Ethio Telecom has officially launched its digital commerce platform, Zemen GEBEYA, marking a significant step in modernising Ethiopia’s commercial landscape. The platform aims to provide an inclusive marketplace that connects product and service providers with consumers throughout the country, leveraging the telecom company’s advanced digital infrastructure.
Zemen GEBEYA is designed to enhance Ethiopia’s commerce system by utilising Ethio Telecom’s fast internet connectivity, cloud services, modular data centres, and the growing telebirr payment system. The launch aligns with the Ethiopian government’s “Digital Ethiopia” e-commerce strategy, which seeks to drive technological innovation and digital transformation across the nation.
The platform is particularly geared towards supporting Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), offering expanded market access and opportunities to harness the full potential of the digital economy. By streamlining transactions and reducing reliance on intermediaries, Zemen GEBEYA aims to boost efficiency, transparency, and productivity within Ethiopia’s supply chains.
Currently, the platform hosts over 42 businesses and logistics services. It offers a variety of tools, including a merchant portal, consumer app, logistics management system, dispatcher app, and system administration portal to facilitate seamless interaction between users.
Speaking at the platform’s launch, Frehiwot Tamiru, CEO of Ethio Telecom, emphasised the national importance of Zemen GEBEYA: “It is with great pleasure that we announce the official launch of Zemen GEBEYA, a digital marketplace designed to elevate our country’s commerce system to a higher level and serve as an inclusive platform. This marks a new chapter for our country, laying the foundation for delivering innovation and inclusive growth to all citizens.”
Frehiwot also highlighted the enabling factors that made this launch possible, such as the increasing number of young technology users, urbanisation, rising consumer demand, and the growing adoption of smartphones and digital IDs. She pointed out that these developments, combined with the government’s e-commerce strategy, have created a conducive environment for the widespread implementation of digital commerce in Ethiopia.
In closing, the company extended an invitation to the public, encouraging them to partner with Zemen GEBEYA: “We invite you to partner with Zemen GEBEYA and become a catalyst for growth, innovation, and transformation. Together, let’s unlock limitless possibilities, empower communities, and drive Ethiopia’s digital economy forward.”