Business

Dashen Bank Reports Record Revenue of 31.4 Billion Birr, Strengthening Its Position in Ethiopia’s Banking Sector

Dashen Bank has announced a historic financial performance for the recently concluded 2017 Ethiopian fiscal year, recording total revenue of 31.4 billion birr—a remarkable 34 percent increase compared to the previous year. The milestone highlights the bank’s resilience, strong operational strategies, and ability to thrive despite Ethiopia’s challenging macroeconomic conditions. According to the bank’s annual

December 25, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

Safaricom Ethiopia Raises Data Package Prices by Up to 82%,

Safaricom Ethiopia has introduced a significant revision to its mobile internet packages, increasing costs by 20 percent to 82 percent across several daily, weekly, monthly, and long-term bundles. The new tariffs took effect on December 14, 2018 E.C., and have immediately drawn strong reactions from subscribers, many of whom say the changes drastically reduce affordability.

December 24, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

ECMA Grants Securities Dealer License to Gadaa Securities,

The Ethiopian Capital Market Authority (ECMA) has issued a Capital Market Service Provider (CMSP) license to Gadaa Securities Dealer S.C., authorizing the firm to officially operate as a Securities Dealer in Ethiopia’s newly developing capital market ecosystem. The license, granted on December 24, 2025, marks another significant milestone in Ethiopia’s capital market reform process. Alongside

December 24, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Books

Dinaw Mengestu Elected President of PEN America as Organization Faces Intensifying Free Speech Challenges

Ethiopian-American novelist Dinaw Mengestu has been elected president of PEN America, taking leadership of the influential literary and human rights organization at a moment marked by rising global threats to free expression and internal debate about the organization’s role in global crises. pasted Mengestu, 47, was born in Ethiopia and moved to the United States

December 23, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

Commercial Bank of Ethiopia Signs 27.8 Billion Birr Loan Deal to Fund Housing for Ethiopian Airlines Employees

The Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) has signed a 27.8 billion birr loan agreement with Ethiopian Airlines to support the construction of residential housing for airline employees, in a major effort to address long-standing housing shortages within the national carrier’s workforce. The agreement is intended to provide sustainable financial support for Ethiopian Airlines’ employee housing

December 23, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

iShowSpeed Is Bringing His World Tour to Africa — and Ethiopia Is One of the Stops

There is a certain electricity that follows iShowSpeed wherever he goes: a mix of unpredictability, humor, chaos, vulnerability, and the kind of raw energy only the internet’s most-watched young superstar can command. Now, that electricity is headed to Africa. This December, Speed is embarking on his most ambitious adventure yet — “Speed Does Africa,” a

December 21, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

EthSwitch Unveils ‘EthioPay’ as Ethiopia’s National Brand for Instant Digital Payments

EthSwitch, Ethiopia’s national financial switch operator, has officially launched EthioPay, a unified national brand for instant digital payment services. The initiative aims to bring the country’s rapidly expanding digital payment ecosystem under one trusted and recognizable identity. The brand was unveiled at a launch event held at Friendship Park. Speaking at the ceremony, Solomon Desta,

December 19, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

Gursha launches Ethiopia’s first supermarket cash-back platform as digital payments hit an inflection point

Ethiopia has seen restaurant coupon apps, delivery platforms, and a growing number of digital wallets. What it hasn’t had—until now—is a cash-back rewards platform built specifically for supermarket shopping. That’s the bet behind Gursha, a newly launched Ethiopian startup that brings an Ibotta- and Rakuten-style model to brick-and-mortar grocery stores. Gursha has already onboarded Arada

December 19, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

UAE launches US$1 billion ‘AI for Development’ initiative to advance digital infrastructure across Africa

Addis Ababa, 18th December, 2025 (WAM) — The UAE has announced the launch of the ‘AI for Development’ initiative, worth US$1 billion, to support and finance artificial intelligence projects in African countries. The initiative aims to bolster economic and social development across the continent by developing digital infrastructure, enhancing government services and improving productivity. The

December 18, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

This Ethiopian EdTech Startup Went Offline-First—and Enrolled Half of the Country’s Freshman Students

When the team behind Zegju first launched their platform, it followed a common edtech pattern: a web-based learning service built around notes, exercises, and exam preparation. But student feedback quickly exposed a structural flaw. The platform worked only as long as students had reliable internet access—something far from guaranteed for much of Ethiopia’s student population.

December 18, 2025 • By Addis Insight