The Ethiopian Ministry of Trade and Industry has successfully launched the first online business registration and licensing platform in the country as part of efforts to bolster the Ethiopian business environment and improve the country’s business ranking.
Filling out forms to register a business in its entirety is now a matter of hours and the complete licensing process takes approximately six days. This is in comparisons to the month (or longer) that it previously used to take.
The inauguration of the platform was held in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen on Monday, February 1st. The minister affirmed that the launch of the platform is part of Ethiopia’s ten year development plan, which includes developing and implementing a robust digital economy.
Other digital developments that the government has undergone as part of its goals include the national digital identification project and online taxation and customs platforms.
Trade and Industry Minister Melaku Alebel stated that the current administration plans on taking Ethiopia from being the 159th ranked country on the ease of doing business index to the top 50 within the coming decade.