Issue 142: Mistrust & Pay-Per-View

Hello

This week's newsletter dives into two contrasting themes.

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Difficult collateral requirements and short repayment periods are discouraging would-be electric vehicle (EV) buyers and putting a damper on the government’s crusade for green mobility.

According to The Reporter, commercial banks, who are mistrustful of battery life guarantees, are enforcing five-year repayment periods for loans they disburse for the purchase of EVs, as opposed to the 10-year periods credit officers grant for other vehicle loans. Banks are also requiring EV buyers to provide additional collateral for long-term loans. Read More.

After three years of development, the Ethiopian Bio and Emerging Technology Institute, along with the Ministry of Innovation and Technology and the Oromia Agricultural Research Institute, has launched the nation’s first microalgae (spirulina) research and production center. Read More.

The Ministry of Justice’s new public consultation manual and an e-consultation portal for draft laws has been launched. Developed in collaboration with the BEIC Project, an EU-funded project that works to streamline the ease of doing business, the public can now provide feedback on draft bills before they are finalized. The portal is a first-of-its-kind initiative in Ethiopia.  Read More.

For several years now, promoting your brand or products on Telegram channels has been a common practice in the country. Channel owners set prices (often per post) based on their channels' average estimated viewership or subscriber count.

Telegram's new ad platform offers an alternative, and we at Shega gave it a try.  Here is the good and the bad! Read More.

EagleLion System Technology in collaboration with Ethio Telecom, has launched TeleTV, a pay-per-view streaming platform. Read More.

Birrmetric’s latest magazine issue covers how crypto trading is booming in Ethiopia. “While skepticism and uncertainty remain—especially among older generations not as comfortable with technology—the prospect of easy and fast money with no major barriers to entry is proving irresistible for many in a country with high youth unemployment and inflation eating into people’s savings.” Read More.

Summer break is upon us, and while it's a time for relaxation, it's also an opportunity to keep young minds stimulated.  Are you worried your child might fall behind academically or miss out on developing crucial skills?  Read More.

Meet Blu Delivery, Dire Dawa's first and only food delivery platform. Known for their nighttime rush, you might even be surprised to find one of the co-founders delivering your order! Read More.

A workshop on exploring the intricacies of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Digital Trade Protocol (AfCFTA Digital Protocol) and its impact on e-commerce in Africa was held in Addis Ababa last week. Read More.