always easy; after all, who is Joe Doe to question the status quo that gave us the Internet, mobile phone, air travel, etc., etc. Baffling has emerged as another of the dominant narratives of the world system. Frankly speaking, more tech and more big science have become instruments, not only to dumb down human cognition, but also in confine the sheeple within the narrow scope of establishment dogmas. In addition, entrenched interests/status quo encourages the absolutely fantastic. Ridiculous ideas as interstellar travel, (in not so distant future) or resource importation from outer space or dematerialized transportation to roam the galaxies, etc., etc. are all used to build fictitious narratives to sustain confidence on the reigning system. Once criticality is eliminated from social discourse, anything can go, and this is what we are witnessing amongst the gullible all over the world. Science fiction and reality are intentionally mixed, compliment of sophisticated indoctrination that spares literally no one, save the critically/scientifically inclined!
The ruling psychopaths/sociopaths of our world system do not really care whether life support systems here on our planet collapse or not, so long as accumulation is unimpeded. For these sickos money is more important than life. The wealth of experience that can be savored from simple living originating from the appreciation of creation is reprehensible to the greedy parasites!
