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Sony launched its Sony XPERIA smartphones to the Ethiopian market on Saturday 17 August 2013.

Along with the flagship Xperia Z, the smartphones range features five new models, the Xperia TIPO, Xperia J, Xperia Go and Xperia V. The new Xperia Z's range of features includes a 5-inch Full HD 1080p Reality Display.

Ethiopia's anti-corruption watchdog, Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission signed contract with CSM Technologies, an Indian technology firm for a website design.

In a press statement it sent to Ethiopian News Agency on Tuesday, the Commission said the website will enable it to publicize the wealth of 60,000 government appointees.

The Ethiopian Ministry of Urban Development & Construction (MoUDC) is to launch a new housing program for individuals working in wholly or partially owned government corporations, Fortune reported.

The latest housing program is on top of the eight housing programs already underway. The program is scheduled to be launched on September 26, 2013.

The Ethiopian government has established a new agency tasked with regulation of large-scale agricultural investments, Capital reported. The Agriculture Investment Agency (AIA) was set up to regulate large-scale and mechanized agricultural investments on lands granted by the Ministry of Agriculture.

Abera Mulat, an agriculture expert at the Ministry of Agriculture, has been appointed as the director of the Agriculture Investment Agency.

Horizon Plantations, subsidiary of MIDROC owned by the Ethio-Saudi billionaire Mohammed Al-Amoudi, has acquired full ownership of Bebeka Coffee Plantation S.C and Horizon Addis Tyre after it bought the Ethiopian government’s shares in both enterprises for 667.2 million Ethiopian birr.

The Ethiopian government’s share in Bebeka was 36 percent, which is sold for 207.8 million birr and  the governments share in Horizon Addis was 31 percent.

Albwardy Investments, a Dubai-based holding company has struck a US$25 million deal with M.A Kharafi & Sons PLC. for the acquisition two hotels under construction. The partially constructed 7 and 6 floor hotels are located at the junction of Africa Avenue and Jomo Kenyatta Street, at Meskel Square.

The original plan of M.A Kharafi & Sons PLC was to build one three-star hotel, named Ibis, on the side of the Jomo Kenyata Street and another four-star, named Novotel, along Africa Avenue.

Standard Bank Group, South Africa's largest financial services group is planning to establish a representative offices in Ethiopia, the Bank's spokesperson said on Monday. Standard Bank is also planning to set up representative office Ivory Coast, the bank's latest move to expand into sub Saharan Africa, where it already has operations in 18 countries.

Ethiopia, Africa's second most populous nation after Nigeria, is seen as a potentially big market for foreign banks, although the financil sector of the country still remains closed to foreign companies.

Ethiopia's consumer price rose to 8 percent in July up from 7.4 percent in June, Fortune reported citing the latest Consumer Price Index released by the Central Statistical Agency.

The year-on-year food inflation in July was 5.8 percent from 3.7 percent in June, while non-food inflation was 10.5 percent in July from  11.9 percent in June.

The Ethiopian Textile Industry Development Institute signed a three-year twinning arrangement with National Institute of Fashion Technology, an Indian Company.

Speaking on a meeting held in Addis Ababa on Saturday August 17, 2013, Institute General Director, Sileshi Lema said the arrangement will help to build capacities of professionals in the sector.

Ethiopia and Norway signed a REDD+ Partnership agreement to support Ethiopia's forest sector and Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) Strategy. Agriculture State Minister, Sileshi Getahun and Norwegian Ambassador to Ethiopia Oddlnge Kvalheim signed the agreement on Friday 16 August, 2013.

Sileshi on the occasion said the agreement will contribute to Ethiopia's efforts to build climate resilient green economy. Ambassador Kvalheim on his part said the partnership is to contribute to reduction of greenhouse gas emissions caused by deforestation and forest degradation, thereby supporting the development and implementation of Ethiopia's REDD+ Strategy.