Tech

IFC partners Ethiopia’s Zemen Bank to strengthen trade financing

Published

9 months ago

February 27, 2024

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has partnered with the Zemen Bank of Ethiopia to strengthen trade financing in the country.

The deal, according to Ato Dereje, CEO of Zemen Bank, sees IFC welcoming Zemen Bank as the newest member of its Global Trade Finance Program (GTFP) and provides the bank with a trade finance facility to support Ethiopian exports and imports.

“Zemen Bank has been taking different impactful initiatives since its establishment, such as this one, aimed at facilitating the financing of vital trade in goods and fostering the establishment of new trading alliances for Ethiopia,” Dereje said.

“Concurrently, the program will significantly boost trade finance for numerous import-export enterprises, particularly during periods of global economic volatility.”

The bank CEO further noted that IFC’s $30 million trade finance facility guarantee will help strengthen Zemen Bank’s trade finance operations and assist in developing new trade partnerships for businesses in Ethiopia.

Madalo Minofu, IFC Country Manager for Ethiopia who also spoke at the signing ceremony, said IFC’s trade financing is also part of its $1 billion Africa Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program (ATRI), which is supporting Africa’s regional trade development and helping to reduce the continent’s reliance on imports.

“Increasing access to trade finance is critical to boosting trade in Africa. Our partnership with Zemen Bank through IFC’s Global Trade Finance program will contribute to strengthening Ethiopia’s ability to finance essential trade of goods and open the door to new trading partnerships for the country,” he said.

“IFC is committed to supporting Ethiopia’s private sector growth, which is focused on strengthening agribusiness value chains, supporting the growth of manufacturing, and increasing access to digital connectivity,” he added.

Related Topics:Ethiopia Featured IFC.Partnership Zemen Bank

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Tech

Ghana partners with The Gambia to provide free roaming services

Published

12 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Ghana and The Gambia are in the process of launching free roaming services that will enhance a West African connectivity.

The plan which is a joint initiative of the Ghana Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation and The Gambian National Communications Authority (NCA) will see mobile users in both countries avoiding extra charges for calls, texts, and data, which in turn, is expected to boost trade, tourism, and economic integration across borders.

The collaboration, according to a joint statement by the two bodies, aligns with the Economic Community of West African States’ (ECOWAS) broader push for seamless regional communication.

“Ghana and The Gambia are forging new paths in West Africa’s digital landscape, implementing a free-roaming initiative,” the statement said.

“This move strengthens regional connectivity while highlighting the role of technological collaboration in fostering economic integration. The initiative enables mobile users travelling between the two nations to make calls, send messages, and use data services without additional roaming fees.”

It further noted that by reducing these costs, the program aligns with the ECOWAS Free Roaming Initiative, which seeks to eliminate barriers to communication across member states.

“It is a boost for trade and travel as the free roaming plan is expected to spur economic activities by streamlining cross-border communication.

“Businesses and individuals travelling between Ghana and The Gambia can now stay connected without worrying about exorbitant charges, facilitating smoother transactions and personal interactions. The initiative is also expected to attract more tourists by ensuring seamless digital access for visitors.

“This collaboration marks another milestone in Ghana’s commitment to expanding digital connectivity, following Ghana’s successful implementation of similar agreements with Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, and Benin, with talks of possible roaming partnerships with Liberia.

“By focusing on digital integration, Ghana and The Gambia demonstrate the power of technology to bridge gaps between countries. This step also serves as a model for other West African nations to join the free-roaming framework, contributing to the larger goal of a connected and economically integrated region,” it added.

Tech

Tanzania to host 6th Ocean Innovation Africa summit in February

Published

2 days ago

November 20, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, has been selected to host the sixth edition of the Ocean Innovation Africa (OIA) summit from February 24-28, 2025, as a flagship event within Regenerative Ocean Week.

The Ocean Innovation Africa is set to be Africa’s most significant platform for Ocean Innovation conservation, and sustainable development in the blue economy. OIA2025 will be co-organised with leading partners, including IUCN, GIZ, OceanHub Africa, Catalyze and the Ocean-Climate Platform.

With the theme, “Science-to-Solution”, the Regenerative Ocean Week will present a line-up of sessions designed to bridge the gap between scientific research, business innovation, policy, and community engagement.

According to the organizers of the event, it will bring together African ocean innovators, investors, researchers, policymakers, and community leaders to explore practical solutions that can be applied across the continent.

“These include the OIA Pitch Competition, which is a platform for Africa-based startups and entrepreneurs to showcase breakthrough ideas in ocean-impact solutions, allowing them to connect with investors and industry leaders and emphasizing Africa’s role in driving sustainable ocean initiatives,” the organizers said in a statement.