2merkato

The National Bank of Ethiopia has signed a 3.4 million US dollar contract with Indian company Polaris Financial Technology ltd for the replacement of its CORE Banking technology.

Polaris, locally represented by Ernst and Young, won the contract over Mysis which had originally supplied the National bank with the software it has been using for the previous 15 year.

The new software purchased by the central bank is a solution known as Intellect which specialized in the management of banking specific operations such as the administration of national foreign currency reserves, gold reserves and the settlement and payment of the government accounts as well as the issue of currency and interfacing with the National Payment System.

The Ethiopian Revenue and Customs Authority is to launch a new system to control under invoicing for imported products.

A new computer program designed by Indian tech firm, The Center for Development of Advance Computing, is expected to transform the way the tax authority assesses tax according to sources.

The new system will set prices for imported goods on the basis of transaction costs which will be a better alternative to the not so successfully program currently being used by ERCA to avoid under invoicing. The pilot for the new system will be launched this month according to ERCA officials.

Ethiopia is to host the 11th African Digital Summit in the coming March under the theme of ‘Broadband Strategies and Agendas: Acceleration and Alignment’ according to the Ministry of Information and Communication.

The summit is expected to focus on the need to create a sustainable African Telecom and ICT eco system to support growth and development according to Minister of State Peter Gat Cot speaking at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with co-organizers Extensia limited.

It is hoped that summit will enhance integrity in business and technology amongst nations and private stakeholders said Peter.
More than 350 participants representing large ICT companies, government representatives, international solution providers, regulators and major end users are expected to attend the summit he said.

IT Solutions and IT training service provider Techno Brain achieved Cisco Certified Status in Ethiopia and four other East African countries: Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda.

The certification allows the IT firm the opportunity to develop stronger relations with Cisco in the field of sales which directly interacts with customers.

The certification is testament to a strengthened credibility among customers and Cisco sales team have access to a wealth of program and support services from the company according to Ricardo Moreno, Senior Director for Strategy Planning and Programs for Cisco Worldwide Partner Organization. 

The Ethiopian Revenues and Customs Authority is to launch a toll free call center worth 3.4 million birr to be based in the authority’s headquarters.

The call center is expected to transform the process of tax collection and administration. The call center installed by Tanzanian Techno Brian will be able to entertain 30 calls at the same time.

The authority has trained a dozen people, each specializing in specific tax issues to answer inquiries raised by tax payers who call in.

Neptune Solutions plc, a leading international software company, is to launch a branch in Addis Ababa in the next two months. The company is currently seeking office space and hiring local staff said Raymond Badanga, country Manger for Neptune in the country.

A significant market has been created in Ethiopia since the National Bank required all banks to interface with the National payment system according to Badanga.

It is to be remembered that Berhan International Bank became the first bank to interface with the National Payment Service installing Rubikon, Neptune’s CORE banking system.

Abay Bank, Ethiopia announced finalizing the interconnection of its 22 branches to launch CORE banking solutions. The software technology was installed by the US firm Oracle Financial Service Software.

The software connects the branches with the Head Office through a Wide Area Network which will serve as a base to implement the CORE banking system. The system is designed to adapt to the fast growth in the financial sector allowing easy connectivity and third part networking.

Tecno Mobile Ethiopia is set to release the first domestically assembled smart phone next month for an estimated price of 6000-8000 birr.

The new smart phone branded Tecno T3 supports the Google Android 2.3 smart phone operating system. Android is a Linux-based operating system used in mobile devices including smart phones and tablet computers.

Tecno is studying the market to decide on the market price for the new product according to Henry Yu, General Manager of Techno Ethiopia.

The IT Park project in Ethiopia is expected to create 300 thousand jobs when it is completed said the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology.

The project aims to enhance the quick growth of micro enterprises as well as benefiting companies in its vicinity to support the development of research institutes and creating trade relations and transfer of technology explained Beker Seid, Public Relations Officer with the Ministry.

It is also expected that the project will create favorable conditions to allow domestic companies to become competitive on the international markets he said.

Ethiopia is to organize a nationwide ICT competition for the second time announced the ICT Excellence Center of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.

The registration for the ICT competition will remain open until the 7th of July and winners will be awarded a range of prizes it was announced.

The competition is intended to create an opportunity for people with intellectual properties to compete, promote their work and form commercial networks according to the ministry.