Innovation and Technology Ministry announced that Ethiopia is now technologically well equipped to launch electronic transaction.
This was indicated when the ministry discussed the electronic transaction draft bill with human resource and technology standing committee of the House of Peoples Representatives (HPR).
Constructive ideas and recommendations have been obtained from the meeting with the standing committee so that the country run the new transaction system with full preparedness, said Abrham Belay Minister of Innovation and Technology.
Abrham explained that an electronic transaction is the sale or purchase of goods or services, whether between businesses, households, individuals, governments, and other public or private organizations using mobile cell phones and related technological devices.
He said further efforts are needed to run the proposed electronic transaction system with fullest capacities.
A legal procedure underway to launch the new transaction system has a paramount significance to equally accommodate interests of both paper and computer based segments of societies there by facilitate conducive economic atmosphere and ensure good governance in the country, Abrham elaborated.

Standard Chartered announced that Joint Medical Store, the Ugandan not-for-profit organisation, has become the first client to make a drawdown under the Bank’s US$1 billion financing commitment to help companies tackling Covid-19.
JMS’ drawdown for US$2.2m on a loan facility will help them provide healthcare facilities and supply masks, sanitisers and medicines in Uganda. The private NGO, which was established in 1979, is also licensed by the National Drug Authority to engage in the import, export and wholesale of medicines and related health supplies.
Standard Chartered launched the programme on March 30 to provide financing on a not-for-profit basis to companies making products and services that help the front line fight the virus and its impacts. The bank has received a strong response from clients around the world and there are a number of disbursals nearing fruition.

Tewodros Ashenafi Foundation built a street children rehabilitation center and handed it over to the Addis Ababa Labour and Social Affairs Bureau.
“The alarmingly increasing number of street children in Addis Ababa, is a grave concern to us all. As the world is faced with a fight against COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak, to which the street children are also vulnerable, makes the need for facilities with high accommodation capacity crucial,” a statement from the foundation reads.
Taking this challenge into account, by the leadership and initiation of the Prime Minister and at the request of the Ethiopian Investment Commission, Tewodros Ashenafi Foundation has built a street children rehabilitation center in Addis Ababa, Akaki Kality Sub City at a cost of 25 million birr, and handed over the Project to the Addis Ababa Labour and Social Affairs Bureau.
The rehabilitation center, which has 280 rooms, can accommodate 2,000 children. There are 14 blocks each having 20 rooms. The center has two rooms for first aid clinic, two rooms for administration offices and canteen and TV hall, and a short term training hall. It also has 36 bathrooms, eight toilets, and 16 washing tubs for clothes.

An African Express Airways Embraer EMB-120RT crashed while approaching Bardale airport in southwest Somalia, killing the six people on board.
The aircraft, registered 5YAXO, took off from Mogadishu Airport (MGQ) and was transporting medical supplies destined to fight the coronavirus pandemic to Baidoa Airport (BIB), in the southern Bay region on May 4, 2020. Reports say it had been chartered by a non-governmental organization. Onboard were two pilots and four passengers.
The plane was 5 kilometers away from its destination airport and had commenced its descent when it crashed, killing all occupants.
The causes of the accident are being investigated. Early reports claim the aircraft could have been shot down by a rocket, as the Islamist militant group al Shabaab is present in the region. The insurgents, however, denied that claim.
On 2 February 2016, al Shabaab targeted an international flight operated by the Somali-based Daallo Airlines. Shortly after taking off from Mogadishu, a suicide bomber on board detonated, killing himself and injuring two people. The aircraft managed to land back at the airport safely.