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Romania donates modern tech to Tiya Secondary School, boosting educational opportunities

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Tiya High School in Central Ethiopia has received a significant boost to its technological capabilities thanks to a donation of modern electronic equipment worth over 4 million birr (30,000 Euro) from the Romanian government.

The Romanian Ambassador to Ethiopia, Julia Pataki handed over the latest technology equipment on February 5, in the presence of Sodo Woreda officials, parents representatives, teachers and students. 

The donation includes 21 standardized all in one computers, a printing machine, a 75-inch television, a camera, and other essential electronic equipment, creating a fully equipped state of the art ICT lab for the school. This initiative aims to provide Tiya High School with the technology necessary for a modern learning environment.

Ambassador Pataki personally championed the project, which was launched last year, and ensured the inclusion of a full camera set to allow students to develop professional skills alongside their academic studies.

Tadelle Birhane, Head of the Sodo Woreda Education bureau, expressed gratitude to the Romanian government for its support and acknowledged the crucial role of technology in education. He noted that Tiya High School has become one of the top schools in the district, a center of excellence thanks in part to such ongoing assistance.

Emunesh Ilala, Director of the school said that a good and efficient school produces good citizens. The students’ performance has been improving over the years and this donation will further enhance their academic achievement.  

Ambassador Pataki highlighted the importance of connectivity noting that this lab can also help build the capacity of other schools in the community.  This is her second ICT project following the first done in Addis Ababa, Cathedral school, and the third is in the pipeline.

The school envisions modernizing to Level 4 and becoming a model institution for the region, emphasizing that the donated equipment will help build a solid foundation for future generations. The Tiya School Virtual Excellence Center is scheduled to be officially inaugurated on March 6th, with federal and regional officials, ambassadors, community elders, parents, and students in attendance. This contribution marks a significant step forward in enhancing educational opportunities and technological literacy for students at Tiya High School.

This donation is a potential reflection of the growing collaboration between Ethiopia and Romania. Romania is prioritizing technology and digital transformation in its own education system, and this donation may represent an effort to share those resources internationally. 89% of households in Romania have access to internet. Other international efforts are also underway to improve education and provide digital resources to Ethiopian youth.

Ethiopia bets big on digital agriculture to boost food security with 2025-2032 Roadmap

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Ethiopia has launched an ambitious Digital Agriculture Roadmap (DAR) for 2025-2032, signaling a major push to transform its agricultural sector through the integration of digital technologies. The strategic framework aims to modernize practices across the entire agricultural value chain, from farm to market, ultimately increasing productivity, enhancing resilience to climate change, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of Ethiopian agriculture.

The roadmap, developed by the Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Gates Foundation, builds upon the foundation laid by the 2022 Digital Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services (DAEAS) roadmap. It envisions a more engaging, sustainable, and prosperous agricultural ecosystem for farmers and pastoralists.

Minister of Agriculture Girma Amente highlighted that the DAR focuses on six key solutions across 22 priority areas, including agricultural information, supply chain management, financial services, pricing and marketing services, smart farming, and extension and advisory services. These carefully selected areas are expected to address the pressing challenges faced by Ethiopian farmers.

The roadmap outlines 32 priorities, including improving digital infrastructure, promoting digital literacy among farmers, and developing comprehensive farmer profiles. The plan is structured in two phases, with the first phase (2025-2029) focusing on building the foundational digital infrastructure and addressing key challenges in agriculture, and the second phase (2030-2032) aiming to diversify and scale the digital ecosystem across the sector.

ATI Director-General Mandefro Nigussie stressed that access to accurate and up-to-date information is essential to solving problems in all aspects of the agricultural value chain, from production to market access. He believes that digital tools can bridge the information gap that has long hampered growth in the sector.

With coordinated support from the Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute and the Gates Foundation, this initiative reflects a strong commitment to integrating technology into Ethiopian agriculture to improve productivity and livelihoods. The vision of the DAR is to create a digitally advanced agricultural sector where farmers and pastoralists have access to real-time data, modern tools, and improved market linkages to drive productivity, sustainability, and food security.

Investment ecosystem thrives, attracts nearly $1.2 billion in FDI

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Ethiopia’s efforts to create a more business-friendly environment are paying off, with the nation attracting nearly $1.2 billion in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the first four months of the fiscal year. This investment surge follows a series of over 80 reforms implemented over the past six years, aimed at streamlining business processes and opening new sectors to foreign investors.

Zeleke Temesgen, Commissioner of the Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC), highlighted the positive changes, noting that they have created a more favorable market environment for investors. The EIC now provides comprehensive support, assisting with everything from visa applications and residence permits to banking assistance and market linkage facilitation, removing bureaucratic hurdles.

Significant legislative reforms, including amendments to the Commercial Code, the introduction of the Capital Markets Act, and the passage of the E-Transaction Act, have provided investors with greater predictability and certainty. Notably, the business sector, previously closed for over 50 years, has been liberalized, allowing foreign investors to participate in wholesale, retail, import, and export.

In a recent interview, the Commissioner noted that FDI is 6.4 percent higher than in the same period last year. This growth reflects investors’ increasing confidence in the Ethiopian market, driven by its strategic location, vast market (population over 120 million), access to cheap energy resources, and well-developed industrial parks.

Ethiopia’s strategic focus on five key economic pillars – manufacturing, agriculture, ICT, mining, and tourism – creates diverse investment opportunities. The agricultural sector, the backbone of Ethiopia’s economy, offers lucrative prospects in areas such as coffee processing, fertilizer production, and improved seed and animal feed production. The energy sector, with its abundant renewable resources, presents significant potential for investors in hydropower, geothermal, solar, and wind power.

Ethiopia’s membership in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and COMESA has further enhanced its attractiveness, granting investors access to a broader African market. Recent macroeconomic reforms, including the liberalization of the foreign exchange system, have addressed previous challenges related to foreign exchange access and dividend repatriation. Investors in special economic zones can now retain up to 100% of their foreign exchange earnings. The establishment of special economic zones aims to enhance the business climate and attract further investments.

Major logistics groups in Djibouti unite to form a powerful lobbying organization

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In a significant move to strengthen their influence and tackle industry challenges, the Association of Independent Freight Forwarders (RTA) and the Djibouti Freight Forwarders Association (ATD) have agreed to merge into a single, unified lobbying body.

This decision was made following a meeting with Aboubaker Omar Hadi, Chairman of the Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority (DPFZA), which oversees state-owned logistics and related businesses.

Sources close to the matter confirmed the merger, stating that the two associations finalized their resolution during a meeting on Wednesday, February 5.

The DPFZA announced that Chairman Hadi met with Mahamed Ahmed Elmi, President of RTA, and Robleh Mohamed Barreh, President of ATD, to discuss the consolidation, with both parties agreeing to merge their associations during the meeting.

Industry experts believe this merger will have a transformative impact on the logistics sector, not only in Djibouti but also in Ethiopia, which heavily relies on Djibouti for its import and export activities.

The unified organization is expected to provide a stronger voice for the industry, enabling it to collectively address challenges and lobby the government more effectively.

“The latest move will directly impact logistics activity in Ethiopia, which mainly depends on Djibouti for its import-export business,” said sources familiar with the situation.

They further noted that the majority of members from both associations work closely with their counterparts in Ethiopia, enhancing the merger’s regional significance.

Supporters of the merger emphasized that the unified body will empower the industry to tackle issues with a single, powerful voice.

“They can address their problems jointly and will lobby the government with a unified, strong approach,” commented insiders who supported the plan.

The consolidation of these two prominent logistics associations marks a pivotal moment for the industry in the Horn of Africa, promising to enhance collaboration, streamline operations, and strengthen the region’s position as a key logistics hub.