Ethio telecom, a pioneer in providing telecom and digital services in Africa, has been serving our great nation and its people for the past 130 years by making telecom and digital services widely accessible across the country. Our company plays a significant role in identifying key sectors crucial for our country’s development and economic growth, supporting them with technology, and equipping them to become effective and competitive.
The digital infrastructure deployed by our company including fast internet connectivity, reliable cloud services, a modular data center, and the expansion of the telebirr digital payment system, coupled with the proliferation of young technology users, urbanization, growing consumer demand, the increasing number of smartphone and digital ID users, and the government’s e-commerce strategy under the “Digital Ethiopia” initiative, have all created a conducive environment for the implementation of nationwide digital commerce.
Accordingly, with its commitment to realizing a comprehensive national digital commerce, and by leveraging its existing market potential and favorable opportunities, our company has been undertaking numerous activities to implement reliable, secure, and centralized digital commerce, aiming to fully harness the benefits of the digital economy and become the engine that unlocks boundless economic opportunities, seamlessly bridging buyers and sellers from every corner of the nation.
Based on this bold initiative, it is with great pleasure that Ethio telecom announces today the official launch of “Zemen GEBEYA,” a digital marketplace designed to transform our country’s commercial practices and serve as an inclusive platform connecting product and service providers with consumers. This digital marketplace heralds a new chapter for our country, laying the foundation for delivering innovation and inclusive growth to all citizens. It is particularly designed to easily connect Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across the country with consumers, empower them, create new market opportunities, thrive in a connected digital environment and enable them to fully leverage the benefits of the digital economy.
Benefits of Zemen GEBEYA
Zemen GEBEYA aims to be a transformative digital marketplace in Ethiopia, offering significant value to the nation and various actors within its economy:
For Ethiopia at Large:
- Economic Growth: By facilitating trade and expanding market reach/coverage for businesses of all sizes, Zemen GEBEYA can contribute to increased economic activity, job creation, and overall GDP growth. coverage
- Job Creation and Economic Empowerment: Stimulates local employment opportunities in logistics, digital services, digital marketing, retail, and technology sectors, supporting sustainable livelihoods and community growth.
- Digital Inclusion: It can bridge the digital divide by providing a platform accessible to users across urban, semi-urban, and rural communities, fostering digital literacy and participation in the digital economy.
- Nationwide Reach: Inclusive and Wide Market Access፡ Zemen GEBEYA bridges the disparity between urban and rural communities, enabling equal participation in digital commerce across all regions of Ethiopia.
- Enhanced Efficiency & Productivity: Streamlining transactions and minimizing intermediaries unlocks more efficient supply chains, accelerates price discovery, and optimizes market transparency—delivering greater value to both producers and consumers.
- Financial Inclusion: By promoting digital payments, the platform can contribute to greater financial inclusion, allowing more people to participate in the formal economy.
- Support the Local Production: It can provide a strong platform for Ethiopian farmers, artisans, and manufacturers to showcase and sell their products nationwide and potentially internationally.
- Boosting SME Growth and Entrepreneurship: Offers tools and visibility for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to grow, innovate, and compete on a larger scale.
- Data-Driven Insights: The platform can generate valuable data on market trends, consumer behavior, and supply chain dynamics, which can inform policy and business decisions.
- Accelerating Digital Transformation: Supports Ethiopia’s vision for a digital economy, aligning with national strategies such as Digital Ethiopia 2025
- Global Market Readiness: Equips local producers with the tools and platform to expand beyond local markets and participate in global trade.
- Sustainable Economic Development: Contributes to Ethiopia’s GDP by modernizing traditional marketplaces and empowering local economies.
- Unified National Marketplace: Bridges the urban-rural digital divide, creating a single marketplace that supports Ethiopia’s digital economy.
Merchants (Farmers, Artisans, Entrepreneurs, Businesses):
- Expanded Market Reach: Access to a nationwide customer base, transcending geographical limitations of physical stores.
- Reduced Operational Costs: Lower overhead compared to maintaining physical retail spaces.
- Direct Customer Engagement: Opportunities to build direct relationships with customers, gather feedback, and build brand loyalty.
- Improved Inventory Management: Tools for managing stock levels, tracking sales, and forecasting demand.
- Access to Digital Payment Solutions: Secure and convenient ways to receive payments.
- Marketing and Promotion Tools: Platform features to promote products and reach target audiences.
- Data Analytics and New Sales Channels
Buyers (Consumers across Towns, Cities, and Rural Communities):
- Wider Product Variety
- Convenience and Accessibility
- Competitive Pricing
- Secure Payment Platform
Logistics Companies:
- Increased Business Volume
- Opportunities for Specialization
- Data-Driven Service Improvements: Tracking delivery performance and customer feedback can lead to service enhancements.
- Access to a Centralized Pool of Merchants
- Innovation and Partnerships: The platform can foster innovation and collaborations among different players in the digital ecosystem.
Key Features of Zemen GEBEYA
Offered to customers as a mini app integrated within the telebirr SuperApp, Zemen GEBEYA comprises:
- Merchants’ Portal and Mobile Application,
- Consumers’ Mobile Application,
- Logistics Management System,
- Dispatcher Mobile Application, and
- System Administration Portal.
Let’s build Ethiopia’s digital economy together!
Following our invitation to partner with Zemen GEBEYA, over 42 diverse businesses and logistics service providers have already commenced their services!
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.
Be Part of the Digital Revolution, Be Part of Zemen GEBEYA!
Ethio telecom
May 8, 2025