President of the Tigray Interim Administration, Lt. General Tadesse Werede, underscored the importance of enhancing internal revenue collection to sustain regional development.

Speaking at a forum organized by the Tigray Interim Administration’s Revenue Bureau, focusing on tax collection and related challenges, the President highlighted that one of the primary indicators of a functioning government is its ability to collect revenue effectively. “A government that fails to collect taxes cannot remain strong,” he stated. “In Tigray, it is vital that we boost domestic revenue and cultivate a stronger attitude towards taxation and mineral resource management.”

The Tigray Interim Administration’s Revenue Bureau hosted the forum with zonal and woreda leadership, along with key stakeholders, to assess progress on the next year fiscal revenue plan, prepare for the summer tax season, and tackle illegal practices in the mining sector.

The Region’s Revenue Bureau Director General Kbrom Fissehaye noted that Tigray has not yet reached its potential in generating internal revenue. He announced that the region aims to collect over 25 billion birrs in tax revenue by the 2025/26 fiscal year. “To meet this target, we must work collectively and understand the critical benefits of taxation for our region’s future,” he emphasized.

As part of the forum, a session titled “How to Integrate Mining and Taxation” was presented by Deputy Head of the Tigray Mineral Bureau, Tesfalem Hadegu. He reported that the region is rich in mineral resources, citing that 160 quintals of gold were deposited to the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia’s Shire branch during the 2024/25 fiscal year alone.

“We must act decisively and in coordination to secure the revenue we need and ensure responsible management of our mining sector,” Tesfalem Hadegu urged. “Proper use of Tigray’s natural resources, along with legal compliance and fair taxation, must go hand in hand.”