Ashewa Technology Solution SC, the upcoming ecommerce and learning firm, announces it will allocate ten percent of its capital for digital development and innovation. Ethio Telecom complements by saying it has come with a platform ready to boost digital business.
The Addis Ababa Science and Technology Agency has promised that it will closely align with technology companies on the aim to attain the government strong policy on digital economy and to tap an opportunity for job creation.
Since the government disclosed that it has given supportive attention for digital economy development and technology improvement several companies and individuals are joining the sector to contribute their share on the sector, which is never properly exploited in Ethiopia.
One of the companies’ targets to boost the development is Ashewa that secured a license to be involved in 11 digital development industries.
On the press conference held in Getfam Hotel on Tuesday July 27, the company officials disclosed that at the initial stage the ecommerce platform will officially start its operation by Tuesday August 10 and the e-learning will follow its own path on the second stage.
Daniel Bekele, CEO of Ashewa, said that the company commenced its activity ambitiously to do business on internet besides political activism and entertainment purpose that is currently observed in Ethiopia.
“There are about 25 million citizens, mainly, the youth have access to internet in Ethiopia, while we are yet to make it a source of income like other countries including those who are similar with Ethiopian standard,” he says, adding that, “that should be changed and we have to do business and create jobs for millions by only using internet for development and economic purpose.”
The company that sold shares for interested shareholders for the past six months to generate of the target 25 million birr has fully attained it and now it has revised its mission to obtain 200 million birr within a short period.
Daniel told Capital that of the 200 million birr, the 20 million birr will be allocated for innovation, technology development and related operation to come up with compatible platforms for Ethiopian market. The company has also a plan not only in using the innovated technologies for itself but make it a source of income by providing for others.
On Tuesday’s ceremony, representative from Ethio Telecom, Job Creation Commission (JCC) and other relevant offices had attended the event.
Mekbib Woldehana, Deputy Head of Addis Ababa Science and Technology Agency, said that as per the government’s strong policy direction, the agency will closely collaborate with companies like Ashewa on technology development.
At the press conference Mohamed Ahmed, who represents Ethio Telecom, said that such kind of businesses were not unable to mushroom in Ethiopia because of weak digital payment schemes, while there was interest in the country. He said that Ethio Telecom has created conducive environment for this now.
“Now we have solved this gap and introduce modern payment scheme, ‘telebirr’ that enabled to includes 7 million subscribers in just two months.”
Mohamed said that Ethio Telecom has fully prepared to work with companies like Ashewa to achieve their business without any obstacle on the digital payment.
Alemtsehay Dersolegn, Deputy Commissioner of JCC, said that reaching to this stage is a big success by itself, and expressed her desire to see the required success of the company. The company has aimed to create millions of jobs in connection with the digital system.
Ashewa has already hired engineers on the sector and it will expand to maximize the technology development and innovation.
According to the plan, the company targets to invest the 160 million birr for the e-commerce platform that will mainly targets to encourage businesses like producers, wholesalers and small and medium enterprises.
“We encourage source of traders like producers on the aim to create direct linkage with consumers that is also contributed to easy the price and the public to enjoy from affordable rate,” Daniel explained.
While companies and traders shall come up with genuine products and images with standard quality, they shall also use the platform to promote their business online and trade at the same time.
Similar to Ashewa other companies from abroad and local are also coming on the ecommerce and other online platforms to do business on the innovation sector that is now dominating the globe.
Backing digital development and innovation
Protecting Benishangul-Gumuz’s investment areas
Benishangul-Gumuz regional state government said, by collaborating with the ministry of peace and the ministry of mines and petroleum, it will deploy security forces to protect mineral investments in the region.
The region is located in the North-West part of the country and borders the regional state of Amhara in the North, Gambella in the West and Sudan in the west, and owns suitable agronomic land as well as livestock possessions.
It is known for its massive natural resources that can be utilized for the development of the region’s growth, its high potential for irrigation growth, water potential, and a large number of livestock in the region. More to the point, the region is known for its agricultural products such as oilseeds, cotton, fruits, coffee, sugarcane, pepper and whatnot found has been stressed by continues instability.
“Our region is inundated with quite a lot of natural resources, The length and breadth of the region takes account of a wide spectrum of considerable and wide-ranging untapped resources that can take the country to the next chapter of achievement with no trouble if harnessed as they should be,” said Ashadli Hassen, president of the region adding that, “producing Gold, Marble and coal are amongst the investment areas.”
However, the region is known for its instability, affecting the investors.
“Most of the investment places are far from urban areas, which have lots of infrastructure problems and impose them to terrors which make it difficult to continue their production, ” said Ashadli, indicating that there were lots of investors who have stopped their production as result of the ongoing instability in the region. As he stated specially in Kamashi and Assosa which has relatively stable investors has started their work.
In collaboration with the two ministry offices, the region is working to deploy security forces to protect investment areas to support them to continue their operation; additionally the region is also working to educate the society about the benefits of the investment in the area stated the president.
“Unemployment, poverty in the region is also some driving forces for the certain instabilities and security problems,” explained the region’s president as he elaborated that the regional government is working on job creation. “We are giving working place for youths, as well as providing them seed money,” he explained the regional governments tackle on unemployment and poverty.
Additional to the instability, the region has faced major challenges in: economic development, lack of transportation and communications infrastructure. To solve this as the president said the regional government is aggressively working with other stakeholder to alleviate these issues.
Several mining companies have been active in the area in recent years. Currently, according to the data from the regional investment office there are 22 huge investments on the mineral sector.
Ethiopia to host 5th World Leather Congress
The 5th world leather congress is going to be held from 3 to 6 November 2021 in Addis Ababa, sky light hotel, whilst the 12th all African leather fair and the 6th African sourcing and fashion week will be held from 3rd of December to 6th 2021.
Giving special attention to the leather and textile sector the government is working to develop specialized Industrial Parks (IPs) and a leather project initiative that aims to establish a city designated to produce leather and related materials at Mojo town which can create over 30,000 jobs upon its completion.
“The project is under implementation to make Modjo town of Oromia State the hub for leather industry and envisions to attract anchor companies’ involvement thereby transforming the town into one of the state- of-the- art tannery centres in Africa,” said Teka Gebreyesus, state minister of the ministry of trade and industry, briefing for the media. As he said the project that is under implementation is expected to cost USD 200 million.
Bringing more than 5,000 participants drawn from 250 international leather goods manufacturing and exporting companies as well as researchers from over twenty countries are expected to take part in the event. The world leather conference will have a two level conference to discuss current and future situations/ technologies and networks with in the particular industries.
The 12th All-African Leather Fair will be attended by over 150 international manufactures and exporters from 20 countries show casing their products and innovations. All-African Leather Fair is a platform for manufacturers from the entire Africa continent.
“The trade fair and congress will avail a great opportunity to African leather goods manufacturers to penetrate the international market. The event will also provide opportunities for business to business networking among participants,” Teka said, highlighting the promising growth Ethiopia’s leather industry has experienced over years which constituted the competitive edge for the country to be chosen as the event’s venue.
The trade fair also seeks to create opportunities for the participants to share experiences, harness potentials and motivate new innovations, among others, said the organizers. “The trade fair and congress will avail a great opportunity to African leather goods manufacturers to penetrate the international market. The event will also provide opportunities for business to business networking among participants,” said Calabro Aurelia patrizia, representatives of UNIDO Ethiopia.
DMC, Sinohydro pair for power expansion
Derba MIDROC Cement (DMC) and Sinohydro Construction Limited sign 330 million birr power expansion project construction that will allow the factory to double its production and get sustainable energy.
The agreement was signed to install the Chancho-Derba 132 KV Power Expansion Project.
The project will outlay at DMC’s headquarters about 70 km North West of Addis Ababa, while it is expected to be completed in 14 months time and supervised by the state-owned Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP).
Upon the completion of the expansion project by the client, Sinohydro, a Chinese enterprise, DMC would launch construction of a newer production facility, production line 2 which is expected to have same capacity of production with the existing manufacturing plants production line 1, 5,600 clinker or 7,500 cement tons per day.
“DMC will commence the construction DMC Line 2, within the coming six months which has the same capacity like Line 1. Hence, the total production capacity of DMC will reach 11,200 ton per day of clinker and 15,000 ton of cement per day,” one of the leading cement manufacturer said.
According to the statement of DMC, the prime purpose of the project is to deliver to the existing cement plant, DMC Line 1, 47 MVA and to the new cement plant to be constructed DMC Line 2, 47MVA in total 94 MVA electric power.
On its statement the cement factory disclosed that in addition to acquiring 35 MW additional power , the new expansion would help DMC alleviate power fluctuation that is occurred due to diminished efficiency of transmission line and voltage drop of the 50 km long existing line that transport power all the way from Gefersa -Muger Electric Power Station..
The 25 km new power transmission line would be very effective owing to minimized old voltage drop and minimal workload as it would be connected with the Chancho sub-station of the national grid.
After signing the agreement, Haile Assigdie, DMC Group CEO, expressed his conviction that as Sinohydro is very experienced, it would complete the project on time and with the presumable quality.
The company has been involved on different power projects in Ethiopia for two decades including the Tekeze Hydroelectric Dam, roads and may more infrastructural projects.
The CEO also pledged his assistance in all spheres of cooperation to the client in its endeavor of realizing the projects.
Sinohydro Corporation Limited is a 60-year enterprise in power and infrastructure sectors and it has over 20 years of experience in Ethiopia.
