Ethiopia Archives - Page 3 of 4

African Development Bank Starts Electricity Cooperative Feasibility Studies in Nigeria and Ethiopia

The African Development Bank has kicked off a feasibility study to explore the potential of electricity cooperative business models in Nigeria and Ethiopia.

The effort is part of the Bank’s goal of achieving universal electricity access across Africa by 2025. Currently, power shortages diminish the region’s GDP growth by 2-4% per year, holding back job creation and poverty reduction efforts.

The study, funded by the South-South Cooperation Trust Fund, will be conducted by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) International over three months. NRECA will consider regulatory, legal, technical and socio-economic factors that impact the creation of electric cooperatives in the two nations.

Electricity cooperatives are tax-exempt businesses set up and owned by the consumers who benefit from the services provided in generation, transmission and/or distribution.

They are used in many parts of the world to provide last mile connections to rural areas through grid extensions and cooperative enterprises. Where successful, they also improve rural electrification, while creating sustainable businesses.

Speaking at the kick-off meeting, Batchi Baldeh, the Bank’s Director of Power Systems Development, thanked the South-South Cooperation Trust Fund for financing the initiative. “This study is timely and aligned with the Bank’s New Deal for Energy in Africa. We look forward to working with NRECA International to execute the study, and to leverage its extensive experience in electricity cooperative business models to pave the way for the implementation of transformational projects across Africa” he said.

Underscoring the importance of Government cooperation and commitment, he added that the cooperatives rely on strong partnerships among governments, rural/local communities and development partners for implementation and success.

“We selected Nigeria and Ethiopia following dialogue with their respective ministers of energy during the Bank’s Africa Energy Market Place held in July 2018, where they expressed their governments’ commitment to improve rural access through established models. We rely on this cooperation to explore this innovative model of delivering our High 5 to light up and power Africa”, said Baldeh

Findings of the study will be delivered in May this year. They will inform the viability of plans to pilot the model in the selected countries.

For more information about the African Development Bank Group, click here.

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email marketing@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.

Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: VOA [1], [2].

Ethiopia

Prime Minister: Ethiopia Has No Option But Multi-party Democracy

Ethiopia has “no option” but to pursue multi-party democracy, the country’s reformist new prime minister said Sunday, again shaking up Africa’s second most populous nation that for decades has been ruled by a single coalition.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s chief of staff announced the remarks on Twitter, saying they were made during a meeting with leaders of more than 50 national and regional parties, including ones from overseas, who demanded reforms in election law.

A multiparty democracy would need strong institutions that respect human rights and rule of law, Abiy said, according to his chief of staff.

The 42-year-old prime minister has announced sweeping reforms since taking office in April, including the release of opposition figures from prison and the embrace of a peace deal that led to the surprising restoration of diplomatic ties this month with longtime rival Eritrea.

Just months ago Ethiopia, a nation of more than 100 million people, faced widespread anti-government protests demanding wider freedoms, with the U.N. human rights chief and others expressing concern over hundreds of reported deaths and tens of thousands of people detained.

Ethiopia’s ruling coalition, which has been in power since 1991 and along with affiliated parties holds every seat in parliament, came up with Abiy after former Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn stepped aside early this year. Abiy notably doesn’t come from the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front, a party in the ruling coalition that has been the dominant force in government for most of the past 27 years.

Since taking office the new prime minister has surprised Ethiopians by acknowledging past torture by security forces, announcing the opening-up of the state-run economy and suggesting that his own position should have term limits.

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email marketing@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.

Sources: Associated Press via Voice of America [1]. Image sources: [1].

Ethiopia

Ethiopian Government Ready to Sell Tech Stakes

Ethiopia will split its state-owned telecommunications company and sell stakes in the two new entities piecemeal to international operators, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said.
Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation, or EthioTelecom, has more than 60 million mobile and fixed-line subscribers, dominating a phone market that has long been coveted by MTN Group and Vodacom Group, Africa’s biggest wireless operators by sales and value respectively.

“Certain amounts of shares will be sold gradually in 10, 20, 30 years,” Abiy told lawmakers in the capital, Addis Ababa, on Monday.

“We are not giving it up in one go, it is not possible.”

Ethiopians will be offered 5 percent in the new companies, and between 30 percent and 40 percent will be sold to telecommunications operators that are top-10 players globally.

There’ll be at least a year or two of “intensive study,” Abiy said in televised comments.

Abiy, who took office two months ago, is speeding up long-awaited market reforms, such as liberalising state companies and reducing the role of the military in the economy. Ethiopia’s output has expanded faster than any other in Africa over the past decade and is poised to grow by 8.5percent this year, according to the International Monetary Fund.

Ethiopians in the $80billion (R1.08trillion) economy apply for between 1000 and 1200 new SIM cards daily and keeping the company as a monopoly denies subscribers the benefit of competition and the nation much-needed income, Abiy said.

“Keeping it the way it is now is dangerous; transferring it like some other African countries can be disastrous too,” he said.

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, and Remuneration needs, email marketing@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.

Sources: IOL [1]. Image sources: [1].

Ethiopia

Living in Ethiopia as an Expat

If you are planning on moving to Ethiopia, we may be able to assist. Feel free to contact us via info@relocationafrica.com or on 2721 763 4240, or visit our website here for more information.

There are many expats working in Ethiopia, the pay is quite good, the standard of living is high and it is a relatively safe country. Most expats live and work in the capital, Addis Ababa, and while they say that the cost of living is relatively low and you can save as an expat, the healthcare leaves much to be desired.

Interesting Facts About Ethiopia

Are you new in or moving to Ethiopia?

Ethiopia is a country that sits landlocked in East Africa. According to many scientists this is the birth place of Humanity and the modern man. The oldest human fossil, ‘Lucy’, is believed to have existed over three million years ago and was found in Ethiopia.

The country of Ethiopia is a bright and vibrant country decorated in rich traditions of various tribes and cultural. There are so many interesting things about this gem of Africa!

You become 7 years younger in Ethiopia
This is because it is currently around 2008 in Ethiopia. They are about 7.5 years behind the western calendar. Ethiopia is the only country in the world to have 13 months in a year. The 13th month has only five days, or six in a leap year Ethiopians also celebrate New Year in September, meaning that they are currently only a couple of weeks into the year 2008, whilst we near the end of 2015.

English and Arabic are spoken widely here
This is great for any expats thinking of moving their as there are also over 80 different languages spoken here. Amongst all the different tribes many languages have developed but the most widely spoken of these are Oromo and Amharic. Ethiopia’s national language is Amharic.

International Schools in Ethiopia

International Community School of Addis Ababa
The International Community School of Addis Ababa (ICS) is an independent, non-profit, coeducational school, which offers an educational program form pre-kindergarten through to grade 12 for students of all nationalities. The school was founded in 1966 and serves approximately 430 students from over 55 countries. The Middle States Association of Colleges and School accredit the school.
Curriculum: US
Address: Mauritania Road, Addis Ababa
Tel: +251-11 3 711544
Fax: +251-11 3 710722
Email: info@icsaddis.edu.et
Website: www.icsaddis.edu.et

Bingham Academy
Bingham Academy is an international Christian school located in the capital of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa. Our vision is to provide quality Christian education within a multicultural community, developing students of integrity who can change the world for God’s glory.
Curriculum: K-12 Cambridge International Curriculum
Address: Kolfe Keranio, Addis Ababa
Tel: +251 11 2791791
Email: office@binghamacademy.net
Website: binghamacademy.net

Visa Information

Visas are required for all visitors to Ethiopia with the exception of Kenyan and Djibouti nationals.

Tourist visa
Tourist visa, can be issued valid up to three months on arrival at Bole International Airport for nationals and residents of the following countries: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Democratic people’s Republic of Korea (northern Korea), Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea (south Korea), the Russian Federation, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States of America.

NOTE: Eritreans nationals shall not be issued a visa on Arrival. They must obtain an entry visa prior to their departure to Ethiopia.

Work Permit
A work permit can be obtained from the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs in Ethiopia. It is relatively easy to obtain a work permit, and the cost of one is the same regardless of where you are employed. It is also possible to arrive in Ethiopia on a business visa, and to convert it to a work permit once you are in the country.