The recent invitation put out by the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia for the supply of Automated Teller Machines and Point of 
Sales Machines has attracted fierce competition from international and local suppliers.
Three international technology suppliers, Moroccan M2M, Indian Copy Cat and CBM, are competing for the contract to supply 420 ATM machines to the Ethiopian Bank estimated to be worth millions of US dollars.
Two companies, M2M and SSC, have reached the last stages of the competition to supply 4000 units of POS machines according to sources.
An estimated 71 international and domestic suppliers expressed interest in the international tender issued three months ago but just seven companies submitted technical proposals for the supply of the ATM’s while only five bid for the supply of the POS machines.Increased automation will enhance CBE’s accessibility and deposit mobilization capacity according to Ephrem Mekuria Head of the Procurement Department of the Bank.
In related news the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia has launched 126 new branch offices in the current financial year.
The branch offices were opened in various parts of the country including in areas where the population is largely pastoral said Tsegaye Desta, Head of Public Relations with CBE.
Areas in Somali Regional State including, Dolo Ado, Erer, Deghabur, Qebribeya and Warder have been given access to banking services while steps are underway to extend similar services to the Afar area and pastoralist parts of the Oromia and Southern Regional States according to Tsegaye.
The Commercial Bank has also launched efforts to offer door-to-door mobile banking services in market places in different areas he explained.
Source: Addis Fortune/ Walta Info
