Addis ababa: The Ministry of Innovation and Technology announced that over 900 government services have been digitalized under the framework of the Digital Ethiopia 2025 strategy.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, Lead Executive Officer for Digital Economy Development at the Ministry, Seyoum Mengesha, stated that a variety of initiatives have been implemented to advance the strategy's goals. These include the expansion of digital services, the establishment of a digital payment system, and the rollout of a digital identification program.
Since the launch of the strategy, significant strides have been made in digital infrastructure. Seyoum highlighted the construction of international-standard data centers, along with improved access to electricity and internet connectivity. Mobile and internet subscriptions have grown, and digital payment systems are demonstrating consistent progress.
Seyoum also noted that the digitalization of government services is enhancing efficiency and improving public service delivery. The development of a one-stop digital service platform, in particular, has enabled faster and higher-quality services for citizens.
Ethio telecom CEO Frehiwot Tamiru, during a presentation of the company's performance for the 2017 Ethiopian fiscal year, reported that 5G services have been launched in 16 cities, with 4G network coverage expanded to 512 cities nationwide. She noted the deployment of more than 10,000 mobile sites across the country, reaching 83.2 million people. Frehiwot confirmed that Ethio telecom has contributed to the digitalization of over 900 government services.
Director General of the Federal Public Procurement and Property Authority (FPPA), Meseret Meskele, added that significant progress has been made in digitizing government procurement and property administration systems. This shift has increased the speed, transparency, and effectiveness of service delivery.
Gabriella Abraham, a legal and policy expert at the National Identification Program, emphasized that the rollout of digital IDs is a cornerstone of the digital transformation effort. She stated that since the program's implementation, reliance on paper-based and unauthorized processes has been greatly reduced. To date, over 20.4 million citizens have been issued digital identification cards.