Weeks after the news of  the former investment commissioner’s resignation broke, more nonpartisan officials are giving-up their leadership roles, with the latest coming from the Job Creation Commission.

A group of foreign businesses have echoed their frustration over the taxation and customs laws and procedures that are creating inconveniences in their day-to-day business activities and investment operations.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, has financially backed Soufflet Malt Ethiopia – a subsidiary of the French-based Gruope Soufflet – with EUR 20 million to help expand the company’s malt production and for its role involving some 40,000 smallholder farmers in the value chain.

The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry plans to enter the Ethiopian market with a primary focus of engaging in the tourism as well as the real estate sectors, while facilitating conditions that would enable Ethiopian businesses introduce their products to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

A heated war-of-words on Twitter between an executive of the Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC) and an activist has resulted in an accusation of a professional misconduct, prompting the head of the commission, Abebe Abebayehu promising to take an immediate action.

Forefront Software Development PLC has been granted a license by the Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC) to start a software development business which targets orphans and vulnerable children within the nation.

A large delegation of Chinese corporate leaders from the Shandong region has visited Ethiopia this week. Headed by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade of Shandong Sub-Council, the delegates met with their counterparts in Ethiopia and held a Shandong Ethiopia Business Forum in the capital.

The Chinese shoemaker Huajian Group has taken over the management and operational activities of the USD 61 million Jimma Industry Park.

The newly amended Ethiopian labor law, which is initiated by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (MoLSA) and currently under review by the parliamentary standing committee, is said to have incorporated provisions that would help protect the basic rights of workers in terms of safe working environment and decent and livable wages, at the time when global rights advocates are increasingly publicizing the so called “exploitative” wages paid to works at newly built industrial park structures.           

The Government of Ethiopia has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Siemens to address the country’s energy and infrastructure sectors.