“There will be one year or two years of intensive study taking place (before the shares of Ethio Telecom are sold),” Ahmed said.Ībiy Ahmed, 41, a former army officer who became prime minister in April, had announced the stake sales as part of a raft of measures necessary for a new start to end political instability in the country of 100 million people, where 40 percent are aged under 15.įoreign companies have been waiting for Ethiopia to open its state monopolies. Selling stakes in its lucrative telecoms monopoly and other assets is projected to open Ethiopia, one of the world’s largest untapped markets, to huge potential investments by firms willing to work with a government still wary of private enterprise.
South African telecoms groups MTN and Vodacom have both recently expressed interest in Ethiopia and so may be potential investors, Reuters reported. The stakes in Ethio Telecom will be allocated to firms that are ranked topġ0 in the industry globally, Ahmed said. The Ethiopian government has announced plans to sell 30 to 40 percent stake of its state-run telecoms company, Ethio Telecom, to big companies and will split the company in two to spur competition.ĭuring a question and answer session in parliament on Monday, the Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, said, “There will be two telecom corporations and shares will be sold in both.”
