Addis Ababa, March 9/2024 (ENA) Ethio telecom has inaugurated today an Experience Center at the Adwa Victory Memorial Museum. The center features a retrospective of telecom technological development processes, narrates the current level of technological advancement, and predicts emerging technological development trends. It is also organized to showcase the historical development stages of Ethio telecom, displaying telecom gadgets while highlighting the present and future levels of technological excellence. Launching the Experience Center, CEO of Ethio Telecom, Frehiwot Tamiru said the center provides residential and enterprise customers with the opportunity to exhibit, engage with, and experience the latest technologies firsthand. The center will also showcase existing products and services, allowing customers to test new digital technologies, and explore technological breakthroughs, she added. The center also showcases state-of-the-art technology, presenting verticals such as the health care sector, agriculture, and education, a valuable opportunity to modernize their facilities using cutting-edge solutions, it was indicated. This initiative is also designed to establish a streamlined systems capable of reducing costs, minimizing resource wastage, and enhancing overall productivity ultimately paving the way for the digital transformation of our country. It is instrumental to the ongoing efforts aimed at enhancing our country's digital economy, elevating the standard of living for citizens, and driving societal transformation through technological advancements. The center was planned to function as a testing ground for comprehensive solutions with the potential to drive significant advancements and innovation within the industry, among others, smart Home Automation, tele birr financial transactions, immersive visitor experiences, Fintech integration as well as smart agriculture techniques, smart Tourism services and remote patient monitoring. Ethio telecom has been providing telecom services in Ethiopia for 130 years.

Addis Ababa, March 7/2024 (ENA) The Ministry of Health has urged partners and stakeholders to cooperate in ensuring quality healthcare services through innovative approaches. The remark was made at the conclusion of the 8th National Healthcare Innovation and Quality Summit under the theme: "Promoting Health System Innovation to Enhance Healthcare Quality, Safety and Equity" today.   Speaking on the occasion, Health Minister Dr. Mekdes Daba said more work is required to create and improve the quality of technologies that are important for the improvement of health services in Ethiopia. The summit has created opportunities to exchange best experiences and practices among the participants of the conference and to identify future areas of focus, she added. The minister further underscored the need for quality research to provide quality health services that would help as input for policy and strategy. According to her, hospitals, institutions and regional states have demonstrated that innovative approaches have a great role in making the sector effective and efficient. Dr. Mekdes finally called on all stakeholders to work together to ensure that the health sector provides effective and affordable service and generate additional income. Innovation Hub Head at WHO Headquarters, Louise Agersnap stressed that “we will not be achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 with the usual approach and mindset. Innovation is needed.”   Acknowledging that the health problems across the world are complex and difficult to solve, she noted that there are plenty of evidence based interventions at disposal, many of which are supported by WHO guidelines. Agersnap further elaborated that translating a guideline into better health outcomes can be a challenge, adding that "we are catalyst for collaborative learning across the innovation ecosystem where we're supporting the public sector to embed innovative capabilities within their organizations and leverage it for better health outcomes in a more open, iterative and participatory manner." Innovation and Technology Minister, Belete Molla said innovation and technology works in health have been done in a scattered manner in the health sector.   Belete reiterated that his ministry is ready to strengthen the innovation activities in the sector. The three-day summit was attended by various stakeholders, including the UN, regional bureau heads, donors, partners, private health institution heads and professional health associations.  

Addis Ababa, March 5/2024 (ENA) Addressing the challenges of cyber security requires a holistic approach involving collaboration among governments, private sector, and international organizations, Information Network Security Administration (INSA) Director-General Tigist Hamid said. A two-day cyber security and digital transformation conference organized by INSA and Ethiopian Cyber Security Association kicked off today. In her opening remark, Director-General of INSA, Tigist Hamid said that technology underpins every aspect of the society, from financial transactions to vital infrastructure and this reliance puts everyone at risk for never-before-seen dangers. “The rise of AI and the increase of cyber-attacks are known risks within the international community; yet, it does come as a surprise that both of these topics fall within the top five risks for 2024,” she emphasized.   Citing the World Economic Forum, 2024 Report, Tigist pointed out that cyber security came in number four in the short-term and eighth in the long-term relating to global risks ranked by severity, and she added “while we should be happy about technological advancements, we also need to be cautious about the risks associated with improper technological understanding.” “In 2024, the cyber security landscape continues to present significant, evolving challenges. We should reassess our security strategies while becoming more nimble, adaptive, and proactive to stay ahead of the curve. The adversaries we face are not confined by borders; they navigate the virtual realm with stealth and sophistication. We must fortify our defenses, collaborate across sectors and borders, and remain vigilant in the face of this persistent danger,” she stressed. Furthermore, the Director-General pointed out the need for holistic approach that involves the collaboration among governments, private sector, and international organizations to address the challenges of cyber insecurity. By the end of 2024, the cost of cyber-attacks on the global economy would top 10.5 trillion USD, she stated, and added that cyber security has evidently become a very critical concern that needs the attention of researchers, academicians, and organizations to confidentially ensure the protection and security. “The quantity, the complexity, the severity of cyber-attacks have also escalated at national level. In Ethiopia, 4,623 cyber-attack attempts were recorded during the first-half of the 2016 fiscal year. In the same period, the percentage of high risk cyber-attacks has more than doubled to 115 percent as compared to the first-six months of 2015 fiscal year report,” Tigist elaborated. According to the Director-General, majority of the institutions targeted by cyber attackers included banks and financial institutions, security and intelligence agencies, media outlets, critical government agencies, federal and regional offices as well as institutions of higher learning.  

Addis Ababa, March 5/2024 (ENA) An international conference is deliberating on cyber security and digital transformation at Skylight Hotel, in Addis Ababa. A two-day conference was opened this morning, by Tigist Hamid, Director General of Information Network Security Administration (INSA) and Berhanu Beyene, President of Ethiopian Cyber Security Association (ECySA). The conference aimed at discussing the importance of digital transformation for strengthening the national cyber ecosystem in Ethiopia, it was indicated. It is anticipated to give inputs to Ethiopia's endeavor for creating a strong cyber security climate that would help to protect its national sovereignty.  

Addis Ababa February 24/2024 (ENA) Ethiopia is doing quite a lot in terms of connectivity and practically improving daily in this regard, International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Regional Director for Africa Anne-Rachel Inne said. In an exclusive interview with ENA, Inne said Ethiopia is one of the countries in Africa that has opened up its telecom market. “Now we have two operators, Ethio telecom and Safaricom,” she said, adding the ITU is the UN agency and all telecommunication operators, just like mobile network operators, are members. One of the things that the ITU helps countries do in this case, Ethiopia, is to look into what we can help in terms of regulation, policies that are good for the country and good for operators that want to come in the country, according to the director. “Ethiopia is one of the members of ITU, which means as you have seen, it (Ethiopia) is doing quite a lot in terms of connectivity and improving practically daily. This is wonderful.” “We are looking to stay behind Ethiopia to make sure that this is for the benefit of its people,” she elaborated. Moreover, she elaborated that we have been doing quite a lot actually in telecommunications and infrastructure for connectivity on the continent, including Ethiopia. We are in the process of mapping countries to see where the schools are and how they can be connected, she said. Then, we could see if we could supply infrastructure facilities such as fiber and satellites, she said, adding where appropriate, providing trainings to teaches by organizations like UNESCO. “We are hoping for connecting schools, once we map those schools and we look into how we take connectivity to the schools, it will also help us in terms of augmenting the infrastructure in the countries,” she added. She elaborated what we are trying is to make sure that locally, all of the schools are known; then we can tell how to connect them, for example, if we ever end up in another case where people have to stay home that kids will have access to education. She stressed that connectivity not just for the sake of connectivity but for citizens, for young people, adults, for schools, lifelong education, including people with disabilities, we really want everybody to be included. “We are connecting schools; we are also hoping that we will augment the infrastructure for connectivity on the African continent,” she said. Recall that the International Telecommunication Union has launched Digital Transformation Centers (DTC) in Addis Ababa in 2022 with a view to enhancing the digital capacities of citizens in the country. The DTC initiative will also help Ethiopia to enhance the use of digital technology for teaching and learning, administration, research, among others.  

Addis Ababa February 20 /2024 (ENA) The African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) has launched today a new data project titled ‘Data Science Without Borders’ (DSWB), with the objective to transform Africa’s data landscape. The three-year project, launched at a ceremony held at the Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Addis Ababa, seeks to make a significant impact by bridging data gaps, strengthening data systems, and enhancing collaboration for data-driven decision-making in Africa. The Wellcome Trust will provide funding for a project worth 5 million USD that is expected to improve reuse and use of data science techniques in Ethiopia, Senegal, and Cameroon, with plans to expand to other member nations of the African Union. The project focuses on developing and improving data analytics skills using robust artificial intelligence tools and capacity building of national teams on machine learning. Speaking at the event, the DSWB Project Lead and Head of Data Science Program, Agnes Kiragga said this launch marks the initiation of a collaborative journey aimed at empowering stakeholders and paving the way for a successful and impactful data science initiative. “This initiative is cognizant of the barriers to effective democratic artificial intelligence and machine learning including lack of data, inadequate data collection infrastructure, limited processes to support data access, including challenges in data collection regulations, storage infrastructure, financial barriers, and lack of data scientists with domain expertise, especially in the resource-limited nations across sub Saharan Africa (SSA).” Moreover, the project developed to strengthen data systems in African health institutions will develop a federated no-code platform for deploying machine learning models used by actors in the selected countries, and create a sustainable environment for a collaborative, replicable, and transferable application of data science tools. “By understanding partner countries' unique challenges and opportunities, we strive to ensure that the DSWB project makes a lasting and positive contribution to the field of data science,” she elaborated. Head of Data Synergy and Evaluations at APHRC, Damazo Kadengye said on his part this project lays a foundation for us to contribute to the building of data systems across African continent.Moreover, it will create opportunities on how we can connect with the governments, especially in supporting them to improve data systems across the continent. “It is very important because it helps us inform policy and planning using evidence that we generate through this project as it is also aligned with AU data policy framework," the head stated. The collaborative project housed under APHRC‘s Data Science Program is being conducted with other implementing partner organizations: The Alan Turing Institute, Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI), the Institute for Health Research, Epidemiological Surveillance and Training (IRESSEF), Douala General Hospital, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), and the Committee on Data (CODATA). The African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) is a premier research-to-policy institution, generating evidence, strengthening research and related capacity in the African research and development ecosystem, and engaging policy to inform action on health and development. The Center is Africa-based and African-led, with its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, and a West Africa Regional Office in Dakar, Senegal.

Addis Ababa, February 18/2024 (ENA) Zambia is interested to learn from the successful and advanced technologies of Ethiopia, particularly from the telecommunication sector, Zambia's Technology and Science Minister Felix Mutati said. In an exclusive interview with ENA, Mutati said that his country is keen to draw experiences from Ethiopia’s success stories in the telecommunication sector and replicate it. “Ethiopia has advanced quite a bit in technology; particularly in the telecommunication infrastructure. It is ahead of us, Zambia. So my key interest coming to Ethiopia is to learn, appreciate, and not reinvent the wheel. What is it that is brand new that Ethiopians move ahead faster than us? So I will be engaging with my colleagues here that we can compare with us,” he elaborated. African countries need to share experience and knowledge amongst each other, he stated, and stressed that it is key towards ascertaining a united and stronger Africa through partnership and cooperation. “This should be the way that Africa should work in partnership and collaboration, sharing opportunities, knowledge and experience,” the minister of technology and science noted. Moreover, he pointed out that Ethiopia and Zambia can also cooperate in the tourism sector where his country is ready to share its experience. According to him, Zambia’s tourism is booming over the last couple of years due to the measures taken by the government including the removal of visa requirement, upgrading of tourism infrastructure, and expansion of tourist destinations. Ethiopia has various tourist destinations and by addressing the challenges facing the sector, the country can unleash its potential, the minister added.  

Addis Ababa February 17/2024 (ENA) The Chief Executive Officer of Ethio Telecom Frehiwot Tamiru stressed the need for African countries to revisit their policies and strategies with a view to creating suitable environment to expedite digital transformation in the continent. Ethiopia has organized a high-level side event at the 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union to highlight the critical role of digital innovations in promoting inclusive and sustainable development in Africa.   President Sahile-Work Zewde delivered opening remarks at the event, which was held at the Adwa Science Museum under the theme, "Harnessing Digitization for Africa's Transformation." President Sahle-Work Zewde said that accelerating digital transformation is crucial to ensure inclusive and sustainable development in Africa. Speeding up digitalization is convenient for dealing with pressures and providing quick solutions for problems, she noted, adding that the expansion of digitalization will play a significant role in creating the prosperous Africa we want in 2063. She mentioned Ethiopia's digital transformation in various sectors, including finance, telecommunications, and artificial intelligence, and advocated for a continental transformation in accordance with Agenda 2063. The event drew together stakeholders and leaders from various African countries and financial sectors.   In her presentation at the discussion forum, Ethio telecom CEO said African countries should have a policy which is attractive and flexible to encourage new ideas,, innovators, investors that can adequately support the ecosystem. She stressed the need to ensuring technology inclusiveness in order to build better future in a sustainable manner. The CEO said currently there are 1.4 billion mobile telephone subscribers that is expected to reach 1.7 billion by the year 2030. “Africa holds the largest mobile market in terms of registered account and transaction volume.. Today we have around 781 million registered mobile money accounts. We need to leverage these mobile user bases to promote trade integration and enhance Africa’s digital transformation:” The CEO has also emphasized the possibility of building Africa’s digital economy by using the mobile money users’ base that we have today.   Professor Landry Signé, a senior fellow in the Global Economy and Development Program and the Africa Growth Initiative at the Brookings Institution, said for his part that digital transformation help Africa become a global powerhouse in terms of economic growth, job creation and poverty reduction as well as enhancing financial, healthcare and education services. He underlined the importance of investing more in primery and secondary education in order to build critical thinking, digital skills, STEM skills in order to help bring economic development.

Addis Ababa February 3/2024 (ENA) Some international media correspondents, who visited the newly built Ethiopian News Agency (ENA)’s media complex, said that the media facilities would strengthen its competitiveness in the media market. Following her visit to the state-of-the-art media complex, Bloomberg News Correspondent in Addis Ababa, Fasika Tadesse told ENA that the news agency has been equipped with modern technology that most of the international media is equipped. Early this week, the Ethiopian News Agency inaugurated a media facility that encompasses three TV and four radio studios that are outfitted with state-of-the-art editing and recording equipment vital to producing high-quality contents. “I have visited the three studios of ENA.These are the state-of-the-art and well-equipped studios. The equipment that we have seen would fit the technologies that have been employed in most of the global media outlets..." So I would say I was impressed by the facilities I visited. Those controlling rooms, the cameras and even the screens in those three studios are really very interesting,” the correspondent said. Fasika is also convinced that ENA's utilization of all these modern facilities will raise the quality and of the news, particularly contents of the agency. According to her: “Most of us know ENA for producing text based content most of the time. But I think the studios will help ENA to produce more audiovisual contents with high quality and competitive news and news related contents.” Recall Ethiopian News Agency has served more than eight decades as the primary source of news and news-related stories in the country's media industry. ENA should strive for better quality contents and competitiveness in the changing media landscape, in addition to its endeavors to providing contents to the media outlets, she added. Noting that competition comes from different aspects in the media and communication market, the correspondent urged the agency to effectively exploit its modern facilities. Idris Sabry, a correspondent of the Moroccan Press Agency (MAP) said on his part that the Ethiopian News Agency is equipped with the latest technology in the audio-visual field. The technology facilities will allow ENA to broadcast dialogue, seminars and other major events from Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, to the rest of the globe. “There are comparative advantages to the Ethiopian News Agency to keep its legacy as a primary source. For instance, Addis Ababa hosts the Headquarters of the African Union (AU), and we all know that tremendous conferences are held in Ethiopian capital. And the studios enable the ENA to give additional value to its work.” Sabry also appreciated the willingness of ENA’s leadership to establish partnerships with various international media outlets based in Addis Ababa for use of these studios for broadcasting news to their audience.    

Addis Ababa, January 31/2024 (ENA) The Information Network Security Administration (INSA) said it has successfully thwarted 98.56 percent of the 4,623 attempted cyberattacks targeting government and private institutions during the past six months of the Ethiopian Fiscal Year. In his presser today, Information Network Security Administration (INSA) Director-General Solomon Soka said cyberattacks have surged by 115 percent when compared to same period last year. Had the attacks succeeded, the nation could have incurred over 10.5 billion Birr loss, he added. Recognizing the importance of early detection and vulnerability management, INSA had also conducted cyber risk assessment surveys on 7 institutions and the technologies of 149 private and government entities. These assessments identified potential cyberattack risks, enabling the institutions to pro-actively address vulnerabilities and strengthen their defenses, the director-general noted. Stating that INSA also controls technologies imported from different countries, Solomon said the administration banned 338 items out of the 2,999. He pointed out that the banned list included tools that could facilitate telecom fraud such as simboxes, drones, GPS technologies, and satellite equipment. The director general attributed the increase in cyberattacks to a confluence of factors, including the global surge in digitization, the rising financial benefits for attackers, and Ethiopia's own rapid advancements in digital infrastructure. To protect the country from cyberattacks, Solomon emphasized the need for collective action, urging individuals and institutions to raise awareness and prioritize robust cyber security measures.

Addis Ababa January 29/2024 (ENA) Ethiopia is revamping the patent system, aiming to encourage globally competitive inventions and foster development and prosperity, according to the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Authority. Today, the European Patent Office and the authority organized a Symposium on Ethiopia's Patent Reforms; meeting with government, industry, and academic institutions.   Ethiopian Intellectual Property Authority Director-General Woldu Yemessel on the occasion said his authority is revamping the nation's patent system aiming to encourage globally competitive inventions and facilitate development and prosperity. Recognizing the crucial role of intellectual property in fostering innovation, the authority is actively collaborating with the European Patent Office to modernize Ethiopia's patent landscape. The authority’s multifaceted reforms encompass revising the patent proclamation, establishing a framework for protecting traditional knowledge, developing a geospatial information proclamation, and crafting a National Intellectual Property Policy Strategy. These initiatives aim to create a robust and comprehensive intellectual property ecosystem that fosters creativity, protects inventors' rights, and attracts foreign investment, it was learned. European Patent Office has been supporting the authority to revise the patent proclamation and connecting Ethiopian universities with European patent system resources, he pointed out. So far, two Ethiopian universities are connected to these resources and eight more will be added to the list, he stated. To improve the patent system, the authority has embarked on a revision of the patent proclamation, a draft of traditional knowledge and geospatial proclamation, it was learned. European Patent Office Regional Desk Coordinator Nicholas Kornig said his office will continue to strengthen support to the authority to improve the patent system. The office is successful in the patent issues registration and will share that experience with Ethiopia, he added. Since its inception, the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Authority has registered 658 patents. Justice State Minister Ermias Yemanebirhan said revising the patent law which was in effect for decades is crucial to encourage competitive innovations that drive the country’s development plans.   The reforms the authority has been undertaking are key instruments to improve the patent system in the country, he added. Innovation and Technology State Minister, Foziya Aliyi said innovation plays an irreplaceable role in making Digital Ethiopia a reality.   The patent law that is being revised will bring the government's efforts in the sector to a higher level and will allow the creation of internationally accepted inventions, she noted. Creative owners and the country should also get the benefits they deserve from the sector in a proper way, Foziya added. The ongoing patent reforms and collaborative efforts with the European Patent Office hold immense potential to propel Ethiopia up the rankings and unlock its true innovation potential.  

Addis Ababa ,January 27/2024(ENA)- Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has paid a surprise visit to Fana Broadcasting Corporate (FBC). The premier made the visit to Fana Broadcasting Corporation (FBC), which is working to become the first and preferred in all sectors of the Ethiopian media industry. PM Abiy started the surprise visit, one of the many the prime minister has been making, by inspecting the new expansion projects in the FBC headquarters. The prime minister first visited the recently constructed new studio built to host entertainment programs and interactive platforms that are expected to further strengthen Fana Broadcasting Corporate. Following his visit, Prime Minister Abiy stated that this was part of his surprise visits practice to various institutions. According to him, FBC is a media house trying to develop and improve its work. "In that respect, I have witnessed a new beginning and I was happy,” the premier said. FBC has been attracting its audience through the popular programs such as "Fana Lamrot", a singing-talent contest. The new studio visited by Prime Minister Abiy would enable the media company to record and transmit quality production. Misinformation and its proliferation of ways to reach audience has become a major challenge for the media industry as well as countries, he noted. Realizing the impact of the problems caused by misinformation, Prime Minister Abiy indicated that the media is one of the sectors that his government prioritized and reformed to avoid damages. “Our narratives are not unifying and reconciling. The narratives we listen to are polarized, exclusionary and self-magnifying. Because of this, many problems have been caused in our country. There are still problems. So narrative change is necessitated to repair this fracture. Therefore, the ongoing reform to make our media outlets inclusive, which they are in the post-truth era, has been bearing fruit.” Abiy also noted that the far-reaching reform activities in the media industry have started to consolidate shared narrative in Ethiopia. He added that when institutions get stronger, destructive ideas will lose their place.        

Addis Ababa ,January 15/2024(ENA)- Ethiopian missions abroad urged to make efforts on soliciting technology transfers, facilitating capacity-building programs, garnering financial support for projects, searching for destination markets and attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). The annual meeting of Ethiopian ambassadors and senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, which began last Saturday, has continued to its second day. The annual meeting, which is part of the Diplomacy Week, takes place from January 13-27, 2024. Today’s session deliberated on the policies, institutional frameworks, achievements and challenges of science, technology and artificial intelligence in Ethiopia, according to Foreign Affairs Ministry. The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Belete Molla, made a presentation on the Science , Technology and Innovation policy of Ethiopia, the achievements registered thus far and key directions set to realize digital economy.   The Director General of the Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institute, Engineer Worku Gachena, also made a presentation on the institute’s tangible role in realizing digital economy and the major results in AI in various economic sectors of the country. Both presenters emphasized that Ethiopian missions should work on soliciting technology transfers, facilitating capacity-building programs, garnering financial support for projects, searching for destination markets and attracting FDI. Foreign Affairs State Minister, Ambassador Mesganu Arga, stressed on his part the critical role of digital technology in the development of Ethiopia and the need for the increased contribution of Ethiopian missions in supporting the digital efforts. Ethiopian Ambassadors, heads of mission and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are conducting discussion on activities being undertaken in diplomacy and field visits until the 27th of January, 2024.    

Addis Ababa January 10/2024 (ENA)-Working with the spirit of cooperation among the government and the private sector is instrumental to realize Ethiopia’s digital transformation and sustainable development ambitions, according to the Ministry of Innovation and Technology. Opening a half-day conference to discuss on the importance of strengthening cooperation with the private sector in ICT and digital sector, Minister of Innovation and Technology Belete Molla said working with the spirit of cooperation, utilizing new mechanisms and creating conducive conditions are essential to realize Ethiopia’s digital transformation and sustainable development. Guided by the country’s development plan for 2021-2030, Ethiopia launched its digital transformation strategy 2025 in 2020. For the minister, to bring concrete change in ICT and digital economy, Ethiopian digital strategy 2025 is under implementation by all stakeholders as the strategy is crucial to realize the country’s ambition by involving the private sector as the main player. The cooperation between the government and the private industry has to be further enhanced to play a crucial role in empowering Ethiopia's digital economy, the minister further elaborated. Noting that the cooperation will be vital to providing training programs and knowledge sharing among others in a collaborative manner, he said today's meeting aimed to exchange ideas for identifying challenges faced in the ICT and digital sector and generating solutions. Ethiopia is yet to realize its potential in the digital space and leverage technology to build a more prosperous society. Ethiopia's 2025 Digital Strategy includes five priorities: implementation of a digital ID, digital payments, e-governance, e-commerce and cybersecurity. It is complemented by more specific strategies, such as the National Financial Inclusion Strategy and the National Bank of Ethiopia’s National Digital Payments Strategy, which aim to transform the payment ecosystem and support the building of a cash-lite and financially inclusive economy.

Addis Ababa December 28/2023 (ENA) Ethiopian Airlines and the private Dashen Bank launched today a "Fly Now Pay Later (PNPL)" online credit payment service. Fly Now Pay Later is a travel arrangement whereby travelers make flights of their choice, the payment of which they can effect in different installments. The partnership enables eligible customers to travel first without paying a maximum amount of 600, 000 Birr and settle the payment six months or a year later, it was learned. During the launching of the travel arrangement, Ethiopian Chief Officer Lema Yadecha said the innovative alternative payment system developed by Ethiopian and the bank aligns with the digitalization efforts, further enhancing customer experience and fostering greater financial accessibility and inclusivity.   Dashen Bank Chief Digital Banking Officer, Million Yohannes said the new service will benefit customers of both companies and contribute to the growing financial access demand and inclusivity in the country. Fly Now Pay Later is an addition to the alternative digital payments in the travel industry, empowering customers with more accessible and dynamic travel landscape.  

Addis Ababa, December 15/2023 (ENA) -Five government institutions will assist 55 aviation innovation winners on regular basis, according to the Ministry of Transport and Logistics. Recall that a six-day Aviation Innovation Expo organized by the Ministry of Transport and Logistics and the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority is underway with various events at Science Museum. Opening the symposium today, Transport and Logistics Minister, Alemu Sime, disclosed that 55 selected winners of the competition will receive regular assistance from five government institutions. While 95 youths exhibited 101 aviation innovations, 34 individual and government institutions presented their innovative works and activities, Alemu said. The minister elaborated that government institutions that provide the assistance to the innovators are Ministry of Labor and Skills, Information Network Security Administration, Ethiopian Air Force, Space Science and Geospatial Institute and Ethiopian Airlines. Minister Alemu Sime along with Getachew Mengistie, Director-General of Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority handed over awards and recognitions to the top five winners. The winners from first to third were awarded 100,000 Birr each and will get continuous support from institutions until their innovations get to fruition. Moreover, the fourth and fifth rankers received laptops and free air ticket sponsorship from Ethiopian Airlines to travel to a foreign country. Alemu Sime also said that Ethiopia has built a strong civil aviation sector that enables the expansion of air transportation and underscored to strengthen domestic capacity in the sector. Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority Director-General Getachew Mengistie on his part stated that his authority is striving to make Ethiopia an aviation hub for Africa and the world.      

Addis Ababa December 12/2023 (ENA)A Microsoft Digital Development Program national workshop jointly organized by Ministry of Innovation and Technology and Microsoft kicked off in Addis Ababa today.   Innovation and Technology Minister Belete Molla described the two-day workshop as a juncture of transformative promise, convergence of vision, innovation, and transformative potential for Ethiopia and beyond. When Microsoft unveiled the ground breaking Digital Development Program in the wake of the 78th United Nations General Assembly, Ethiopia embraced the initiative. According to the minister, the program is a beacon of hope for low- and middle-income nations, a pathway to a future where digital empowerment is not just a dream, but a tangible reality. “We recognize that in the tapestry of the global economy, digital trends are the most vibrant and essential. It is not enough for us to be mere participants in this digital era,” he said, stressing that “Ethiopia must be at the driver's seat steering the nation towards an innovative and digitally empowered future.” Belete pointed out that the Digital Development Program offers a suite of support encompassing digital advisory, cloud solutions, technical up-skilling, device support, digital services, and capacity-building tools by Microsoft, one of the tech giants in the world. “In these two days, we hope to set the tone and create a clear road-map for the work ahead. This forum is more than an exchange of ideas. It is a vessel where the future of Ethiopia's digital landscape will be forged. The road-map we develop here will guide our collective efforts in realizing the digital transformation of our nation.” Microsoft Global UN and International Development Lead, Alex Pinho said Microsoft launched the Digital Development Program to support developing countries on the use of Microsoft technology for socio-economic development.   “From early stages, the Government of Ethiopia positioned itself as one of the leaders in launching the program at a national level and so we are here to kick start the program and how we are going to apply the program in the context of Ethiopia.” Pinho said the aim of the program is very simple. It is to create conditions, and to bring Microsoft as a way to support the development of the national digital agenda. The program considers national priorities and agendas and collaborative use of Microsoft technology to accelerate the agenda, it was learned.  

Addis Ababa December 11/2023 (ENA) -An aviation innovation expo has opened today at the Science Museum. The Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority and the Ministry of Transport and Logistics organized a six-day expo to showcase homegrown innovation in the aviation sector. While opening the expo, Speaker of the House of People's Representatives, Tagesse Chafo reaffirmed government's commitment to supporting innovation in the aviation sector, stressing its importance for sustainable development and prosperity. He also urged for the need to translate researches, knowledge and innovations into practical applications for national benefit. Transport and Logistics Minister, Alemu Sime, on his part said that the government promotes the development of aviation technologies and homegrown innovations. The government has given priority to aviation innovation since the reform was launched in the past five years and this expo is a bold move to realize this ambition, Alemu added. Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority Director-General, Getachew Mengiste stated that the authority is committed to fostering homegrown innovation in the aviation sector and is preparing a national roadmap to transform Ethiopia into a global aviation hub. Apart from 95 youth individuals and groups who exhibited 90 innovation works, 34 individual and governmental institutions are showcasing their works and innovations in the expo, he stated. To support this vision, the authority in partnership with stakeholders will continue nurturing the talents of youths and providing support, the director general said, adding that sustainable support will be provided to at least 15 innovators with better innovation. The event held under the theme "Innovation for Aviation Excellence" represents a significant step forward for Ethiopia's aviation sector, showcasing the country's growing capabilities and potential to become a leading player in the global aviation industry.  

Addis Ababa, November 27/2023 (ENA) The International Telecommunication Union is working in tandem with the government of Ethiopia to get the most out of the nation’s huge potential and realize the national digital strategy, ITU Regional Director for Africa Anne-Rachel Inne said. To use the benefit of the digital world, Ethiopia has adopted a Digital Transformation Strategy 2025. The Digital Ethiopia Strategy 2025 is designed to realize the country’s digital potential and leverage technology to build digital economic development aligned with national development plans. In an exclusive interview with ENA, Inne said Ethiopia is definitely one of the biggest populations on the continent and it is important that we cater with the government and to the priorities of the government. She added “we have been addressing already like mapping the country to see where connectivity is and places where there is no connectivity and how we connect people.” ITU is also working to connect schools with a very young population, it is important that they have the skills to know how to do all of the different and new job types, she affirmed. Highlighting Ethiopia's huge potential with its large population, she said “For a country that is large, has a very big population that can be practically a market in itself so we need to help Ethiopia get the most out of this potential.” The Regional Director of ITU has also mentioned about her institution's collaboration with Ethiopia in the implementation of the strategy, which assesses how digital technologies can be used to develop an inclusive, knowledge-based, and prosperous society by identifying strategic sectors such as agriculture, global manufacturing value chains, IT-based services, and digitally-enabled tourism. “We work in tandem with the government as the country has a national digital strategy. We work with them and then we address all of the specific requests that come to ITU and that is how we actually work in Ethiopia and the entire continent.” Recall that the International Telecommunication Union launched Digital Transformation Centers (DTC) in Addis Ababa in 2022 with a view to enhancing the digital capacities of citizens in the country. The DTC initiative will also help Ethiopia to enhance the use of digital technology for teaching and learning, administration, research, among other purposes. The Initiative delivers basic digital skills training to enhance digital literacy and foster uptake of digital tools among those at the bottom of the social pyramid, according to ITU. It also provides intermediate digital skills training to provide users with job-ready skills, improve workplace efficiency and enhance chances of employability. Regarding the need to change in Africa’s digitalization agenda in general, Inne stressed that change is needed in policy and regulation. She said regulatory expertise needs to be developed continuously to integrate new technologies, competencies and skills to allow for data and evidence-based decision making. For the regional director, the rapid pace of technological innovation and increase in volume of online services requires adaptive policy and regulation. “We at all levels have been as ITU helping our governments and countries that are all members of African countries at ITU as well as a lot of private sectors but also civil society. So we are trying as much as possible really to gel to work together.”  

Addis Ababa, November 24/2023 (ENA) Ethiopia is reinforcing artificial intelligence technology to modernize and enhance efficiency in various sectors, Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence (AI) Institute Director-General Worku Gachena told ENA. According to the director-general, commendable results have been gained in health, agriculture, and law enforcement activities from the very early stage of AI execution in Ethiopia. The Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence (AI) Institute was established in 2020. Major national technological projects are being implemented jointly with higher education institutions and other organizations in the country. Addis Ababa University, in particular, has been working with the various national projects, it was learned. "One of the biggest successes is that universities and researchers from all fields are working together on health, agriculture and other fields," Worku said, adding that this is also imperative for us to strengthen collaboration on major future projects that benefit Ethiopia. Artificial intelligence is a new phenomenon that Ethiopia has been aggressively working on and exploiting the technology to accelerate its development. “As artificial intelligence technology is new, Ethiopia is working hard to get the most out of this technology. In this, all sectors are employing it on a wide scale so that they can improve their quality and efficiency by using artificial intelligence.” The director-general also mentioned some challenges in AI technology, particularly lack of trained manpower and expertise. However, the country’s universities are designing curriculum to teach AI education in Masters and PhD levels to solve these problems through education and training. Addis Ababa University President, Samuel Kifle said Ethiopia needs to redouble its efforts on artificial intelligence as the next move of this world would be on big data, alternative things, and robotics.   The president stressed the need to think of transforming curriculum and having graduates of 21st century that can understand how this new world is operating and how artificial intelligence is affecting the universe. “It is not enough to teach agriculture, we have to teach our plant and animal scientists and plant scientists. They have to learn how they can detect diseases and prescribe solutions assisted by artificial intelligence,” Samuel noted. Thus, in order to use big data, research, devising solutions and technology transfer, AI has to serve as a critical technological facility to transform the economy and change the social benefits in Ethiopia. In this case, Addis Ababa University is jointly working with the Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institute. “Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institute and Addis Ababa University had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). So we have been engaged in various activities, including cargo tracking and improving the logistic system of the country. We have also been working together in improving the tax collection system of the nation and engaging in creating smart cities.”   Addis Ababa University Institutional Development Vice President, Wondwesen Mulugeta said “ we can use AI to support the health sector and the education, transport, and the military. So it is high time that Ethiopia invested a lot in artificial intelligence. But at the same time it needs collaboration with higher learning institutions so that the knowledge and the product can be combined together to achieve the higher goal.”