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Check FAQAbout Samson
I am a writer and a journalist, residing in Addis Ababa. Despite being a non- native English speaker, I can fluently and proficiently communicate in English both verbally and in writing. I am currently working as Editor-in-Chief of the Ethiopian Business Review Magazine, the most circulated monthly in Ethiopia. I have been working in the media industry for the past three years. I am a creative person having a high command over technical and commercial writing, reading and typing skills. I can also manage digital and social media very well. I consider myself a great team player owing to my profession as a journalist and involved in various research activities including working as a quantitative researcher in projects of Girl Hub and Central Statistical Agency. . Through my staying at university and professional life I have had the exposure to work under stressful environments and pressure, enabling me to improve my management and interpersonal skills. I possess expertise in editing, stylizing and proofreading in a timely manner. I can also add a fresh perspective to editing, and presentation of Newspapers as a whole.
Amharic
English
Portfolio
Merkato: Addis’ Wild West
Merkato, the largest open market in Ethiopia, is central to the lives of traders like Tedros Fekiru and Elias Alem, but they face increasing challenges such as corruption, taxation issues, and lack of infrastructure. Despite being a trade hub, the market's problems, like corrupt tax officers and the lack of toilets, are largely ignored by city administrations. Business owners are forced to navigate a complex tax system and compete with illegal street vendors, while infrastructural gaps like parking shortages deter customers. The Addis Ababa Traders Forum's Deputy Chairperson, Wujrayib Yibgeta, and other traders express frustration over the government's inaction on these longstanding issues.
What Does The Downgrading Of Ethiopia’s Credit Rating Entail?
Ethiopia's credit rating has been downgraded by Fitch, Standard & Poor's, and IHS Markit due to concerns over the country's ability to meet its debt obligations, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Tigray military operation. The downgrades reflect Ethiopia's increased risk of default and may lead to higher borrowing costs and reduced access to credit markets. The government's decision to restructure its debt under the G20 common framework has been seen as a distressed debt exchange. Despite the downgrades, experts suggest that Ethiopia's chances of obtaining loans from international financial institutions like the IMF or World Bank are not hampered, as credit ratings are not a criterion for these loans. The African Peer Review Mechanism has pledged to support Ethiopia in engaging with Fitch for a potential rating upgrade in the future.
Ethiopia’s Economy in 2021
Ethiopia's economy faced significant challenges in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, locust invasions, and the Tigray conflict. The International Monetary Fund forecasted zero percent GDP growth for 2021, while the Ethiopian government optimistically predicted a 6.6 percent growth. Economists like Ayele Gelan and Gutu Tesso expressed concerns over political instability and its impact on sectors like agriculture and industry. Cepheus Capital offered a more optimistic prediction of 4.1 percent growth. The importance of peace, stability, and investor and consumer confidence was emphasized as crucial for economic recovery. Fitsum Assefa, Planning and Development Commissioner, highlighted the government's focus on addressing supply side problems and promoting quality economic growth.
The Pharmaceutical Fund & Supply Agency (PFSA) procured an estimated five million HIV test kits worth 2.5 million dollars from Beijing Wanti Biological Enterprise, whose products were found to be below the standard in algorithm tests carried out by the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) in August 2017.
Local Labour Can Replace 67pc Expats, Study Finds
A study commissioned by Ethiopia's Ministry of Labour & Social Affairs and conducted by Tak-Innovative Research & Development Institute has found that local labor can replace two-thirds of the non-nationals working in the country. The study, which cost nearly half a million Birr, was conducted over three months in various regions and the capital, Addis Abeba. It aimed to assess the effectiveness of technology transfer in Ethiopia, where over 15,927 work permits are issued to non-nationals annually. The study involved 163 Ethiopians and 132 non-nationals across 10 sectors and found that 84% of local workers have acquired new technological skills from expatriates. Challenges identified include low salaries, lack of a dedicated directorate for tech transfer, and the absence of a digital database for work permits. The research suggests that the Ministry should digitize its system to better track work permits and ensure technology transfer. Examples of successful tech transfer include the SVS Salt Processing Factory and the Addis Abeba Light Rail project, where local workers have replaced foreign experts.
Tassew Woldehanna (Prof) has over three decades of experience in academic, research and consultancy services in the areas of child welfare, poverty and food security in Ethiopia and elsewhere. The 56 year old researcher has been involved in the national Poverty Analysis Report; a controversial study criticized for neglecting the facts on the ground. EBR’s Samson Berhane sat down with Tassew, on the sidelines of the seventh Tana Forum held in Bahir Dar last month, to get his take on the current economic and political situation in the country, and his work at AAU.
Although optimism about the future of Eritrea was high in the 1990s, Eritrea now exists in isolation; the lives of ordinary Eritreans is tough and many cities remain underdeveloped. In fact, Eritreans now make up a significant portion of those migrating to Europe on dangerous crossings through Libya.
Debt stress has always been a contentious matter in Ethiopia. As the country pursues billions of dollars worth of infrastructural development projects, external debt stock has been growing proportionally, now accounting for almost 30Pct of the GDP. While the risk to debt sustainability escalates, several challenges limit the prospects for bucking this trend. This includes the wide gap between investment and savings, and the underperformance of the export sector. With such factors in mind, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), changed the debt stress rating of Ethiopia from moderate to high recently, hinting that the chance of defaulting on loans is increasing. Although the government is able to take corrective measures such as refraining from taking commercial loans, experts say that is too late.
As housing affordability in the capital becomes a hot issue, the twin problems of ‘asset bubbles’ and housing affordability have challenged the minds of policy-makers, experts and the general public. The demand for housing has kept increasing in urban areas like Addis Ababa, whereas the supply of land has remained unchanged, leading to inflated prices. This, in turn, diminishes the affordability of houses for residents. Worryingly, any low and average income earners are unable to construct or buy their own houses due to the skyrocketing lease prices. While experts attribute the problem to the law governing urban land distribution, the government remains firm in its position that there is no shortage.
Committee Collects 350m Br to Establish New Bank
Dallol Bank, currently under formation in Ethiopia, has collected 350 million Br in paid-up capital, nearing the 500 million Birr requirement set by the National Bank of Ethiopia. The bank, founded by academicians, medical professionals, commercial bankers, and entities under the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, began selling shares two years ago. The Organising Committee, led by Mesfin Araya and advised by veteran banker Tilahun Abay, plans to open 10 branches in its first year and aims to commence operations within two to three months. The banking industry in Ethiopia has experienced significant growth, with a 37% increase in deposits and a 47.6% increase in loans, resulting in an aggregate profit of eight billion Birr in the last fiscal year.
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