GTZ Inaugurates Energy Coordination Office

A GTZ Energy Coordination Office, which hosts a new, recently emerged Ethio-German energy programme, was launched on November 25, 2009, at CMC Road around Gurd Shola in Addis Abeba. The office was opened to support rural electrification through small-scale solar and hydropower plants. It will also promote energy-saving stoves which reduce firewood usage and offer policy and strategy advice to the Ethiopian government on improved energy service delivery.

Norway Backs Ethiopia with 400m Br Grant

Norway donated a grant of 414.2 million Br to finance the feasibility studies of the Mandaya and Bako-Ambo multipurpose hydropower projects and to undertake institutional collaboration between Hawassa and Mekelle universities with the Norwegian University of Life Science. The grant was consolidated in a signing agreement made between Ahmed Shide, state minister of Finance and Economic Development and Jens-Petter Kjemprud, Norwegian ambassador to Ethiopia.

Customs Intercepts 41m Br in Contraband Goods

The Ethiopian Revenue and Customs Authority has intercepted contraband goods valued at 41 million Br so far in the fiscal year, Ephrem Mekonnen, director of its Education and Communication Office said. He continued that the contraband goods were seized while being smuggled into and out of the country. Contraband goods worth 33.5 million Br were intercepted while being smuggled into the country and the rest were being smuggled out of the nation, he detailed. Ephrem attributed the successful interceptions to strengthened efforts launched by the authority.

 Construction on 1,408km of Roads in SNNPR

The construction and rehabilitation of 1,408km of roads have been launched with over 201 million Br in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Regional State. The construction and maintenance of the roads are being undertaken in 134 weredas since September, 2009. According to officials at the regional state's road authority, 168km of new gravel road will be built along with the maintenance of 1,240km of existing roads during the current budget year. The construction and maintenance of the roads will have a great significance in expediting socio-economic development in the region.

Ethiopian Wins "Airline of the Year" Award

The Ethiopian Airlines has been awarded the"Airline of the Year Award" from the African Airlines Association (AFRAA). AFRAA honoured Ethiopian Airlines at the 41st annual general assembly of the African Airlines Association held from November 22 to 24, 2009, in Maputo, Mozambique. Paulo Zucula, Mozambique’s minister of Transport handed over the award to Girma Wake, CEO of Ethiopian, at a gala dinner held on the same day. Ethiopian was also the winner of the "2008 Best Airline in Africa Award" at the African Travel Award in Lagos, Nigeria, for its excellent network and convenient connections in Africa.

Zone Cultivates over 25,000ht of Land through Irrigation

Over 25,000ht of land is being developed through irrigation in 18 weredas of the West Shewa Zone of the Oromia Regional State during the current Ethiopian fiscal year. The zone's Agricultural and Rural Development Department said the stated area of farmland is being developed by using water wells and water pumping machines. The irrigation development will benefit more than 79,000 farmers in the areas.  So far over 8,000ht of land has been developed and cultivated with various kinds of crops. The department has also been distributing 242 water pumping machines worth nearly eight million Birr.

Addis to Get New Theatre Halls

The Addis Abeba City Administration is going to construct five new theatre halls in a bid to expand theatrical arts across the city. Each of the theatre halls will have two separate halls inside. The two separate halls will accommodate movies and theatre at the same time. The city has four theatre halls, so far, since the establishment of the first theatre hall in 1941. However, all of them are concentrated in one location - from Merkato along the road to Piassa. The administration has plans to construct the new ones in other parts of the city so as to reach the broader public.

Sweden Supports ECA with $8.5 m

The government of Sweden, on November 26, 2009, signed an agreement with the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) committing about 8.5 million dollars in support of the ECA's African Climate Policy Centre established in the framework of the Climate Information for Development (ClimDev) Africa Programme. Clim-Dev is a joint initiative of the African Union Commission, the African Development Bank and the ECA.