DEVELOPING STORY: If approved by its board of directors, the loan from the IMF will be the largest ever for Ethiopia. ow.ly/xtSx50xy4dz

If approved by its board of directors the loan will be made to address:

■ Foreign exchange shortage and transition to a more flexible exchange rate regime;

■ Strengthen oversight and management of state-owned enterprises to contain debt vulnerabilities;

■ Strengthen domestic revenue mobilization and expenditure efficiency to create space for adequate poverty-reducing and essential infrastructure spending;

■ Reform the financial sector to support private investment and modernize the monetary policy framework; and,

■ Strengthen the supervisory framework and financial safety nets.

The #Ethiopia|n government has decided to invest 6.1 billion Br to construct four roads with a total length of 299Km in Amhara, SNNPR, Oromia and Somali regional states. http://ow.ly/agxG50xvD6J

Importers are expected to remove their goods within two weeks, and if they fail to comply with the new time frame, they will pay an additional 20pc as a form of penalty, according to the new procedure. http://ow.ly/2mjd50xvDJ7

EDITORIAL: The smarter investment for a country like #Ethiopia with a large rural population would be on the new emerging off-grid solar powered agricultural appliances targeting smallholder farmers. http://ow.ly/UoIO50xvwY9

The financial sector in #Ethiopia needs to revise its strategy and embrace financial technology innovations to be competitive in the regional market, writes Asseged G. Medhin. http://ow.ly/cn6T50xvwm2

If James Mangold’s unique touch in Ford v Ferrari is imperceptible, Damon and Bale’s performances are not, writes Christian Tesfaye, awarding the movie 8 out of 10 stars. http://ow.ly/fUDJ50xvz7u

Bank of Abyssinia doubled its net profit to over 786 million Br, a 48pc jump in the last fiscal year, placing itself in the list of the top three profitable banks. http://ow.ly/q1J350xvEl9

The response of central banks to the next recession may prove insufficient considering the variables at play with such elevated uncertainty in the world, writes Larry Hatheway. http://ow.ly/5BCF50xvvwz

EDITORIAL: Lowering the barrier to credit facilities for smallholder farmers in #Ethiopia through credit guarantees can unleash the potential of off-grid solar power generation with all its multi-faceted potential. http://ow.ly/afkl50xvx0u

The latest campaign against sexual abuse under the theme "Generation Equality Stands Against Rape," does not only encourage citizens at an individual level, it is also a call to action for an entire generation, writes Hanna Haile. http://ow.ly/6FsC50xvy1G

EDITORIAL: Off-grid renewable energy can be an innovative way to help reach the over 12 million households that live without power in #Ethiopia. http://ow.ly/GlJq50xydDA

The Ministry of Trade & Industry set a target of securing $779 million in revenue from manufacturing and $261 million from mining during the current #Ethiopia|n fiscal year. http://ow.ly/cNuS50xvsho

Leaders of #Eritrea, #Djibouti, #Somalia, #Somaliland, #SouthSudan and #Kenya, with the exception of #Sudan’s Abdalla Hamdok, appear to be viewing #Ethiopia’s leader and his ambition for regional political integration at arms length, according to gossip. http://ow.ly/jBVi50xvxRp

A dashboard polish importer faced a five percent annual revenue fine for allegedly creating unfair competition by selling a product that is similar to a legally registered brand. http://ow.ly/JPh150xvDZ8

Bunna Insurance, the youngest insurer in #Ethiopia, netted 26.8 million Br in profit in the last fiscal year, a six percent increase, while its EPS rose by 27pc. http://ow.ly/VMca50xvEee

#Ethiopia’s financial sector players should build their technological capacity to be competitive in the regional market, as the nation is expected to be integrated with the regional economy in the upcoming decade, writes Asseged G. Medhin. http://ow.ly/6aso50xvwfl

If consumers, workers and businesses do not believe that a central bank is committed to achieving its mandates, they will adjust their behavior accordingly, writes Larry Hatheway. http://ow.ly/SVOM50xvvHJ

The tribunal of Trade Competition & Consumer Protection Authority fined Addis Ali Auto Parts Importer for allegedly selling AHUZAZONE dashboard polisher, the brand name of which is too close to a similar product called AutoZone.

Water bottlers that were required to have total dissolvable solids (TDS) content of 150mg a litre are required to raise the level of total dissolvable solids, which are comprised of dissolved minerals, to 300mg a litre in a new standardisation ruling.