Zone to Undertake Safety Net Programme Over 41.4m Br 

Various development projects will be carried out in the South Gonder Zone of the Amhara Regional State, at a cost of over 41.4 million Br allocated for a safety net programme in the current Ethiopian year, the zone's Food Security and Disaster Prevention Office said. Nearly 337,000 farmers will participate in the programme, Kassahun Ayehu, office head, said on Saturday, January 23, 2010.

Somali State Collects 100 million Br 

The Somali Regional State has collected a sum of 100 million Br in revenue from various businesses over the last six months, the state revenue bureau said. The sum was collected from the inland utility tax levied and other taxes levied on the sale of domestic animals, products and other businesses. Abdurahman Mohammed, bureau head, said over the weekend.

Canaco Acquires Copper, Gold Exploration Assets in Ethiopia

Canaco has entered into a letter of intent with Beijing Donia Resources Co. Ltd to acquire 70pc of the outstanding shares of Harvest Mining Plc, a private Ethiopian exploration company, Canaco Resources Inc announced. Harvest Mining owns 100pc interest in 605 square kilometres of exploration concessions in the Tigray Regional State. Since 2007, extensive exploration activities have been completed. "The acquisition of Harvest Mining Plc by Canaco is consistent with the company's strategy of acquiring advanced exploration projects poised for discovery programmes," said Andrew Smith, Canaco's CEO.

Zone to Reap 7.3m Ql of Agricultural Output through Irrigation Dev't

Activities aimed at reaping 7.3 million quintals of agricultural outputs from irrigation development are underway in the zone, the South Wollo Zone Agriculture and Rural Development Department said. The stated volume of output will be obtained through developing irrigation on 93,000ht of land during this dry season, Wondale Habtamu, department deputy head, said. More than 350,000 farmers in 22 weredas of the zone will take part in the irrigation development, he said. The development activities will be carried out through harnessing big and small rivers as well as utilising spring water, water wells and ponds, according to Wondale.

About $127m Secured from Export of Agricultural Products

About 127 million dollars was secured from agricultural products exported via the eastern part of the country during the first six months of the current fiscal year, Dire Dawa’s foreign trade office of the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MoTI) said. The stated sum was secured from the sales of coffee,  Khat, vegetables and fruit, oilseeds, cereals and live animals exported to Djibouti, Somalia, Saudi Arabia, Europe and the US, among others, Zerihun Ashebir, office head, said. The amount exceeded, by over 33 million dollars, the amount collected during the same time last year. It also surpassed, by over 1.7 million dollars, the set target. Growth in productivity and strengthened control of illegal trade contributed to the increase in the amount.

Ethiopian to Fly to Toronto

Ethiopian Airlines and the Canadian Air Service have reached an agreement enabling the former to fly to Toronto. Ethiopian will fly to Toronto thrice a week, according to the Foreign Affairs Ministry, as per the agreement. A delegation led by Civil Aviation Authority Director General Colonel Wosenyeleh Hunegnaw and Chief Air Negotiator with the Canadian Foreign Ministry Robert Ready signed the agreement following discussions on January 4 through 6 , 2010. The commencement of the flight will significantly contribute to enhancing trade, investment and tourism relations between the two countries. The agreement is a response to years of requests by the Ethiopian Diaspora in Canada, the ministry said.

Settlers Harvest over 81,000ql

Export

Investors Receive Licences

Investment projects with an aggregate capital of 200 million Br have been licensed by the Dire Dawa Administration over the last six months, the Trade, Industry and Investment Bureau said. The investments are in the areas of construction, manufacturing, agriculture, real estate and tourism, among others, according to Ahmed Shek, bureau head. The 72 investment projects are expected to create over 5,200 new jobs. About 94 investment projects with a combined capital of one billion Birr were issued licences last year during the same period.

Relief for Orphans in Jimma

The Jimma Branch Office of the Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS) has provided uniforms and stationery materials to 163 orphans from four schools in the town of Jimma, according to Mustepha Mohammed, office head. The office also availed two cafeterias and two shops to the orphans, he said. The Jimma ERCS is also offering over 800,000 Br in food, shelter, education, health and other services to 216 children orphaned due to HIV and AIDS, he added.

Dev't Projects Worth 80m Br to be Inaugurated

Some 784 development projects carried out with an over 80 million Br budget are set to be launched in the Arsi Zone of the Oromia Regional State.  About 500 of the projects in areas of health, water, education, agriculture, roads and environment are completed, according to Kibebe Yadeta, coordinator of the Planning, Budget Monitoring and Evaluation Process at the Zone's Finance and Economic Development Office. The development projects, being carried out in 26 weredas of the zone, are expected to benefit about a million people.