Belgium Students Mobilise 70m Br for Jimma U Graduate Schools

Flemish speaking of Belgian students from five different universities in the European country mobilised 70 million Br to fund graduate schools at Jimma University. The fund would be used to finance academic activities like holding joint-research programmes, conducting advanced training as well as publishing scientific findings in an international research publication. The five-year strategic plan with which Jimma University jointly conducts the research activities by using the fund would launch a consultative forum in the form of introduction, according to one of the coordinators of the strategy at Jimma University.

Tourism Comm'n Envisions 6.4bln Br this Year

During the current fiscal year the Addis Abeba Tourism Commission (AATC) will eye at channelling over 6.4 billion Br through its coffers from boosting the tourism industry. Large numbers of foreign tourists and native Ethiopians as well as those foreign nationals expected to flock into the metropolis for celebration of the new Millennium throughout the course of the current fiscal year are hoped by AATC to boost the revenue. Due to the high profile promotional campaign worked on the Millennium, up to 400,000 foreign visitors will set foot in Addis Abeba before the end of the year, Ayelew Sisay, AATC's commissioner told, Walta Information Centre.  

Benishangul-Gumuz Allcates 15m Br for Water Projects

The Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State allocated 15 million Br for construction of 200 water wells to obtain potable water in the region. Though the cost of the project will be covered by the direct budget of the region's administration, however, the area residents will volunteer to give hands in digging the wells and providing sand as well as bricks for the construction of the WELLS, Minilik Wube, officer of the Regional Mines and Energy Development Bureau, explained. The water project mainly focuses on the rural neighbourhoods of the region where potable water is severely in short supply. The completion of this project would bring the region's overall potable water access up to 58pc, Minilik said.

Local Firm, Int'l Partner to Provide Solar Energy

A local company, Solar Technospread Plc, ventured with GiraMundo BV from the Netherlands in joint investment of energy supply at the working capitals for 10 million Br. In order to create awareness among people, the investment initially targets rural schools and clinics by installing solar systems from which these institutions would benefit from solar energy-generated sources, the press release stated. 

British Embassy Reforms Visa Process

The new visa application's forms introduced by the British Embassy in Ethiopia are set to become effective as of November 10, 2007. With intent to encourage foreign tourists, students and desirable workers who seek travel to the United Kingdom (UK), the visas are redesigned in a simple mono-lingual (English) application form that would be available from the visa section at the UK Embassy and on the official Website. According to the press release by the Embassy, the new visa forms have been formatted to filter high-risk applicants from those high-value customers or visitors who play a vital role in boosting Britain's economy. The UK Embassy categorises the types of visa application forms into eight standards as well as three other forms used by VIP and diplomats.

EEPCo to Expand Coverage in Oromia, Gambella

The Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCo) is undertaking a project to enhance the efficiency of power supply in two regions. The 161 million Br EEPCo's project mainly benefits Metu of the Oromia Regional State and Gambella town as well as other nearby townships in the region. According to Tadesse Abegaz, EEPCo's representative in Gambella, the existing limited capacity of the Sor Hydroelectric power generator would be enhanced by 132kv of power this year. The current five mega watts of power is insufficient to satisfy the demand customers in these areas and until the situation is being addressed, generators would be installed.

Ministry Recover 183m Br in Lost Vehicle Duty Revenue

The Ministry of Revenue (MoR) recovered more than 183 million Br from having legitimised about 3,392 cars that entered the country duty free after which they were passed over to the third parties. The 2001 directive amended by the Ministry to privilege the return of Ethiopians who had resided overseas is now waived in effect to terminate the privilege package as a result of unlawful transfer of the vehicles imported duty free under the former directive, according to sources.

Country Receives $12.4m from Spain's MDG Fund

Ethiopia became a recipient of 12.4 million dollars from Spain's Millennium Development Goal Achievement Fund. The joint announcement of the financial allocation has been made by the Embassy of Spain in Ethiopia and the United Nations Country Team (UNCT). The released fund is part of the landmark agreement reached between the Spanish Government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) that supported 528 million euros (6.6 billion Br) for supporting innovative moves advanced by selected countries in core Millennium Development Goals (MDG) in the next four years, the press release states. The Spain MDG Fund focuses in areas such as gender, environment, economic governance, youth employment, migration and other key human development activities. The sum of funds released for Ethiopia is divided between 8.4 million and four million dollars to cover gender and environment respectively.  

21b Br Irrigation Projects Planned

More than 400,000hct of land is to be developed for nationwide irrigation projects at a cost of 21 billion Br. The Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR) sources disclosed that some 33 irrigation development study projects are already underway in all regions and nearly 75pc should be completed during the current budget year. These projects would be expected to boost the country's export incomes as well as the expansion of agro-industry, according to Teshome Atinafe, Irrigation and Drainage Development Study department head. Places such as Koga, Tendaho and Kessem localities will see the full development of more than 87,200hct of land. The country has over 3.7 million hectares of land suitable for irrigation, the report stated.

Bank Branch

NIB Bank Inaugurates 28th Branch
 

NIB International Bank is to inaugurate its 28th branch office at Yerer-Ber in Bole District. The formal inauguration will took shape on September 22, 2007, in the presence of stakeholders and those residents of the area at Angles House where the new branch office would operate from. NIB International was established in October 1999 with 27.6 million Br paid up capital and currently the Bank operates with over 350 million Br paid up capital.