Islamic Affairs Council to Run 100m Br Development Activities

The Islamic Affairs Council general assembly loan and social development department has announced that it is going to run different development activities with 100 million Br capital, which it expects to gain from governmental and non-governmental organisations. The council reavests Muslim society to take its share in the country's development process with his other fellow Ethiopians in the new Millennium.

Six Billion Birr for Road Construction

The Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA) is to invest six billion Birr for the construction of roads in the country. The Authority has invested this capital for the reconstruction projects and development of roads in the coming budget year. According to Samson Wondimu, information and public relations officer of the Authority, the money originates from the government and foreign donors and will be used for 172 capital projects in the coming fiscal year. Out of this budget, four billion Birr will be the share of the government and the 170Km long Addis Abeba-Debre Birhan and Tarma Ber road project is included.

Condominium Lottery Distribution System Said Faulty

The much talked about lottery system the Addis Abeba City Caretaker Administration (AACCA) used to distribute the condominium houses it built was inefficient and has created a lot of discrepancies, Wubshet Berhanu (PhD) disclosed on Wednesday. Briefing reporters on the ill-fated condominium distribution process, he said the problem was created because inaccurate data was fed into the computers placed for the purpose, which he said resulted in three problems - the incorrect data of the number of the condominium houses, the names of competitors in the lottery and the related facts and figures. Unavailable houses were given to winners of the lottery, two people were given the same house and flats already occupied were again given to new winners. Wubshet said an equity commission will investigate why and how the crisis happened before any corrective measures are taken.

Government Permits Addis Abeba Stadium for MIDROC Concert

One of the biggest concerts for the Millennium, which involves famous Ethiopian artists like Aster Aweke and others to be organised by MIDROC Ethiopia, is going to be held at the Addis Abeba stadium. MIDROC is constructing a park which has a 20,000 person capacity. According to sources, most of the preparations are completed. MIDROC is also planning to hang big screens that will help the transmissions of the concerts in Addis Abeba and regional towns.

Preparations Made to Host World IT Forum 2007 in Capital

Ethiopia is preparing to host the World Information Technology Forum (WITFOR) 2007 from August 22-24, 2007. According to organisers, the Forum will have a significant importance in utilising ICT to attain rapid economic development in the country with its global agenda of ICT for development and prosperity. Government offices said the country is making utmost efforts to make the Forum a success to the entire nation. The Forum is being organised jointly by the International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP), Ethiopian Information and Communication Technology Development Agency (EICTDA), Ethiopian Information Technology Professional Association (EITPA) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). Officials said that EICTDA was facilitating the necessary accommodations and reservations for the participants of the forum.

ESL Makes 288n Br Profit

The Ethiopian Shipping Lines SC said it made 288 million Br profit in the last budget year, which is 23pc more than the initial target. Engaget Mamuye, reform organisation method department general manager, said the profit was made because of the increase in exported items in the country. The  company has transported over 1.4 million tonnes of items in the budget year and secured 1.9 billion Br in revenue, though the target was to obtain 1.8 billion Br revenue. In the last budget years, the company procured two modern vessels, Shebelle and Gibe, with over 25,000tn carrying capacity each. ESL has 643 employees of which 20 are foreigners.

NGOs in Addis Execute Over 518m Br Development Projects

NGOs operating in Addis Abeba executed various development projects worth over 518 million Br and thereby enabled city dwellers to become beneficiaries from various social service facilities, the Social and Civil Affairs Bureau said. The Bureau said the NGOs are contributing a lot toward the socio-economic development of the metropolis. Some 987,000 people have been beneficiaries directly form the development projects while over one million people indirectly benefited from the projects executed by 138 NGOs. The NGOs are also engaged in provision of health and education services, environment development and expansion of micro and small-scale businesses. Some 85pc of the local NGOs have signed one to three-year project agreements with the Bureau.

Hope Enterprises to Build University for 70m Br

Hope Enterprises, a non-profit organisation, which is working to address problems of the needy, is building a university college at a cost of 70 million Br. The university college will be built on land Hope Enterprises obtained in Lafeto Nefas Silk, Lebu area. Girma Weldegiorgis, president of Ethiopia, laid the cornerstone of the university college in a ceremony attended by 600 guests including parliamentarians, civil society organisation representatives and ambassadors from countries such as the United Kingdom (UK), the Netherlands and representatives of the European Union (EU). According to Minas Hiruy (PhD), president of Hope, the university college will be completed in three years and will accept 1,500 disadvantaged students who meet the requirements of the Ministry of Education (MoE).