Ethiopia has made significant strides in space exploration, with over 300 students enrolling in the Path to Space program, designed to propel the nation towards success in this frontier. Over the past five months, the inaugural Pathways to Space initiative has trained 312 students in processes ranging from assembling small satellites to launching them in the future.

The program, a collaborative effort involving Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Tanzania, is spearheaded by the Space Science and Geospatial Institute of Ethiopia (SSGI), the Boeing Company, and the Future African Space Explorers STEM Academy (FASESA).

This initiative not only provided students with hands-on experience in testing their designs in real-world scenarios but also sparked their interest in space exploration, laying a foundation for their future education and careers in this exciting field.

Ethiopia’s urban housing crisis continues to escalate, with various efforts to address the issue for low- and middle-income citizens falling short of expectations. A recent proposal suggests that imported materials for affordable housing projects should be exempted from VAT to alleviate the situation.

To tackle the housing shortage effectively, home developers advocate for including affordable housing in the VAT exemption list. They argue that using low-cost local technologies and prefabricated homes can significantly address the housing demand and supply gap, particularly in urban areas.

Purpose Black, a company that entered the real estate industry two years ago, criticized the government’s omission of affordable housing from the VAT exemption list. According to Ermias Berhanu (PhD), the company’s CEO, the construction materials for affordable housing are sourced from China, requiring substantial foreign exchange. The current VAT policy exacerbates the challenge of developing affordable housing.

“The inclusion of affordable housing as a basic need in the VAT exemption list is crucial,” Berhanu stated. “The Ministry of Finance’s directive 1006/2024, issued on June 20, 2024, did not include affordable housing, which needs to be addressed to support low-income citizens.”

The Ministry of Finance explained that the directive aimed to exempt basic food supplies from VAT to relieve the cost burden on low-income populations. However, experts in the housing sector emphasize that affordable housing should also be prioritized in the VAT exemption to make a meaningful impact on the housing crisis.

Perpetual Black has faced criticism for its performance and has reportedly received threats from the government. Despite these challenges, the new CEO expressed commitment to improving the company’s operations and contributing to the housing sector.

As the debate continues, stakeholders hope the government will reconsider its stance on VAT exemptions for affordable housing to address Ethiopia’s pressing urban housing needs effectively.

Moha, a company renowned for exclusively supplying internationally popular Pepsi products to local markets, has been sued by workers for allegedly causing layoffs at the Soft Drinks Industry SC. The company, whose assets belong to Ethiopian investor Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Al Amoudi and was recently integrated into the MIDROC Investment Group, introduced a new organizational structure aimed at solving structural problems.

On June 6, 2024, Moha’s General Manager, Adam Dawood, announced the termination of employment contracts for workers at the Teklehaymanot factory through an official letter. This decision has sparked legal action from the affected employees.

A source, who has worked at the factory for over 19 years and is among those laid off, expressed dismay at the termination. The source stated that despite their long-term commitment and contribution to the company’s growth, previous management issues led to the company’s financial troubles, making the layoffs unjust.

The workers, now facing joblessness, have voiced concerns about their families’ vulnerability due to the abrupt decision. Despite repeated inquiries, the employees received no satisfactory explanation for the layoffs, prompting them to seek legal redress to enforce their rights.

In their lawsuit, the workers demand either the payment of their salaries or reinstatement. Moha, in its termination letter, explained that although it marketed popular products, it faced significant losses that jeopardized the company’s continuity. The letter also mentioned efforts to introduce a new organizational structure and personnel allocation to address these structural problems and ensure the joint venture’s sustainability.

The letter indicated that each employee received a two-month notice from April 9, 2024, with their contracts ending on June 8, 2024.

Historical context reveals that the Nefas Silk factory, the country’s first PepsiCo facility, was established with a capital of 1 million birr, boasting a production capacity of 20,000 bottles per hour. Additionally, the Teklehaymanot factory, initially established in 1961 as the “Saba Tej” Share Company, has been a significant player in the industry.

As the legal battle unfolds, the workers hope for a resolution that addresses their grievances and secures their rights amidst the company’s restructuring efforts.

A Canadian business called East Africa Metals Inc., with its headquarters in Vancouver, has announced that it would begin building gold mine infrastructure in the Tigray region.

On the statement issued a week ago the company stated that its development partner Tibet Huayu Mining Co Ltd. has initiated the procurement process for heavy equipment required for the construction of the Adyabo Project’s Mato Bula and Da Tambuk mines, located in the Tigray region.

Equipment required for the mine construction and mining operations include drill rigs, excavators, trucks, loaders, bulldozers graders crushers, mills, conveyance systems and other heavy equipment.

“This significant milestone marks the next phase in advancing the Adyabo Project towards construction readiness,” it said.

The procurement is undertaken by Tigray Resources Inc, which is owned by Tibet Huayu and East Africa Metals, 70% and 30% respectively, including soliciting quotes from suppliers in both the Chinese and European markets. The objective is to finalize the comprehensive schedule of capital costs, complete purchase orders and coordinate the logistics for equipment imports.

Andrew Lee Smith, President and CEO of East Africa Metals, states “The initiation of the procurement process by Tibet Huayu is a crucial step forward for the Adyabo Project. This underscores our commitment to executing a well-planned strategy that ensures the timely acquisition of essential resources for mine construction and operational readiness.”

Late June the company has been stated that it has completed the negotiations of the Relocation Action Plan (RAP) to allow the mine development activities to begin at the Mato Bula and Da Tambuk projects.

The completion of the RAP is a crucial step for mining projects, “a critical process to ensure that any displacement of communities and disruption of agricultural land is managed effectively and ethically.” The purpose of a RAP is to minimize any negative impact of displacement and ensure fair compensation for disruption to agricultural lands.

On the statement it said that due to the projects’ remote location and the low value agricultural value of the area of the proposed mine development, no persons were required to be relocated after the RAP review.

“However, a negotiated settlement with the local community for compensation for access road construction has been completed and the first tranche of compensation paid, as required under Ethiopia’s Mining Proclamation,” it added.

The Adyabo Project Mato Bula and Da Tambuk deposits are high sulphidation gold rich Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide (VMS). This submarine porphyry-related system is located in the southern part of the Arabian-Nubian Shield (ANS) in the Tigray region. Mining licences have been received that cover both deposits on Adyabo, Mato Bula Au-Cu-Ag and Da Tambuk Au.