The Ethiopian American

volume 4 no.4 Aug 2014 9th ETHIOPIAN DIASPORA BUSINESS FORUM Investing in 's Emerging Technology Sector

Eyes on Ethiopia's ICT Business

Developing Mobile Commerce in Emerging Markets

The Revolution in Transportation Technology

1 In this issue...

COVER STORY Social Life

06 27 Eyes on Ethiopia’s ICT Business Meron Wudneh for Miss Africa USA Pageant 13 Developing Mobile Commerce in Literature Emerging Markets 16 20 The Unsung Hero of Ethiopian Skies The Revolution in Transportation 22 Technology Book Review: “Fabric” 25 Featured Stories Book Review: “All Our Names” 23 dVentus: Powering Ethiopia’s Green Technology Ambition 22 Interview with Zemedeneh Negatu 26 ArifZefen: Digital Access to Ethiopian Songs 18 Tapping to Ethiopia’s Geothermal Potential 2 3

1P FAIRFAX.indd 1 05/04/12 11:24 journey to modernize its economy and will be held under the theme of “Investing in Ethiopia’s Emerging Technology Sector”. Some may not see the various Diaspora investments in the technology sector as small or even trivial. The truth is that many interesting and pioneering Diaspora technology investments are slowly but quietly transforming Ethiopia’s economy in a significant way. It is for that reason that we decided to Publisher’s Note make this year’s Forum about the It is hard to believe that it has been 10 emergence of the technology sector years since The Ethiopian American in Ethiopia. We chose to look at this started publishing as an online and sector also because of the heavy print magazine. This year also marks involvement and leadership of the the 9th year since the magazine began Diaspora in technology investment, organizing the Ethiopian Diaspora knowledge transfer and adaptation in Business Forum. Looking back now, Ethiopia. none of us expected that we will be Investors such as Munir Duri of organizing the Forum and continue Kifiya Financial Technology PLC and to publish the magazine this long. As Daniel Gizaw of dVentus PLC are a volunteer based community and leading the way in transforming their THE ETHIOPIAN AMERICAN trade advocacy organization, we faced respective sectors. Samuel Tesfaye www.theethiopianamerican.com many challenges over the years. No and Behailu Assefa, two other trail matter how great the challenge, we blazing Diaspora investors in the THE ETHIOPIAN AMERICAN is published by the Ethiopian American LLC persevered and thrived and continue wind and solar sectors, respectively, 6394 Andrew Mathew Trc to do so. We hope to continue to will be part of the headlining panel Springfield V A 22150 serve our community for the next [email protected] discussion on August 2nd at The www.theethiopianamerican.com coming decade. In order to do that George Washington University. Other Editor-IN-CHIEF though, we will need the greater speakers from the emerging world Omer Redi involvement of the community in the of e-Commerce will also speak about coming years. developments in their respective Reporters Next year will be a special year. It will sectors. Equally important is the Andualem Sisay Elias Gebreselassie be our 10th Forum and we will be content of this year’s magazine. organizing the Forum in . The stories and articles were Contributors Off course for those who have been carefully selected to mirror the Yahoshuah Israel issues which will be discussed at Wengel Tessema with us long enough will remember Bruk Taye, Esq. that the first Forum was held in Addis this year’s Forum. We cover in this Luladay Aragaw Zena-Gabriel Hailu Ababa. Therefore, we will be going issue emerging tech sectors such as telecom, mobile payment, thermal back to where it all started. We invite Graphic Design all of our members and supporters energy development, transportation ALTOUR TECH to participate in the planning and technology and other critical matters to the Diaspora community. We hope advertising sales organizing effort. We can use all Belco Business PLC the help we can get. We also urge you find the stories informative and our loyal supporters and sponsors engaging. As always, we welcome Subscription to continue their support as we get your comments on the magazine and US - The Ethiopian American LLC 6394 the Forum. We strive to serve you Andrew Mathew Trc ready for our 10th Forum. Everyone’s Springfield VA 22150 support is welcome, be it in the form better. Tel. +1 202-527-0980 ETHIOPIA -Belco Business Plc, of ideas or material support. Yohannes Assefa, Esq., the sole marketing agent of the Ethiopian American LLC in Ethiopia Coming back to this year’s Forum, the Publisher & Executive Director P.O.Bos. 4832 Tel. +251 912-600-379 Forum will focus on Ethiopia’s great ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA 4 5 T H E ET IO P IA N A M ERICA T H E ET IO P IA N A M ERICA

COVER STORY Eyes on Ethiopia’s ICT Businesses By Andualem Sisay It started in 2010 as a pilot public- and telephone,” says Munir Duri, financial services such as branchless private partnership project in founder and CEO of Kifiya Financial banking, which uses multiple channels Ethiopia to modernize and speed Technology Services. including mobile phones, kiosks up bill collection system of public and cards. While Lehulu focuses in Munir, a returnee from Manchester, utility agencies. Today Kifiya serving urban dwellers, the branchless England, where he studied Engineering Financial Technology PLC’s Lehulu, banking initiative aims to serve and Management, established an an information communication the rural unbanked population in IT-based service company in 1996, technology-based eService Initiative, partnership with micro-credit financial which was later transformed into has 35 centers throughout Addis intuitions. This is an initiative of and Kifiya in 2010. When Munir returned Ababa. is supported by the Bill & Melinda to Ethiopia in 1991, he saw an Gates Foundation’s Financial Inclusion The concept of one-stop electronic opportunity in the fledging ICT sector project. payment services was designed by of the country. The company he the Ministry of Communication and founded has been providing various The growing number of private Information Technology (MCIT). Kifiya ICT–based solutions for years. But four businesses engaged in the delivery Financial Technology PLC (Kifiya) was years ago, a bigger opportunity came of government services shows selected to undertake the investment, for Kifiya when the Ministry of CIT government’s commitment to increase implement and operate the Unified Bill announced a bid to introduce a Unified private sector participation in the ICT Payment system under this scheme Billing System for utilities. sector, said Munir. “The MCIT’s public- under the service name of Lehulu. private partnership has been crucial “At that time our company was Utility payments from Ethiopian and anchor for the success of the narrowing its focus on testing Electric Power Corporation, Addis Lehulu,” he added. various payment and digital financial Ababa Water and Sewerage Authority, services solutions; and it was a good The digital financial services initiative and Ethio Telecom were the first opportunity for us,” says Munir. of Kifiya aspires to be like Kenya’s services implemented under this Mpesa. Kifiya plans to offer much scheme. Today Kifiya’s Unified Billing - Lehulu more services than Mpesa though. - has 35 eService (payment) centres, “The service saves time and Kifiya’s pilot project at the moment serving all the residents of Addis transportation cost which previously offers both branchless banking and Ababa. In addition to Lehulu, Kifiya was spent going to three different mobile money services. It aims to From his office in central Addis Munir oversees operations of first such company in Ethiopia. (Photo by Andualem Sisay) is also engaged in related digital locations to pay for electricity, water enable micro-finance institutions 6 7 T H E ET IO P IA N A M ERICA to provide banking services beyond them for longer time as they often provision is subject to change by the their branches. Kifiya’s approach uses join other companies or start their Council of Ministers at any time, when multiple channels - in addition to own businesses.Though we don’t the government deems it necessary. mobile phones - such as kiosks and retain them for long, we are happy Accordingly, over the past few years, cards. Kifiya’s branchless banking to contribute for the development mobile SMS services are introduced system uses smart phones that are of highly skilled professionals in this by the private sector in partnership attached to a biometric card reader/ sector,” he says. with the state owned Ethio telecom, printer to serve the rural community, which is the sole telecommunication “From our experience working with which often have connectivity service provider for the 90 million the government, there is a strong challenges, according to Munir. plus population of the East African commitment to encourage companies country. Official statistics shows GebeyaLink, an Amharic-English to invest in ICT and deliver various that by the end of December 2014, hybrid term that means market link, is services through creation of favourable 10,931 telecentres, 2,280 internet another of Kifiya’s electronic voucher investment incentives and enabling cafes, and 70 telecommunication services currently being tested using environment.” values added service providers were mobile phones. This solution is now ICT in Ethiopia licensed to operate across the country. implemented serving over 10,000 A Telecommunication Expansion people who receive food support Global industry reports show that Project for the whole nation is already through the Productive Safety Net Ethiopia has one of the least ICT underway with a budget of 1.6 billion Program which is supported by 40 penetration rates in Africa. The USD. participating stores and the World United Nation’s International Food Program’s beneficiary program in Telecommunication Union (ITU) report The government’s March 2014 report four towns across Ethiopia. launched in November 2013 in Addis states that there are a total of 25.6 Ababa ranked Ethiopia 151st in ICT million mobile subscriptions and 4.7 “The main challenge for us when we development, out of 157 countries, million internet subscribers (including started Lehulu was getting skilled and 152nd out 169 countries in the mobile internet users). The Mobile professionals locally. Hence, we had price of fixed broadband connection. service penetration has reached 29.6%, to bring these professionals through Internet penetration 5.5% and fixed line partnerships we have with companies Though the telecom sector in Ethiopia penetration stands at 0.9%. in India and South Africa,” Munir still remains a state monopoly, the said. “Even after we provided skills 2012 Investment Proclamation allows After completion of the expansion upgrading trainings for our employees, the private sector to participate in joint project by 2015, the capacity of Ethio- we still face challenges of retaining venture with the government. Yet, this Telecom is expected to grow to 60

8 9 T H E ET IO P IA N A M ERICA million mobile core network users. A WoredaNet is an Ethiopian print technology driving license end 4G technology deployment is currently e-Government network connecting forged driving licenses, which is often underway in Addis Ababa, and over more than 900 Woredas (Districts), claimed as one of the causes of road three million fixed line subscribers regional and federal government traffic accident. In Ethiopia around throughout the country. Internet offices across the country. WoredaNet 3,000 people die due to road traffic subscribers are also expected to reach is a satellite-based network designed accident annually with property seven million by 2015. with the primary objective to damages of worth tens of millions of provide ICT services such as video dollars. On the other hand, to improve the conferencing, directory, messaging poor performance of the country “I think what is very important is for and VOIP, and Internet connectivity in ICT development and usage, the people to contextualize technology to to the federal, regional and woreda government is working on various a specific service. Technology by itself level government entities. The goal projects such as e-government, should not be an end; but a means of WoredaNet is to establish an WeredaNet and SchoolNet, among to providing services. As soon as we IP-based multi-service by the use others. relate those connections, there are of Terrestrial Broadband and VSAT many opportunities in Ethiopia, of e-Government infrastructure to improve federal and course with challenges,” stated Munir. regional administrative efficiency, The e-Government strategy that effectiveness and productivity, as well Munir encourages fellow Ethiopian was approved in 2011 envisages the as information provision and service Diaspora to take a good look at the implementation of 219 e-services delivery to the public at large. business opportunity that exists in this comprising of 79 informational and sector. 140 transactional services over ICT Park a five-year period. The services There is enormous opportunity for the The “Ethio ICT Village” project currently aim attaining better delivery of Ethiopian diaspora currently engaged under construction on 200 hectares government services to citizens, in ICT businesses abroad, according of land envisages creating linkage improved interactions with business to Abiyot Bayou (PhD), e-Dovernment between research, industry and and industry, citizen empowerment Director at the Ethiopian Ministry business in IT and IT enabled services. through access to information, or more of Communication and Information It is expected to attract both local and efficient government management. Technology. foreign investors. The resulting benefits can be less “I think this is the right time for the corruption, increased transparency, In addition, there are also initiatives Ethiopian diaspora with ICT experience greater convenience, revenue growth, by various government institutions to invest in Ethiopia,” Abiyot says. and cost reductions, according to to improve their performances using “As we are finalizing the construction project documents. ICT. One of them is the Ethiopian the country’s ICT Park and all the Road Transport Authority. To cut the Implementation is proposed through universities in Ethiopia are graduating death rate of road traffic accident, 12 priority projects and service thousands of young students in ICT the Authority is working with Techno delivery is through four primary every year, I encourage Ethiopian Brain Ethiopia, a Tanzanian-based channels—Portals, Call centers, diaspora to come and invest especially ICT Company, to digitize the national Mobile devices and Common service in offshore ICT businesses,” he says. driving license records of the country. centers. When fully introduced, the new finger e-Government service delivery will be facilitated and strengthened through public key infrastructure, national payment gateway, national data set and national enterprise service bus and integrated authentication and enterprise architecture frameworks. Government reports also show that initiatives like e-procurement, human resource management system, e-office, e-mail and financial management information system are being implemented at government Young professionals starring at computers and giant screens in front of them at Kifiya ministries level. headquarters tell of the modernity of the business. (Photo by Andualem Sisay) 10 11 T H E ET IO P IA N A M ERICA

COVER STORY Developing Mobile Commerce in Emerging Markets By Wengel Tessema It’s pretty clear the internet has near future. In emerging economies other similar service, it creates a clout changed the world and new the online payment landscape is yet of uncertainties and lack of awareness technologies are facilitating and to mature. India is a cash economy with retail consumers from using improving the role that e-commerce and electronic payment will still need these services and understanding the is playing in the global economy. some more time to be accepted by the importance of these services. E-commerce is known as electronic masses”. As credit card transactions As mobile phones get cheaper and accelerating brands against all odds commerce, this term is used for any are accepted by the urban masses reaching the masses across the globe, type of transaction that involves mostly in developed countries mostly mobile commerce is helping increase We are an independent, creatively driven advertising agency money transfer using internet base in western countries, emerging and e-commerce. Mobile-commerce is that creates strong and provocative relationships between good transaction from any business, or developing counties have found looking promising and poised to bring companies and their customers. We believe that it doesn’t matter commercial transaction. It covers a alternative means of payment that are the next e-commerce revolution to range of different types of businesses, widely accepted (like PayPal, Cardless where, how or in what medium an idea is expressed, you still have to more emerging economies. In the from consumer based retail sites to Mobile Cash Access, Mobile Banking). start with a good one. recent decade, emerging markets any exchanges trading goods and These systems need to become in Africa have seen their disposable services between corporations/ available for e-commerce to succeed income increase and are fond of business. It is currently one of the in emerging economies and developing luxury and electronics items. However, most important aspects of the Internet countries. Even in urban population, some of our services one common problem in these to emerge. credit card security is still a major countries is that they do not have a concern with the mobile customers. Strategic planning, consumer behavior mapping, media strategy, E-commerce is gathering steam good infrastructure, and the adult media planning, placement & monitoring, communication strategy, in emerging markets, and is Payment models like cash-on- population that is connected to the product positioning, copywriting, integrated ATL & BTL campaigns... seeing increased adoption by BRIC delivery have been popular as Internet is not taking the advantage (Brazil, Russia, India and China) an alternative mode of payment. that is making e-commerce mode of countries. According to Dr. Prasad Hindering the mobile-commerce consumer purchases more and more Ramanathan and Ajit Mahajan, in growth in developing countries are viable over a period of time. contact us their InformationWeek article, online the restrictions on online payment In a report entitled, “Hidden Heroes: shoppers in “China today have companies like PayPal by central banks Emerging retail markets beyond China,” www.251communications.com surpassed the total population of USA. according to Dr. Prasad Ramanathan Deloitte highlights common success India is the second largest mobile and Ajit Mahajan. The Reserve Bank +251 116 62 18 24 factors of the most important retailers market after China. Reliance changed of India has put a restriction of a [email protected] in emerging markets. Among these, the landscape of mobile market in transaction limit of USD 10,000 for we can find serving the underserved, India with affordable mobile services export related remittances on PayPal. creating low income store concepts, and is probably going to repeat it When countries have policies that put impulse for private brands and format with a pan-India 4G roll out in the restriction on services like Paypal or diversity to reach as many local 12 13 T H E ET IO P IA N A M ERICA consumers as possible. the Melinda and Gates Foundation mobile phones—52% of which are on a financial inclusion pilot project in smart phones—and approximately Where the next focus should be is Amhara Region. The pilot is working 28% of mobile phone owners have empowering low income consumers with 20,000 farmers in rolling out its used mobile banking in the past 12 and retailers to embrace mobile agent banking system using the PSNP months. Online bill pay is widely commerce and incorporate them or social safety net payment system. available with or without the use into the global market vulnerable The Kifiya system is also used for the of mobile technology”. The Federal consumers. The Consumer Finance Addis Ababa Municipal Unified Billing Reserve Bank survey found that an Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) 2013 System where telephone, water and estimated 59% of consumers who are report entitled “Empowering low electricity payments are handled using unbanked have access to a mobile income and economically,” reported the Kifiya system. While Ethiopian phone, half of which are smart phones. that the number of low-income and banks are not currently issuing credit In addition, the survey found that economically vulnerable population cards, an ingredient for e-Commerce, among underbanked consumers, 90% currently could be as many as 100 the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, are have a mobile phone, 56% of which million people, many of whom are testing limited debit/credit cards in the are smart phones. As one convening unbanked, underbanked, or have thin market. participant put it, underserved or no credit files. These consumers are consumers are “over-indexed on diverse by culture, geography, stage How should the global community mobile and under-indexed on time of life, and financial status. Over the help this large group of consumers? and convenience.” This penetration last decade, initiatives to enhance the CFPB 2013 report indicates there pattern appears to offer the potential financial stability of this population are many ways to encourage and to expand access to more underserved have multiplied and shown promise. enable this group to participate in the populations. But there is as of yet no strategy on global economy. Here are a few ideas a national scale that addresses the the CFPB talked about in their 2013 Is e-Commerce an effective entry unique consumer financial product report, the expansion of the prepaid strategy for emerging markets? The and service needs of low-income and card industry and mobile banking. answer depends on the product that economically vulnerable consumers. The positive aspect of prepaid card is to be offered to the local market. is there usage is growing. In fact It is important to remember that In Ethiopia, the banking sector is CFPB indicate that prepaid cards are every market has its own group of awaiting the final publication of the growing at an explosive rate, and it factors that determines consumption mobile and agent banking regulation extends far beyond “traditional” bank and that the key for a successful to start rolling out services. At offerings. These cards are provided market entry depends on finding the the moment, Bell Cash, MBirr and by a variety of vendors, and they are best formula for each country. For Kifiya are leading the way with the distributed in large numbers of retail Ethiopia, the answer is not clear but development of mobile payment stores mostly in western developed the development of the system is systems. MBirr is currently testing countries. Mobile banking is attracting inevitable. its system with a number of micro great interest both in the U.S. and credit institutions and waiting Wongel Tessema is an emerging market internationally. According to the regulatory approval to roll out services analyst at a Washington DC-based Federal Reserve Board’s Consumers in cooperation with four micro credit Government contractor. and Mobile Financial Services 2013 institutions. Kifiya is working with survey, “87% of all consumers have Mobile Users in Ethiopia Growing Fast, But ... Mobile Subscription in Ethiopia per 100people ,,,Lagging behind compared to the rest of Africa

2005 1 2010 8 2013 27 KENYA 71 AFRICA 69 ETHIOPIA 27 AVERAGE

ETHIOPIA MOBILE SUBSCRIPTION INFOGRAPHICS 14 15 T H E ET IO P IA N A M ERICA Robinson decided to answer the call Today is recognized “. . . Ethiopia has lost a real friend, even of the Emperor; He travelled half way as one of the leading airlines in the as a patriot, I knew him since during around the world to aid Ethiopia who global aviation industry and the pride the Italian invasion days. . . Separating had only a hand full of old outdated of Ethiopia and all of Africa as well. himself from his mother and relatives; aircraft, none of which were militarily abandoning the Aviation Training School During these early years, Col. Robinson equipped. which he had established at Chanute became friends with a young Ethiopian Field, Illinois, and his property as He arrived in Addis during the rainy named Lt. Girma Woldegiorgis. This well, he returned to serve His Imperial season in 1935 and immediately dedicated and determined lieutenant Majesty who he loved very sincerely. went about the task of preparing for would go on to serve Ethiopia for the T H E ET IO P IA N A M ERICA war. Because the Italians invaded next 60 years in various positions With the assent and approval of His Ethiopia in October of 1935 Col. that endeared him to the common Majesty the Emperor, he organized The Robinson had little time to build an people. The friendship that begun Imperial School, air force. The Emperor called upon during a terrible and unjust war was reorganized the Government Garage him to fly reconnaissance missions to continue long after Col Robinson’s and Workshops, and successfully back and forth from the front lines to death. Sadly, the gallant and noble served in the Electrical and Mechanical his mission command centre in Addis hero, Col. Robinson died in an air crash Engineering of the Ethiopian Army, and Ababa. These missions were extremely in Addis Ababa in March of 1954 while the Imperial Ethiopian Aero Club. . . dangerous because the Italian Air transporting blood for an accident On behalf of the Director General of Force had total command of the skies victim. In the ensuing years his friend the Civil Aviation, I beg the American Colonel Robinson giving flight orders to Ethiopian Pilots with faster and deadly fighter planes. Lieutenant Girma Woldegiorgis Ambassador to express to the mother Each time Col. Robinson took to the would become head of the Aviation and relatives of our friend Colonel air his only defense was his superior Department and eventually become Literature Robinson, our deep sorrow. I present skills, and his confidence and courage the President of Ethiopia. As a dear my gratitude to all those who came to out maneuver enemy Italian friend of Col. Robinson he would give a to honour his burial. May God rest his fighters. The one common goal of all profound grave-site eulogy so moving soul in peace” reads the eulogy of The Unsung Hero of Ethiopian Skies the Italian pilots was to shoot him out that the Ethiopian Herald would Former President Girma Woldegiorgis By Yahoshuah Israel of the sky. Despite the incredible odds publish his eulogy in its entirety. Such for Col. John C. Robinson March 28, against him surviving, not only did he an amazing bond of friendship that That is an excerpts from the April statements of the foundation for the famed Tuskegee 1954, Gulalle Cemetery, Addis Ababa, accomplish his missions; he excelled after all credible history of the great 3, 1954 Ethiopian Herald Funeral towards the last remaining bastion of Aviation School. He is remembered as Ethiopia. Ceremony of Col. John Robinson - from Black African rule. It was at this time the Father of the of in such an amazing fashion that the legacy of “Ethiopia’s Brown Condor” a Former Student. that Col. John C. Robinson stepped World War II who are now legendary. western press soon dubbed him had become lost to posterity, it would (Yahoshuah Israel is the Author of “The forward to represent the love and He also established the first American “Ethiopia’s Brown Condor”; He gained be former Ethiopian President Girma Book of Ephraim”, “The Rose”, and The bond of love in a true friendship support of his community for Ethiopia. School of Aviation opened to everyone international fame and was the pride who would become one of the few numerous other articles concerning has always been known to bridge regardless of race creed or colour. He of the African-American community all remaining individuals able to confirm issues of the African-American the relentless onslaught of time. Col. Robinson, the first licensed established the first federally licensed over America. that such a man did actually live and community that appeared in his It could be difficult to find many African-American pilot in the United accomplished the deeds accorded newsletter, Shima. He first visited African-American owned airport in Upon realizing that he could not States, was asked by Emperor Haille- to him. It is through such people as Ethiopia in 1999 researching the “Book Chicago. In addition, he started three prevent Italy from overrunning the “I am sure that the people of Selassie’s representative, Malaku former President, that the writer of Ephraim”. He immediately realized aviation clubs and taught the first country, the Emperor left for England. Ethiopia will always miss him; Beyan, to come to Ethiopia and train of this article and others have the that he had returned home and has Chinese pilots at his school in Chicago. Also during this time, Col. Robinson what he has done will live even Ethiopian pilots to defend against the opportunity to learn the true and become dedicated to the support and returned to America and continued longer. May the soul of Col. coming invasion. Against this backdrop of awesome remarkable legacy of Col. Robinson. development his ancient homeland. He to advocate for Ethiopia’s cause with Robinson, my beloved teacher rest accomplishments and in light of his How fitting that a friendship begun is currently working to resurrect the At the time, Col. Robinson was on the Malaku Beyan. After the occupation in peace.” rising fame and business success Col. over sixty years ago would become amazing legacy of Col. John C. Robinson crest of the exploding wave of aviation he returned to Ethiopia at the request Robinson decided that the injustice even more relevant and vital today. in both Ethiopia and the US as he views technology in America. Not only was of the Emperor and began the task examples of the power and strength threatening the people of Ethiopia The Ethiopian people and especially its resurrection as not only justice he America’s first licensed African- of building the Imperial Ethiopian Air of friendship like one displayed by the was more important than his personal the African-American community for a life of heroic accomplishments American pilot, Col Robinson was Force. He also laid the ground work for Former President of Ethiopia, Girma position and goals. His mother and half way around the world, therefore, ad sacrifice but also as a means of the first African-American certified the commercial aviation department. Woldegiorgis, for the long deceased close friends pleaded with him to owe deep and profound gratitude to reviving the historically strong and vital aviation flight instructor and mechanic. In his book, “The Man Called Brown and sadly forgotten aviation hero of reconsider his decision. They reminded President Girma for his ability, his link between fabled Ethiopian and the He had also organized his first aero Condor” Thomas Simmons explains both Ethiopia and the of him of Ethiopia’s weak position willingness, and for his extraordinary African-American community. He can be club which had successfully built a that Col. Robinson was instrumental in America. in view of Italy’s modern military, character to share with the world reached through yahoshuah@hotmail. plane from the ground up. establishing the agreement with TWA especially Italy’s Air Force which at the his memories of his special bond of com). His story goes like this. In 1935 the that led to the creation of Ethiopian A graduate from the prestigious time was the strongest in the world. friendship with the man behind the African-American community was Airlines. Tuskegee Institute, Col. Robinson laid Despite their pleas and warnings Col. legend and the myth. in an uproar at the threatening war 16 17 T H E ET IO P IA N A M ERICA missions” where it sends members the Japanese government expected to $150,000 is proposed for qualified of the Ethiopian government to the chip in USD 100 million with the rest companies in the off-grid and mini- US to visit geothermal sites and to be covered mainly by the World grid sector. Deadline for proposal geothermal experts in the US, as part Bank and the Ethiopian government. submission was in June and the of its Power Africa initiative. USAID Once construction started, the winners are set to be announced in has also offered a number of technical former is expected to take between September. workshops and targeted assistance to 24-36 months to commission. The A worthy investment? Tapping to various responsible ministries to build 100MW Tendaho geothermal project their capacity on geothermal project is currently under plans to be financed Although geothermal energy potential development specifically. by the World Bank and a French Bank is in abundance in Ethiopia, its initial T H E ET IO P IA N A M ERICA Ethiopia’s Geothermal Potential AFD and be in line as third project of cost is larger than hydro or wind “A Tip of the Iceberg” By Elias Gebreselassie its kind. energy begging the question and While the US may be giving assistance whether is it a wise option for a poor Ethiopia, an ambitious and increasingly of Ethiopian origin - signed the 25 Energy Team leader at the Economic Funding available but rely on yourself to Ethiopia to generate 1, 000MW of country like Ethiopia is an outstanding electric power hungry country, is years+ PPA with the EEPCo to develop Growth and Transformation Office geothermal energy, Gossaye Mengiste, For all the assistance Ethiopia is question. building multiple power sources all geothermal in Corbetti which is located (EG&T) at the United States Agency Director of Energy Study and being given in the geothermal energy, around the country with the eventual in the southern rift valley occupying for International Development For Manabu Momita, JICA manager for Development Follow up Directorate all agree that the final solution for goal of boosting its electricity a concession area of 6, 500 km2. The (USAID) says, Ethiopia is one of the the Expatriate Technical and Scientific at the Ministry of Water, Irrigation Ethiopia’s energy needs, the country generation from the current well over geothermal development area has a first six focus countries for Power Coordination Project, currently working and Energy (MoWIE), says this project must rely on domestic sources 2,000 Mega Watts (MW), a small temperature of 350 centigrade, an Africa. Ethiopia’s leadership on at the Aluto Geothermal Expansion should just be the start. gradually shedding foreign support. portion of its enormous potential of ideal temperature for geothermal power development in Africa and Project, investment in geothermal is 37,000MW that the country plans to development. its expressed commitment to make “We estimate that Ethiopia has a “We’re just starting geothermal definitely a worthy investment. develop by 2037. certain policy reforms also contributed potential to generate up to 10,000MW development in Ethiopia, but please Aba Biya indiated at the signing of the “Geothermal can be expensive and to making Ethiopia a good candidate of [geothermal] energy according don’t rely on foreign government While many Ethiopians and curious PPA that he’s optimistic about the tedious at the initial drilling stage. But for Power Africa. The other five to studies made in the country’s support, the Ethiopian government outsiders may have heard about the project but he warned that the project countries in the scheme are Kenya, gigantic 6,000MW Grand Ethiopian may get delayed due to challenges at Tanzania, Ghana, and Nigeria. Beeler Renaissance Dam (GERD) and the customs - a common complaint with states that the program which is 1,870 MW Gibe III Dam, both hydro investors in Ethiopia. expected to run for five years, with and currently under construction, He’s also founder and shareholder of a its first year report coinciding with geothermal-based power projects are Canada based company Allana Potash, the US-Africa Leaders Summit held in set to make their marks in the coming engaged in extraction in Ethiopia’s August this year, isn’t just about power years. north eastern region of Afar. The idea generation. The highlight of Ethiopia’s geothermal to start geothermal development first Beyond the power development ambition is resting on popped up to him due to the need to The Aluto-Langano area in the Rift Valley highlights Ethiopia’s geothermal potential which is yet to be tapped. an agreement signed in October 2013 power his Allana Potash operations “One of the projects we are working between the US investors owned and the abundance of the energy on is energy generator; we have a rift valley region which comprise should give strong support to this it can constantly supply electricity for and Iceland-based firm, Reykjavik source in the same area. local company that’s founded by an 13 percent of its landmass,” stated development,” stated Manabu Momita, 24 hrs, and its availability is the best Geothermal, and the Ethiopian Ethiopian Diaspora with an American Mengiste. Project Manager with the Japanese US Power Africa support with 90 percent average productivity,” government, to develop 1,000MW citizenship who has come back and set International Cooperation Agency Works on the development of 70MW stated Momita. When compared with of geothermal energy. The Power up a manufacturing company so that (JICA), acknowledging it’s going to The Reykjavik Geothermal project Aluto Langano and 100MW Tendaho 30 percent average productivity of Purchase Agreement (PPA), under we manufacture what we call smart take time to build human capacity and couldn’t have come at a better time. projects are in the pipeline as part wind, hydropower and solar energy - which Reykjavik Geothermal proposes meters,” she stated adding that this development but insists is the ultimate What makes the PPA for the Corbeti of the government’s strategy to the last option being dependent on day to sell 1,000MW power to the will work with the EEPCo to regulate solution. project even more special is that it’s diversify energy sources. Ethiopia time and sunny seasons - geothermal Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation the flow of energy and hopefully make the first project endorsed by the Power so far generates a poultry 7.3MW of Beeler on her part said as part is a worthy investment. (EEPCo), makes this project the largest it more reliable. Africa initiative, President Barrack geothermal energy from the Aluto of creating ownership of local geothermal project in Africa. Obama’s signature project which “The first real geothermal project is in dVentus, which will have an annual Langano project which dates back entrepreneurs, USAID has embarked was announced in June 2013. Power Italy called Lardello, and it has been The project is expected to take roughly output of two million smart meters, to the 1980s in contrast to 171MW on a scheme where local African Africa, among other things, aims more than 100 years since it was 10 years to complete. The first 50 with an operational value of USD 21 of from wind and about 2,000MW companies including in Ethiopia can to double electricity access in Sub- commissioned, and it’s still working, MW is expected to be commissioned million, has been given a duty free generated from hydro. receive substantial funding against Saharan Africa to 10,000MW with the pointing it’s real value for return on in 2018 and the rest by 2023, with a privileges to import critical inputs for submitting a proposal in which support of international Development Mengiste says the development of investment,” stated Mengiste. total development cost of four billion its products from the US to encourage. they have to detail project ideas to Financial Institutions (DFIs). Aluto Langano project will go hand in dollars. The Icelandic firm, managed develop off-grid and mini-grid energy Elias is an Addis Ababa-based freelance USAID is also assisting the power hand with Corbetti and is expected to by Neijb Abba Biya - a Canada resident Amy Beeler, Private Sector and solutions. A grant scheme of up to journalist. sector with what it calls “reverse trade need USD 210 million to develop with 18 19 T H E ET IO P IA N A M ERICA and engage millions of social media not visible on the street. The ability to number of tourists that use taxi apps. savvy followers who can fill regulators receive e-hails (electronic hailing) could Moreover, the Brazilian taxi app, and councilmembers inboxes who increase a driver’s income significantly EasyTaxi, is the first app which started may dare attempt to regulate these specially in off-peak hours. For an aggressive expansion campaign in services have drawn opposing lines, drivers of limousines and executive Africa. It currently operates in Nigeria, they have crafted their strategies and sedans, these apps can provide Egypt, Ghana, and Kenya. the fight has commenced. extra income by connecting drivers Africa is the fastest growing economic to their vast number of followers Currently, there are multiple lawsuits area, and is dubbed as the “mobile and users. The apps could also allow filed against Uber and Lyft alleging, continent” with researchers predicting drivers to have the independence T H E ET IO P IA N A M ERICA inter alia, interference with contractual internet use on mobile phones to of working at a specific time where relations and prospective income, increase 20-fold in the next five years. demand is expected to increase, while unfair competition, negligence, This is double the rate of growth in maintaining their current work and racketeering, and constitutional the rest of the world. Accordingly, other commitments intact. challenges. New licensing types, such taxi apps are a phenomenal business as Transportation Network Providers For taxi and limo business that are opportunity for entrepreneurs who or Transportation Technology facing significant challenges from are looking into technology-based Companies, are being issued in DC these apps, the best strategy would investment in Africa. and Chicago, where the taxi and be “if you can’t fight them join them” In Ethiopia, the slow internet ride-sharing app phenomenon has by developing your own apps or apps connection speed and the weak mobile overwhelmed incumbent industry that could serve multiple businesses. signals might pose a risky proposition players. Few years after Uber started providing COVER STORY for taxi app introduction. However, transportation services, some New These technology-driven market the growing number of smartphone York City - based limousine companies disruptors, regardless of the terms users, the improving internet coverage have limited the loss of their market used to describe them and despite the and speed, and (most importantly) the The Revolution in Transportation share by developing their own apps. proliferating lawsuits and complaints, vast number of potential users could In other cities, the regulators have are here for good! They have emerged offset the initial risk and investment helped the industry to develop one Technology – The Lesson for the to the market mainly as a response of of taxi app related endeavor. In the holistic app that can be accessed an inefficient taxi service in most major capital, Addis Ababa, the large number by all limousine companies limiting American cities. Until recently, DC of expatriate community, embassy African Investor illegal activities and reducing market taxicabs would abandon a passenger staff, UN and AU delegates, and the disruption. This strategy is also one By Brook Taye if a passenger opted to use a credit or growing international visitors could that makes economic sense for debit card. The limousine companies, sustain an efficient transportation The taxi market in the U.S. has been in more than 60 cities in the U.S. fines and vehicle seizure by regulators, companies that are small and which albeit as a result of regulatory service provider with metered taxis, changing at a rapid rate since 2011. Lyft’s rapid expansion is also fueled Uber and Lyft have continued with cannot rely on millions of dollars from mandate, had excessive minimum limos, sedans, taxi apps, and radio New technology - enabled market by significant recent private equity their market disruption strategies investors. participants, backed by millions and venture capital investment that and managed to attract millions fares detracting usage by the average dispatch capabilities. Timing is, of dollars of funding from various surpassed $700 million. of passionate followers. However, citizen. This was not acceptable to the For those who are not in the however, essential. Recently, Uber investors, have bulldozed regulations the changes are not welcomed by millennials – who demanded a quality transportation industry, the taxi app has announced it will enter the At a click of a button, these apps are and managed to become the norm everyone, including drivers who service with a sense of expediency market is a huge business opportunity Nairobi market in full capacity. If one shattering regulatory requirements rather than the exception in most are facing new competition from and sophistication. Uber and Lyft are that could be transplanted to any were to believe Uber’s international and safeguards that were put in place American cities. Uber, an early ground unregulated ride-share and taxicab providing exactly that! major African cities. Kenya, South recruitment drive, it is easy to identify mainly to reduce the glut of taxicabs transportation app, has officially apps. Taxicab companies and owners Africa, and Egypt are leading the way other African markets that are also on in city streets and to ensure the safety Thus, the natural question would be become the single largest private for- who invested millions of dollars to by adapting various technologies in the pipeline. Therefore, the diaspora and security of drivers, passengers, how taxi drivers and owners of taxi hire vehicle transportation provider purchase taxicab medallions (which taxis. Kenya’s famous Matatu’s are community should act quickly and take and pedestrians alike. Taxi and other companies in the diaspora community in New York City with over 7,000 are valued over $1.3 million in on their way to become completely advantage of technology to renovate for-hire vehicle regulations have been could take advantage of technology vehicles. At the same time, Uber has New York City, $700,000 in Boston cashless transactions through transportation in Addis while creating gradually extended to cover passenger to remain in the market without being increased its market valuation to and $350,000 in Chicago) are electronic payment systems, which hundreds - if not thousands - of new comfort, among other things, by obsolete in the smartphone era. For $18 billion in less than three years also displeased. Lately, regulators enable owners to control fares from jobs. mandating the installation of credit drivers, the first step would be to since it first started its operation in have been vocal opponents to the trips and allow the government to and debit card processing modules in adapt to the changing environment Editor’s Note: Brook Taye is its hometown of San Francisco. Lyft, destruction of a market that once was be able to collect appropriate income all taxicabs and by requiring a portion by signing up with licensed taxi apps transportation legal analyst at the New which focus on the peer-to-peer highly exclusive and heavily regulated. tax from operators. In South Africa, of the taxicab fleets to be wheelchair or for-hire transportation dispatch York City law firm of Windels Marx Lane market by allowing individuals to Both the incumbent taxicab industry several transportation companies accessible. services. Taxi drivers can use these & Mittendorf, LLP. He is also a PhD. use their private vehicles to provide and the new technology fueled have designed their own apps, which apps to fill their downtime by availing Candidate at École Polytechnique in transportation services, operates entrants hire lobbyists and lawyers would allow them to service the high Despite the threats of lawsuits, severe themselves to passengers who are Paris, France. 20 21 T H E ET IO P IA N A M ERICA I myself am fascinated by the way other European cities you can see stories accompany us. The story history through the old buildings still fragments depicted by Mengistu’s standing in the street. In Cologne and main character, Jonas, in How to Read in many other German cities there’s the Air were sometimes painful for not much left to see. Most of these me to read. They touched places in cities’ buildings were destroyed during my own stories which still are raw the war. Newer buildings stand in their despite the many years that have place. But I could nonetheless sense passed since these experiences took something, like I always do when the

place. It is sometimes a symptom of Christmas markets disappear suddenly T H E ET IO P IA N A M ERICA those who find themselves in exile. the afternoon of December 24th, but They grasp onto their stories, because the feeling of the markets remains without them their sense of self would in the city’s spaces for several days. disappear. The transition sentence between one paragraph of the Christmas market I knew an old woman who used to story and the next goes missing. But live in a village close to the German the feeling of the missing shift is city of Kiel. She and her three children irritating and creates the sentiment LITRATURE were the last passengers to make it of something unfinished still waiting onto the last ship which sailed from to take place. It’s as if the fabric of a Königsberg in what is now Poland at society torn were quickly patched with Fabric the end of the Second World War. The no regard for the patch’s fabric nor its Allies were on the move. The United By Zena-Gabrielle Hailu design. Kingdom and the Soviet Union were (A translation of a reading by the attacking the city. The widow had to I’ve been told by my therapist friends author from January 26th, 2014 in the leave everything she had. She would that the psychological scars of the Rautenstrauch Joest Museum, Cologne, cry every time she described watching Second World War are being worked Germany) Featured Stories her city being destroyed from the ship. out now at a systemic level by the third There is much which simultaneously is She found refuge for herself and her and fourth generations of post-war and isn’t. children in Western Germany, married Germans. I ask myself how the stories again, and spent over fifty years in the of immigrants in Germany, narratives dVentus: Powering Ethiopia’s ‘Green We are held prisoners by our stories village close to Kiel, but still, it always from Spain, Turkey, and Ethiopia, while simultaneously being their remained the new home. She loved to from Cameroon, Russia, Senegal and architects. This creative role means Technology’ Ambition describe the furniture in her family’s many other countries, will be woven that we theoretically could choose By Luladey Aragaw house in Königsberg. She would relish into the fabric of a history which no new words for our stories if we in the details, mentally caressing the longer is only German. What kind of A “realization of the American dream” is dismal. Sub-Sahara Africa’s 48 demanding American market with could figure out how. Our narratives woodwork covering her china closet, pattern will emerge? Does not every is what they call him; but certainly, countries have a combined population generators and electrical conversion have countless facets which lend her chairs, her silver cutlery, all of integration also include disintegration? Daniel Gizaw, founder and CEO of of 800 million but generate roughly systems for alternative energy and them new forms, depending on our which she had inherited from her And mustn’t we recognize our stories dVentus Wind Technology PLC, the the same amount of power as Spain transportation applications. Four vantage point, just as students of holy great-grandmother. before we allow ourselves to alter our “cutting edge technology” renewable which has a population of 45 million. years later, he established dVentus books can read infinite numbers of perspectives of them? energy technology company is Power consumption in Sub-Saharan Technologies based in the US and interpretations from a single text. Our stories are connected. Can they nothing but a dreamer – he is a realist Africa stand at 124 kilowatt hours per ventured to his homeland, Ethiopia, ever change? I don’t know. Stories Our stories accompany us, they repeat and astute businessmen. dVentus’ capita per year and each year demand for off-shore engineering and As I picked up Dinaw Mengestu’s don’t disappear. They remain a part themselves, and they sometimes proprietary technology, design and grows and supply falls. Unfortunately, manufacturing. novel, How to Read the Air, one of us. But we can choose to focus can change. This theme of Dinaw production facility in Addis Ababa investment in region is lagging and particular sentence typed upon the Daniel’s quiet demeanor but zealous on different facets of a particular Mengestu’s book How to Read the Air are unique and pioneering. They are local technology and knowhow is novel’s book cover caught my eye: pursuit of technological innovation narrative. I have experienced that resonated deeply with me, offering the also a product of a carefully planned limited in Africa. “The Hope for reconciliation between has led to the procurement of several the way in which we see our stories “hope of reconciliation between the business model with the potential the past and the present”. The journeys Daniel’s journey to capitalize on highly sophisticated patents in can change then, turning them into past and the present”. to benefit Sub-Saharan Africa in experienced by the characters in the potential of Africa’s renewable renewable technology manufacturing. something other. power generation and the efficient Mengestu’s book follow inner and Editor’s Note: Zena-Gabrielle Hailu is a technology challenges started in At the moment, dVentus is working management of electricity. outer roads through time, in boxes My first years in Germany were self-employed writer and intercultural 2001 with the establishment of his on a number of cutting edge products over the sea and the ocean, through accompanied by the nagging feeling facilitator. For more information about Daniel’s quiet determination was brainchild tech company, Danotek for the local and international market the vast fields of memory, in cars, on that there was some unspeakable what she does, feel free to contact her fueled by Africa’s and indeed, Motion Technologies. Danotek using proprietary technology. foot, on streets in New York, Middle presence lingering in the air. It was directly at hailu@realizecommunication. Ethiopia’s chronic shortage of power manufactured and provided high dVentus currently offers his African America and Ethiopia. nothing I could see with my eyes. In de supply. Africa’s power supply deficit quality products to the much 22 23 T H E ET IO P IA N A M ERICA and international clients over twenty generation solutions and electric meters that will significantly improve years of experience designing state- vehicle, an example of which is the efficiency of energy use across Literature of-the-art electric motors, generators dVentus’ opportunity to provide the national grid. Daniel also plans to and digital drives. This does not go for the Addis Ababa electric light- expand his business within the country without mentioning his research and rail project. Ethiopia also aims to and the region to manufacturing wind All Our Names leadership in product development, become the regional power exporter turbines and propulsion systems By Dinaw Mengistu staff engineering and operation and green energy hub of East Africa. for clean energy vehicles. Off shore darkened by the secrets of his past: artfully—but never didactically— management with GM-Electric Vehicle, dVentus, with its renewable energy business links with the USA are the acts he committed and the work kindles disruptive, disturbing stories General Electric (GE), Cummins/Onan technologies, therefore stands to therefore maintained by streaming he left unfinished. Most of all, he is exploring the puzzles of identity, place, T H E ET IO P IA N A M ERICA haunted by the beloved friend he left and human connection. Mengestu behind, the charismatic leader who began this exploration with his first guided him to revolution and then dazzling first novel, The Beautiful sacrificed everything to ensure his Things That Heaven Bears, and freedom. extended it in How to Read the Air. Good as they were, those books now Elegiac, blazing with insights look like warm-up acts . . . All Our about the physical and emotional Names is a book about an immigrant, geographies that circumscribe our but more profoundly it is a story about lives, All Our Names is a marvel of finding out who you are, about how vision and tonal command. Writing much of you is formed by your family within the grand tradition of Naipul, and your homeland, and what happens Greene, and Achebe, Mengestu gives when those things go up in smoke . . us a political novel that is also a dVentus produced circuit board manufactured in Ethiopia. . Like the best storytellers, Mengestu transfixing portrait of love and grace, knows that endings don’t have to be Power Generation, and Ford Motor benefit from an emerging cleaner the innovation and manufacturing in of self-determination and the names Book Synopsis by Randomhouse.com happy to be satisfying, that mysteries Company. Among dozens of patents and more reliable renewable energy Ethiopia and the US. American private we are given and the names we earn. don’t need to be explained, that he’s obtained, the Onan variable speed market. companies investing in emerging From acclaimed author Dinaw discriminating between what can and generator, GE’s ECM motor, and Ford’s markets have also eyed dVentus. Mengestu, a recipient of the National Dinaw Mengestu is the award-winning DVentus is a private sector partner can’t be known is more than enough. brushless fuel pump are well noted. Book Foundation’s 5 Under 35 author of two novels,The Beautiful to Power Africa - President Obama’s dVentus’ partnerships go beyond the And he is generous enough to imbue award,The New Yorker’s 20 Under Things That Heaven Bears (2007) and Ethiopia has taken a ‘green economy’ signature initiative to harness the public-private arena. AfDB, USAID, and his characters with this awareness as 40 award, and a 2012 MacArthur How to Read the Air (2010). He is a well . . . The victories in this beautiful Foundation genius grant, comes an graduate of Georgetown University novel are hard fought and hard unforgettable love story about a and of Columbia University’s M.F.A. won, but won they are, and they are searing affair between an American program in fiction and the recipient of durable.” woman and an African man in 1970s a 5 Under 35 award from the National Book Foundation and a 20 Under America and an unflinching novel Dinaw Mengestu 40 award from The New Yorker. His about the fragmentation of lives that is the award- journalism and fiction have appeared straddle countries and histories. winning author in such publications as Harper’s of two novels,The All Our Names is the story of two Magazine, Granta, Rolling Stone, Beautiful Things young men who come of age during The New Yorker, and The Wall Street That Heaven Bears an African revolution, drawn from Journal. He is a recipient of a 2012 (2007) and How to the safe confines of the university MacArthur Foundation genius grant Read the Air (2010). campus into the intensifying clamor and currently lives in New York City. He is a graduate of dVentus produced circuit board manufactured in Ethiopia. of the streets outside. But as the Georgetown University and of Columbia line between idealism and violence Excerpt from the New York Times’ University’s M.F.A. program in fiction path to development and dVentus private sector, its expertise and OPIC have already committed millions becomes increasingly blurred, the Review of All Our Names and the recipient of a 5 Under 35 award leaves a thumbprint in the realization resources, to jump-start African of dollars to assist the aspirations friends are driven apart—one into “You can’t turn the pages fast enough, from the National Book Foundation and of the country’s drive towards an power sectors in multiple countries of Daniel, and the US and Ethiopian the deepest peril, as the movement and when you’re done, your first a 20 Under 40 award from The New ambitious climate resilient green that have suffered decades of under- governments. gathers inexorable force, and the other impulse is to go back to the beginning Yorker. His journalism and fiction have economy by 2025. Here dVentus is investment and mismanagement. into the safety of exile in the American Luladey Aragaw is a freelance writer and start over . . . While questions appeared in such publications as Harper’s presented with a potential market for In partnership with Power Africa, Midwest. There, pretending to be an based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia of race, ethnicity, and point of origin Magazine, Granta, Rolling Stone, The New its core green technology products dVentus has been contracted by the exchange student, he falls in love with do crop up repeatedly in Mengestu’s – such as wind turbines, smart‐grid Ethiopian government to develop a social worker and settles into small- fiction, they are merely his raw technologies (smart meters), power and manufacture two million smart town life. Yet this idyll is inescapably materials, the fuel with which he so 24 25 T H E ET IO P IA N A M ERICA Social Life Meron Wudneh... T H E ET IO P IA N A M ERICA

Featured Stories ArifZefen: Digital Access to Ethiopian Songs Over the last decade CD sales have music sales sites, like iTunes, and link large number of listeners allows us to plummeted globally giving way to those points-of-sale directly from generate revenue and share the profit to online music services such as the app.” with the artists that we are committed Pandora Internet Radio and Spotify. to support, and sustain the music we Currently, ArifZefen is available as For Ethiopian artists, however, the love.” a free app on both iOS and Android transition to digital music (still in and on their website that features ArifZefen also serves as a social progress) has been difficult given the both established and up-and-coming platform by allowing users to share lack of legal mechanisms and the singers in various categories: Best their favorite playlists on Facebook, proliferation of piracy in both online Oldies Collection, Timeless Classics, Twitter, or via SMS and email. The streaming and sales. But according Easy Listening, Contemporary company said it strives to provide to the founders of ArifZefen, a multi- Greatest Hits — including songs by a level playing field for all artists channel music streaming service Tilahun Gessese, Mahmoud Ahmed, regardless of their popularity: “We do dedicated to the Ethiopian community Aster Aweke, Teddy Afro, Jano, Eyob not decide what is good music and worldwide, that may be changing Mekonen, Kuku Sebsebe, Ephrem what isn’t, and we generally leave it to soon. ArifZefen says it’s committed Tamiru, Rasselas, Jah Lude, Zeritu the community to pick and consume to the artists that are behind this Kebede and more. “ArifZefen is its music of choice.” wonderful music, and it’s conceived committed to bringing a superior with the purpose of finding ways to Learn more, listen and share your listening experience to fans of compensate the musicians giving favorite Ethiopian music at ArifZefen. Ethiopian music, and it strives to them control over their creative work. com. Also, Beakal Tekola, COO of capture our diverse musical heritage The California-based venture states: ArifSoft, will speak at the 9th Ethiopian ... to represent through a rich selection of music “Our vision is to create an economically Diaspora Forum on August 2, 2014 on from all corners of Ethiopia,” a in August 2014 in the Washington DC Metro Area. sustainable, middle-income artist AfrifZefen’s future developments. representative of the Bay Area community in Ethiopia leveraging company said in an email. “By bringing modern technology. We also assist Editor’s Note: This article was originally listeners into our free, ad-supported artists to generate revenue from their published by Tadias Magazine on service, we migrate them away from work by helping them list their music December 25, 2013 and is being piracy while offering them a better for sale on some of the most popular republished herein by permission of music experience. Aggregating a Tadias Magazine. 26 27 T H E ET IO P IA N A M ERICA T H E ET IO P IA N A M ERICA

8th A LOOK BACK TO PAST YEARS FORUM ETHIOPIAN DIASPORA BUSINESS FORUM

Featured Stories Interview with Zemedeneh Negatu

As a teenager in 1978 when he recalled laughing. “We spent the difference,” Zem said. ” I have gained a Zemedeneh Negatu headed to weekend in Langano and by Sunday great deal of experience by working in the United States with his future we had decided to get married.” At the South America where the business and uncertain, he had no idea that three time he had just finished a two year investment environment in Argentina decades later he would be named expatriate assignment in Argentina as and Brazil in the 1990s was similar one of Africa’s 100 Most influential a consultant and was in the process to what’s taking place today in Africa, individuals for his role in promoting of relocating to Brazil. “They were where some of the fastest growing economic growth in the country of shipping my stuff from Buenos Aires economies are located.” his birth and in Africa. The current to São Paulo and I had a little bit of In Ethiopia, Zem said, the economy Managing Partner of Ernst & Young free time so I thought why not visit has dramatically changed in the last Ethiopia (EY) received the accolade last home.” He added: “And I ended up fifteen years. “There wasn’t much month from New African Magazine, meeting this beautiful woman that back then,” he said, sharing that his which called him “a truly global citizen” would change my life forever and to first investment was a factory for and further noted that “anyone who whom I have now been married almost feminine health products that did has done business in Ethiopia will have 19 years and have a wonderful 11 year not pan out. “So I decided to settle come across Zemedeneh Negatu” or old son named Michael.” for what I know best and opened a Zem, as he is affectionately known. After studying Business and Finance consulting firm.” His firm, EY Ethiopia, In a follow-up interview with Tadias at Howard University in Washington, has been at the center of some of the Magazine during his recent trip to D.C., Zem worked as a Certified Public biggest and most publicized business Washington, D.C., Zem said that his Accountant (CPA) before landing a job deals in the country, including the decision to return home in 1998 in D.C. with PricewaterhouseCoopers recent purchase of Meta Beer by the was inspired by “love at first sight” (PwC), the global professional services British-owned corporation Diageo, the during a vacation trip to Ethiopia in firm, which would eventually take him world’s largest spirits drinks maker April 1995 when he met his future to Latin America. “I have always been famous for Guinness Beer and Johnnie wife, Julie Ricco, just days after he interested in emerging markets where Walker. “I like to believe that we have landed in Addis. “It was a Thursday,” you feel you are actually making a contributed in our own small way to

28 29 T H E ET IO P IA N A M ERICA put Ethiopia on the global map as an others. Zem also pointed out that July 2012. attractive emerging market,” he said. initially while working on the Ethiopian As to those who want to follow in his “Of course the country’s progress has Airlines project he had to outsource footsteps to Ethiopia, especially the made our effort much easier since we some of the tasks to professionals Diaspora in the U.S., Zem recommends have references we can highlight to from a foreign firm. “Over time we optimism and perseverance as the global investors such as the significant have managed to build that capacity secret to success. “I say come with imagine... GDP growth and major infrastructure locally,” he said. “So we are now the glass half full mentality than the projects including the $5.0 billion fully staffed by Ethiopians just like glass half empty attitude and you will dam on the Nile river, the largest in Ethiopian Airlines and we have some enhance your chances of success,” Africa, and even the new subway in of the most sophisticated Transaction he emphasized. “I put my money Addis Ababa, which is the only one Advisory professionals based in Addis Imagine a woman in a rural area being able to open a savings Imagine a worker in the city being able to send money to a where my mouth is and continue in Sub-Saharan Africa outside of who win cross border African deals bank account at a branchless banking service point in a family member living in a rural part of Ethiopia by walking to remote area in Ethiopia, providing her with a safe place to mobile money agents in his neighborhood. keep her earnings and save for the future.

Imagine an aspiring farmer being able to apply for credit at this Imagine everyone being able to pay their bills or pay for service point without the need to walk 10 kilometers as he services online or thru mobile phone creating convenience does currently, and having access to much needed finance to and efficiency allowing them more time for things that matter enable him buy inputs. in their everyday life

Imagine this farmer being able to make and receive payment And imagine people being able to call their beloved ones by for his product without the risk of carrying cash around, by buying airtime electronically with whatever amount of money using technology enabled systems. they can afford at the time.

“ This no longer is an imagination but a possibility: this is our digital technology platforms and infrastructure at work together, solving challenges and anticipating need. ”

to personally invest in Ethiopia Johannesburg”. not just against our traditional “Big 4″ because there are still vast untapped competitors but even big Wall Street For Zem, however, his proudest opportunities compared to many other investment firms.” accomplishment came when his firm emerging economies.” won a bid to work with the country’s Zem is a highly sought after speaker at When asked how it feels to be named homegrown global brand, Ethiopian many high profile global conferences as part of the 100 Most influential Airlines, that he helped advise in their including the World Economic Forum, Africans, Zem stated: “I am honored Vision 2010 Plan. When EY Ethiopia New York Forum and Harvard Business and humbled by the recognition and was hired in 2004, Ethiopian Airlines School where he completed the I know that there will be many more had 11 aircraft and less than 400 LSE program. He’s appeared many Ethiopians, including those in the million dollars in annual revenue. Five times on the international media Diaspora, who will make the list in the years later, Zem said, the airline’s such as CNN and BBC and was future.” revenues had jumped to 1.2 billion recently a “Power Lunch” guest on

dollars. “Today Ethiopian Airlines CNBC television. Zem has won many Editor’s Note: This article was originally A journey to expanding: electronic, branchless banking, mobile money and mobile value added services throughout the country. generates more profits than all African awards for his achievements including published by Tadias Magazine on airlines combined,” he added. And “Managing Partner of the Year – 2013″ December 30, 2013 and is being since then his firm’s airline clients have from a top UK corporate finance republished herein by permission from expanded to include Rwandair, Virgin magazine and “Pioneer Diaspora Tadias Magazine. Nigeria Airlines, Mozambique Airlines, Business Person of the Year” at the ASKY Airlines in Togo and many annual event held in Washington in Digital Financial & Payment Services 30 Provider31 32