Business

TilfFotoBetBot: Ethiopia’s Telegram-Powered Generative AI Startup Scaling Creativity

In Ethiopia, where high-speed internet is still a privilege and most smartphone users rely on Telegram rather than app stores, a homegrown AI tool is rewriting the rules of creative technology adoption. Meet TilfFotoBetBot, a multimodal generative AI platform built by Addis Ababa–based Tilf Software PLC. In less than a year, it has gone from

August 11, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

CBE’s Aborted Logo Overhaul: Branding Missteps, Public Sentiment, and Questions of Governance

The Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) — the nation’s largest and oldest bank — recently halted a highly publicized and costly rebranding initiative after senior federal government officials criticized the proposed new logo for lacking creativity, Ethiopian identity, and Amharic representation. The cancellation, announced at the eleventh hour, has reignited debates about branding strategy, public

August 10, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

Ethiopian BPO on the Rise: But Can the Internet Keep Pace?

Ethiopia’s business process outsourcing (BPO) sector is expanding rapidly, with market revenue forecast to reach $489.9 million in 2025 and grow at an annual rate of 11.54% to $845.7 million by 2030, according to Statista. The industry now includes about 25 registered firms employing roughly 15,000 workers and generating an estimated $50 million annually—up from

August 9, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

AfDB to Lead $7.8 Billion Funding Drive for Africa’s Largest Airport in Bishoftu, Ethiopia

The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has been officially tasked with mobilizing the $7.8 billion in financing needed for the construction of the Bishoftu International Airport—a transformative infrastructure project set to redefine Africa’s aviation landscape. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is scheduled to formalize the partnership on Monday in Addis Ababa, signing alongside Akinwumi Adesina, President

August 8, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

Ethiopian Electric Power Reports Record 75.4 Billion Birr Revenue as GERD Powers Energy Boom

Addis Ababa, August 1, 2025 (FMC) — The Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP) has reported a historic 75.4 billion birr (~$1.3 billion USD) in revenue for the 2017 Ethiopian fiscal year, driven by strong domestic consumption, increasing energy exports, and the accelerating output of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). In a press briefing held today

August 7, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

National Bank of Ethiopia: $500M Monthly Forex Flow Now Available Through Banks

Addis Ababa, July 30, 2025 (FMC) — The Governor of the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE), Ato Mamo Mehretu, has called on the business community to immediately cease using the parallel (informal) foreign exchange market. His remarks come amid a significant rise in the country’s official foreign exchange reserves and renewed efforts to stabilize the

August 6, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

National Bank of Ethiopia Issues Stern Warning to Illegal Money Transmitters Operating in UAE

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) has issued a strong warning against unauthorized money transmitters operating from the United Arab Emirates, particularly Dubai, for fueling the black market and destabilizing Ethiopia’s formal foreign exchange system. In an official statement released this week, NBE Governor Ato Mamo Mehret said the central bank

August 6, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

New Bus Line Connects Nairobi and Addis Ababa with Round-Trip Fare of 16,000 Birr

August 6, 2025 | Addis Ababa / Nairobi — A new cross-border ground transportation service has officially launched between Nairobi, Kenya and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, offering an affordable travel alternative with enhanced comfort and daily service. Abyssinia Luxury Coach, a transport company operating in the region, began its services last Sunday, according to company director

August 6, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

Ethiopia’s Digital Creators Struggle for Inclusion in the Global Monetization Game

Ethiopia is witnessing a digital revolution. From TikTok comedians in Gonder to YouTube educators in Hawassa and Instagram stylists in Addis Ababa, a new creative class is shaping the nation’s online landscape. But despite explosive growth in internet and mobile penetration, Ethiopia’s creators remain locked out of the global digital economy. This isn’t a story

August 6, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

Ethiopia Sells $150M in Foreign Exchange Auction as Birr Weakens to 138.26/USD

Addis Ababa, August 5, 2025 — The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) has executed its largest foreign exchange auction to date, selling $150 million to 28 commercial banks at a weighted average rate of 138.2555 Birr per US dollar. The move marks another step in Ethiopia’s cautious shift toward a more market-reflective exchange regime. This

August 5, 2025 • By Addis Insight