The Oromia Cooperative Promotion Agency (OCPA) and the state financial giant, Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) agree to work in tandem with regards to technology based loan repayment.
The agency which provides agricultural inputs for farmers in Oromia region has had a longstanding partnership with CBE for the last 28 years in terms of financial access for the procurement of inputs.

Similarly, the regional body has been providing inputs for farmers on credit bases, through a traditional recollection system in partnership with local bodies and cooperatives; however a much needed change was noted as paramount.
Meseret Assefa, Director General of the Agency, said that the loan collection scheme was risky, costly, consumes time and was vulnerable to theft or embezzlement. As a result, the OCPA developed a digital scheme where farmers are able to pay their dues through a cashless scheme.
Abie Sano, President of CBE said that farmers shall use CBE’s digital payment scheme to settle their payment in connection with the service they get from the agency.
He said that the scheme will allow for a smooth and fair distribution of inputs, as well as ease the agency’s operation besides timely settlement of arrears.
CBE has provided up to 35 billion birr in loans for the agency to acquire relevant agricultural inputs.

The 7th edition of Afri Print and Packaging Expo and the first A sign and graphics expo (SGE) has successfully been held from December 20-22 with 3,000 plus traders and visitors converging to have valuable discussions with exhibiting companies.
Organized by Prana events and its partner, Expo Team for Service Co. Ltd, the Expo showcased the premier paper, commercial printing, and packaging technology, inputs, and solutions international tradeshow aimed to promote the advertising value chain.

The three-day expo was held at the Ethiopian Skylight hotel gathering key stakeholders, leading industry experts, renowned sector professionals, valuable buyers, relevant government officials, and start-ups.
The signs business is expanding tremendously in the East African sub-region due to an increase in demand for outdoor signs and digital displays. The graphics business has also been booming because it allows companies to create customized images that represent their brand identity.
The event was recognized by the Chemical and Construction Inputs Industry Development Institute, Ministry of Industry in partnership with the Pan-African Chambers of Commerce and Industries (PACCI), and Ethiopia Publishers and Printers Associations.

Ashewa Technology Solution and Africom Technology forge synergetic partnerships to establish the biggest digital economy in Ethiopia.
During the ceremony held on Wednesday December 21 at the ICT park, the two local companies inked an MoU to develop technologies and ideas that shall create market linkage both in the country and abroad.
The pair also agreed to mobilize resources and conduct research and studies jointly.
The partnership was penned by Surafel Shimeles, CEO of ICT Park, Daniel Bekele, CEO of Ashewa, and Bahiru Zeynu, CEO of Africom.
Ashewa was formed recently to invest on 11 different IT sectors including ecommerce, while Africom is an IT firm that has been in operation for the last 18 years.

Information Network Security Agency (INSA) in collaboration with Addis Ababa Science and Technology University open an exhibition at the Science Museum for youth techies in the cyber security space. The young tech gurus who were trained in the summer camp special program at the “Ethio Cyber Talent Development Center” will now have an opportunity and a platform to present their creative works.
The Minister of Innovation and Technology, Belete Molla (PhD), Deputy Director General of INSA, Daniel Guta, as well as senior officials of government and private institutions attended the opening ceremony held on Thursday December 22, 2022. Alongside the fair, Ethiopian Entrepreneurial Youth Association in collaboration with INSA and the Ministry of Innovation and Technology held a discussion focusing on financial provision for entrepreneurial youth. The exhibition is said to run until December 29, 2022.
In her opening remarks deputy Director General of INSA, Tigist Hamid said that the national cyber sovereignty is ensured when citizens contribute significantly to the cyber environment since the environment is guided by indigenous knowledge, philosophy, thinking, culture, values and the ownership of national technology.

Speaking at the event, Minister Balete Molla (PhD) mentioned that the role of the private sector in facilitating the digital transformation of the country remained high and that the government is committed in supporting the private sector. The minister added that the Ethiopian Entrepreneurial Youth Association is working to organize youth in entrepreneurship and to create favorable conditions for solving the problems they face.
In the summer program, INSA in collaboration with Addis Ababa University of Science and Technology train 120 talented youths form various parts of Ethiopia, from elementary to university level, with 60 having graduated so far. As indicated, apart from providing technical support and training facilities for the trainees, the agency has also facilitated options of work opportunities when entering in to the market.