- Ethiopia opens a public sandbox for its Fayda digital ID, now used by over 52 million people.
- The WTO lifts its global trade growth forecast, but warns higher fuel and fertiliser costs will hit Ethiopia hardest.
- Ethiopian engineers call for wider use of BIM and AI to fix project-delivery problems.
- Domestic drone manufacturing and AI-driven government initiatives expand.
- Bank of Abyssinia sponsors National Cyber Security Month with 5 million Birr.
Kana TV (news)
Ethiopia opens Fayda digital ID sandbox to local developers
Ethiopia's re-established Faydaverse Digital Solutions has launched a public sandbox for the Fayda digital ID, letting developers and startups test apps against government authentication platforms before release. Since scaling in 2023, Fayda has enrolled over 52 million Ethiopians, integrated with 150 institutional partners and processed more than 208 million eKYC verifications. Tools include OpenID Connect flows and the VeriFayda system via the Fayda Partner Portal.
Kana TV (news)
Capital Ethiopia
Ethiopian engineers urge BIM and AI adoption at EACE convention
At the 27th Ethiopian Association of Civil Engineers convention in Addis Ababa, under the theme "Building Africa 2050," engineering leaders call for wider use of BIM, AI and geospatial systems to tackle skills shortages and project-delivery bottlenecks. They cite an annual African infrastructure-financing gap of US$68–100 billion and warn finance alone cannot fix structural weaknesses. EACE President Amanuel Mekonnen Hailemariam says a new construction policy framework has been endorsed.
Capital Ethiopia
Addis Fortune
WTO raises global trade forecast as Ethiopia faces higher fuel and fertiliser costs
The World Trade Organisation raises its forecast for global merchandise trade volume growth to 3.9pc in 2026, up from the 1.9pc projected in March, with demand for AI infrastructure goods exceeding expectations. Growth is forecast at 4.1pc in 2027. Commercial services trade growth is expected to slow to 3.3pc this year from 4.8pc. The WTO warns that higher oil and fertiliser prices, driven by Middle East conflict, hit energy importers like Ethiopia hardest.
Addis Fortune
Ethiopian Business Daily (Telegram)
Ethiopian outlet uses Harar marble game to frame AI discussion
Ethiopian Business Daily shares an analysis asking what the Harari children's marble game gheero has to do with artificial intelligence. The post describes the game as involving a marble, a patch of ground and a circle drawn in the dirt, rewarding a steady hand, a good eye and a sense of where to make the next move.
Ethiopian Business Daily (Telegram) · author has a stake: Shega Media's own analysis
Amhara Media Corporation
Ethiopia Promotes AI-Driven Digital State Under Medemer Blueprint
Amhara Media Corporation reports that Ethiopia is building an AI-driven digital state under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali. The Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institute is an autonomous state body for AI research, data governance and technological development, aligned with the Digital Ethiopia 2025 strategy. Abiy is cited on AI's role in sectors including law enforcement, agriculture, health and trade.
Amhara Media Corporation
EBC (English)
Ethiopia Expands Domestic Drone Manufacturing
Ethiopia is expanding domestic drone manufacturing and assembly, with the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority, the Information Network Security Administration, the National Intelligence and Security Service and the firm Aero Abay taking part. Official Daniel Guta says the country has moved from technological dependence to self-reliance. The drones serve security, mapping, agriculture, construction, power line inspection and health care, including vaccine and medicine delivery to remote areas.
EBC (English)
Bank of Abyssinia (Telegram)
Bank of Abyssinia joins 7th National Cyber Security Month
Bank of Abyssinia took part in the 7th National Cyber Security Month, coordinated by the Information Network Security Administration under the theme "An Active Citizen, a Country with Protected Security" and running from October 1. The bank gave a 5 million Birr gold-level sponsorship. Organisers say the month raises cyber security awareness and supports the Digital Ethiopia 2030 strategy.
Bank of Abyssinia (Telegram)
Sent by the Observatory.