2merkato

The Revenues and Customs Authority in Ethiopia is to undertake significant organizational restructuring and operational changes expected to be comprehensive.

Senior officials at the authority have launched a study to determine areas that require reform following recommendations from the office of the Ethiopian Prime Minster according to sources.

It is expected that changes will include the decentralization of operations at ERCA requiring adjustments to the organizational structure.

Tax payers voiced some concerns at a consultation meeting organized by the Ethiopian Revenue and Customs Authority last week. The meeting was organized to raise awareness amongst tax payers on the higher end of the scale.

Business owners told ERCA officials that employees at the authority sometimes forget that their role involves serving public interest.

There are corrupt and incompetent ERCA employees admitted Nebyu Samuel, Deputy Director of ERCA. The authority recognizes this gap and is working on capacity building through training and education he said.

The tax authority in Ethiopia, expects to generate increased revenue in the coming years in spite of challenges said Tedla Mitiku,Tax Payers Education Team Coordinator with the authority.

Ethiopian Revenues and Customs Authority faced challenges including illegal trade, contraband and lack of awareness amongst the tax payers, he said.

ERCA is working with a range of bodies to lower the incidence of tax fraud and illegal trade practices to set in place a viable tax system according to Tedla.

Ethio Telecom (formerly known as Ethiopian Telecommunication Corporation), now managed by a French company, made a record profit in the first year of the two-year contract.

The net profit has not been declared but sources at the telecom company say that it is likely to be higher than ever before.

The company had planned to make 9.9 billion birr and grossed 9.1 billion birr in the just ended fiscal year which is greater than that of the previous fiscal year by 2.1 billion.

Ethio Telecom earned 5.6 billion in revenue in the first two quarters of the fiscal year according to Jean Michel Latute, Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopia’s sole telecom provider. 

The revenue was raised from mobile, internet and other services said Latute.