2merkato

More than 87% of the software sold in Ethiopia is pirated announced the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Organization. An study conducted by the EIPO revealed that most of the software sold in the capital city is pirated or illegally downloaded according to Birhanu Adelo Director General of the organization.

The EIPO has signed a partnership agreement with the Microsoft Company to combat illegal counterfeit software entering the country he noted.

The organization has committed to working with Microsoft to increase public awareness on the advantages of using genuine software including the security and reliability it offers to businesses explained Birhanu.

Piracy will have a detrimental effect on the economy and other national interests claimed Birhanu.

A solar assembly plant to produce a range of solar powered and environmentally conscious products is expected to be launched in Ethiopia in the near future. Among the products that will be produced by the factory will be solar panels with the ability to generate as much as 60 watts of electricity, charge controllers and Light Emitting Diode lamps which are known for being electricity efficient.

An area has already been set aside for an exhibition and training center in the Oromia Regional State according to Samson Tsegaye, Country Director for The Solar Energy Foundation.

The area dubbed the ‘Solar Valley’ is located on 15 thousand square meters of land within the Tatek Industrial Park.
The foundation expects the financing to launch the assembly project to come from solar companies seeking for investment opportunities said Samson.

The Ethiopian Metal and Engineering Corporation and SKY Energy International have manufactured the first solar panel in Ethiopia.

The solar panel was manufactured by the assembly line commissioned in April of last year as a joint venture between the Ethiopian Metal and Engineering Corporation and SKY Energy International.

The turnkey assembly line was fully installed in December and the first efforts to laminate, test and produce solar panel were launched by engineers at this time.

Ethiopian company SoleRebels and its founder Bethlehem Tilahun were featured in a New York Times article covering entrepreneurship in Africa. The article entitled ‘Women Entrepreneurs Drive Growth in Africa’ noted that Bethlehem is one of a ‘wave’ of African entrepreneurs in Africa who are taking advantage of the economic revitalization on the continent noted the article.

The article covers the founding of soleRebels in 2004 with a small group of artisans living in the same community and a small workshop and follows its growth to become a multi-million dollar international enterprise with its handmade and environmentally friendly shoes selling for 60 US dollars and more.

Ethiopian footwear manufacturer soleRebels has launched the first of a series of stand-alone retail stores in Kaoshinug, Taiwan, according to a company press release.

The opening of the store is an extremely exciting opportunity in a vibrant market allowing the brand to showcase it products said Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu, Founder and Chief Executive of the company.

The opening of the store anchors the company in Asia which has a significant booming Asian retail footwear market according to the company press release. The company expects to open 30 soleRebels retail stores in Taiwan with three of these stores to be opened by the end of this year.