Issue 120: QR Codes & Yogurt

Hello,

Happy Monday! The Shega team wishes you a productive week. Here is your weekly update from Ethiopia's innovative ecosystem.If you are here because someone forwarded you this email, you can subscribe here to get future newsletters.

Central Bank to Introduce QR StandardsThe National Bank of Ethiopia has begun discussions with Stakeholders on the pending implementation of a national QR code standard for digital payment transactions.  The initiative aims to streamline the consumer experience by focusing on reducing QR code clutter at merchant counters, thereby simplifying transactions for both customers and businesses. Read more.

Safaricom Triples M-Pesa Users in Ethiopia to 3.1mThe number of M-Pesa users enrolled by Safaricom’s Ethiopia unit has nearly tripled in four months to 3.1 million Read more.

This Ethiopian Innovator Wants To Save Bees, Boost Production Using 3D Printing, DataBorn and raised in Mekelle, the capital of Tigray, Nathnael Behailu grew up witnessing the special relationship his community had with white honey and was captivated by bees from a young age. Read more.

251 Telecom, TouchNet Partner to Offer Cloud Storage Services in Local Currency251 Telecom, a telecommunications company founded by Addis Alemayehou, has partnered with TouchNet, a South African internet service provider, to bring storage-as-a-service solutions to the Ethiopian market in local currency. Read more.

Breakthrough Discovery Aims to Save $40 Million Annually for Ethiopian Yogurt IndustryThe Reporter has stated that the National Agriculture & Biotechnology Research Center has made a new chemical discovery expected to locally substitute a key yogurt-preserving chemical, lactic acid, required by Ethiopian yogurt-producing industries, eliminating the necessity for importation. The innovation is reported to result in annual savings of 40 million dollars. Read more.

INSA Saves Over 10.5 Billion Birr by Thwarting Cyber Attacks in the Last Six MonthsThe Information Network Security Administration (INSA) reported saving over 10.5 billion birr by thwarting attempted cyber-attacks in the last six months. Read more.

Ethiopian Edtech Startup Launches App for Grade 12 Exam Preparation, Textbook AccessEutopias Students, a mobile application that offers solutions to alleviate the challenges faced by grade 12 students in sourcing questions for university entrance exams and reduce the expenses associated with high school textbooks was launched last week. Read more.

Here is what we've been reading:

DStv owner MultiChoice rejects Canal+ buyout offerPutting 10,000 EVs on African roads, the hard wayFollowing rising unemployment, Botswana youth are teaching English online to Asian studentsIf you are here because someone forwarded you this email, you can subscribe here to get future newsletters.