Ethiopia is taking bold steps to enhance its business landscape with a series of innovative digital transformation initiatives. Among the most ambitious of these is the development of a new National Business Portal, led by the Ministry of Innovation and Technology and backed by the European Union. This initiative, championed by Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed, marks a pivotal shift towards modernizing Ethiopia’s business processes, making them faster, more efficient, and accessible.
The National Business Portal
The National Business Portal aims to streamline Ethiopia’s business environment, lowering both the time and costs involved in accessing essential government services. Under the leadership of Dr. Belete Yeshurun, Minister of Innovation and Technology, this project is a cornerstone of Ethiopia’s vision to become a business-friendly hub. By creating a centralized digital platform, Ethiopia seeks to establish a transparent, efficient system that meets the needs of businesses and aligns with international standards.
Previously, an earlier version of a business portal had been established to support administrative needs within Addis Ababa. While it effectively met several requirements, the older system lacked the flexibility and functionality to address the expanding demands of businesses and city administrators. Now, with the design, development, and implementation led by 360Ground, the new portal is poised to meet these needs. This upgraded system offers enhanced functionality, an intuitive user experience, and the scalability required to support Ethiopia’s rapid growth.
Building the Foundation of Digital Transformation
Selected for our experience and technical expertise, 360Ground has partnered with the Ministry of Innovation and Technology to bring the National Business Portal to life. Our goal has been to create a seamless, user-friendly platform that tackles long-standing challenges and helps drive the Ministry’s vision for Ethiopia’s digital future. The portal is designed to simplify access to crucial government services, promoting ease of business operations and supporting economic growth.
Transforming Access to Government Services
In collaboration with the Ministry of Innovation and Technology, and the city administrations of Addis Ababa, Dire Dawa, Adama, and Bahir Dar, 360Ground has integrated multiple essential services into the portal. Once launched, these services will allow the administrations to offer a wide range of eGovernment services. For example:
- The Addis Ababa City Administration will be able to issue Construction Permits through the new eService platform.
- The portal will soon expand to cover services such as Paying Taxes, Enforcing Contracts, Starting a Business, Accessing Credit, Getting Electricity, Facilitating Trade Across Borders, Resolving Insolvency, Registering Property, and Protecting Minority Investments.
By providing these services online, the portal is set to become a one-stop platform that reduces paperwork, minimizes delays, and meets the needs of both local entrepreneurs and foreign investors.
Expanding to Regional Cities
The National Business Portal’s construction permit service has already been launched as a pilot project in regional cities like Bahir Dar, Dire Dawa, and Adama. Customized to meet the specific needs of each region, these expansions aim to support local business environments and foster growth across Ethiopia. With the Ministry of Innovation and Technology, 360Ground is dedicated to ensuring the portal’s smooth integration and operational success in each region.
As the portal prepares for a full-scale launch, rigorous testing and feedback collection are underway to ensure the platform meets the diverse needs of Ethiopian businesses. Specialists in construction permitting, information technology, and business processes are actively testing and refining the system, gathering user feedback, and implementing adjustments to meet high standards of quality and usability.
As Ethiopia works to position itself as a competitive member of the global business community, 360Ground is honored to play a role in this transformative journey. The National Business Portal will serve as a fundamental tool to attract investment, support economic growth, and establish a sustainable, efficient business environment. By digitizing critical services and aligning processes with global standards, Ethiopia is rapidly becoming a leading business destination in the region. 360Ground is proud to contribute to Ethiopia’s digital future, supporting a brighter, more prosperous era for businesses across the nation.
