Ethiopia Seeks Adviser on Licensing in Telecom Sector

ADDIS ABEBA – Ethiopia is set to hire for an international adviser to oversee licensing in the telecoms sector, ministry of finance announced on Thursday. The ministry had already appointed international consulting firm KPMG to help with a process aimed at selling off stakes in the telecom.

The latest moves are seen, a government official says, a step in the right direction to fulfill pledges made by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed as part of his series of major economic and political reforms.

Eyob Tekalign, State Minister of Finance, said the government issued an expression of interest for a transaction advisor.

It will advise on the process of privatization of Ethio telecom independently and transparency, he said.

The whole process of opening up of the telecom sector “will be done very carefully and accurately”, said Eyob, adding government will be a major shareholder in Ethio Telecom.

Abiy’s government, on the other hand, is moving the fastest on selling stakes in Sugar factors.
The privatization of 13 sugar factories is in the process of setting a price and assisting technical requirement, Eyob told reporters.

“We are in the final stage of setting price of six sugar factories,” he added.

There is, however, no progress in the privatization process of Ethiopian Airlines.

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By Mhret G/Kristos