Addis Ababa: The Ministry of Innovation and Technology has launched the National Business Portal (NBP) expansion project, a web-based platform that consolidates government e-services and various e-service providing government agencies into a centralized system.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, the portal was initially developed by the Ministry of Innovation and Technology in 2019. Initially, it served as a one-stop service for multiple processes offered by the Addis Ababa City Administration, such as the issuance of construction permits and property registration.
The ministry, after evaluating the innovative service, recognized significant improvements in service delivery, time efficiency, and reduced transaction costs for both the public and service providers. Consequently, the Ministry of Innovation and Technology decided to expand and scale up the services to other regions of the country.
The overall aim of the project is to enhance Ethiopia’s business climate. It also focuses on providing technical support to various Ethiopian government agencies to develop e-transactional portals for potential e-government processes. As part of this expansion, the cities of Adama, Bahir Dar, and Dire Dawa are now enabled to offer their services online, primarily focusing on the issuance of construction permits, according to the ministry.
The expansion has introduced additional features, including a payment gateway that allows customers to pay service fees online. The National Business Portal expansion project was launched with the presence of Minister of Innovation and Technology Belete Molla, alongside representatives from regional and city administrations.