Oromia State Investing 168m Br in Drinking Water

The Oromia Regional State is set to execute potable water projects at a cost of 168 million Br, aiming to lift the coverage of clean water up to 60.5pc at the end of this budget year. The projects will see the completion of 45 deep water wells and the development of 26 spring and public fountains, according to Tadios Adera, public relations officer at the State Water Resources Bureau. Nearly 120,000 urban residents would benefit from the execution of these projects, Tadios told Walta Information Center (WIC).

Tigray State Constructs 168 Condos

The town of Michew, in southern Tigray Regional State, has seen the progress of the construction of 168 condominium houses at a cost of 10 million Br that will be completed during the current fiscal year. The project employed over 580 youth, Yared Mehari, head of Michew's Housing Development Agency told Ethiopian News Agency. Meanwhile, the construction of 1,320 condominiums is to be completed in three months time in Gonder at a project cost of 56 million Br. The ongoing construction projects employ 8,000 youth, according to Belayneh Telake, council speaker.

Ministry Aiding Coffee Growers to Boost Exports

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MoARD) is set to enhance the support it renders for coffee growers and investors intent on earning 500 million dollars from the export market of coffee this budget year, Abera Deressa, state minister at MoARD said. According to State Minister Abera, the government aides those engaged in the sector and carries out follow-up works in an effort to expand the coffee export market opportunity. Five years ago, export income from coffee export was 200 million dollars and this figure was doubled to reach 424 million dollars during last budget year, sources at the Ministry revealed.

Revenue Authority Exceeds Collection Target

The Federal Internal Revenue Authority (FIRA) said it collected over 1.8 billion Br in the period between July and September 30, 2007, out of which 1.2 billion Br was generated from high taxpaying categories. According to Abebe Kebede, FIRA's public relations officer, the amount collected in the three- month period exceeded the target; initially, the Authority targeted to collect 1.736 billion Br.

Japan Signs $389,000 in Grants to Five Dev't Orgs

The Japanese Embassy in Ethiopia signed grant contracts worth over 389,000 dollars with five local organisations on November 15, 2007. The organisations receiving the grant contracts for the Assistance of Grassroots and Human Security Projects (GGP) are the Agency for the Assistance of Refugees, Displaced and Returnees (57,075 dollars), Beminet Lewegen Medires Be Ethiopia (85,800 dollars), Hope for the Horn (85,092 dollars), Messengers of Love (84,016 dollars) and Tesfa Tsion Dirijit (77,796 dollars). The Japanese grant mainly targeted needy and vulnerable members of the community through working with the local organisations, according to the press release.     

Debre Zeit Defence College Gets English Language Facilities

A new English language computer lab at the Ethiopian Defence Command and Staff College in Debre Zeit (Bishoftu) has been inaugurated on November 14, 2007, by Donald Yamamoto, Ambassador of the United States (US) in Ethiopia and Migbe Hile, Commandant Brigadier General of the US army. The new English language computer lab worth 300,000 dollars was installed with a grant of the US Department of Defence and Department of State. The lab, with its Awash Arba affiliates, features the latest language instruction software from the US Defence Language Institute in San Antonio, Texas and will allow students to learn English through an interactive, step-by-step method.

North Shoa Zone Expects 10m Qts Harvest

The Northern Shoa Zone in the Oromia Regional State is expected to harvest more than 10 million quintals of various agricultural produces from 626,000hct of land. The forecast was made after a 15-day long field tour of evaluation, according to Adugna Mekonnen, head of the Zone's Agriculture and Rural Development Office. The 250,000qts increase from the previous season is an improvement on the part of the farmers in the agricultural activities seen due to effective use of the 150,000qts of fertilizer provided, sources from the Bureau disclosed.

Federal Police Seize Cannabis, Heroine in Capital

Members of the Federal Police intercepted 42Kg of cannabis and 500gm of heroine in Addis Abeba. Dereje Ayalew, anti-narcotic unit inspector, said the seized drugs originated from Shashemene. The suspect allegedly involved in the retailing market of these illicit goods has been apprehended, the Inspector disclosed. Ethiopia is one the signatories of International Commission against Drug Trafficking and Illicit Enterprises.

Mekelle U to Inaugurate Faculty of Law

The facilities built at a cost of 25 million Br to house the Faculty of Law at Mekelle University have been inaugurated last week. The new structures house a library, lecture theatres, 648 rooms for female students as well as 16 residential units for the lecturers and were financed by the European Union (EU), Tsegaye Brehan, dean of the Faculty said. The project is intent on creating sufficient manpower in the process of improving the human rights practices as well as the progress of democracy in Ethiopia, Tim Clark, Ambassador of the EU in Ethiopia, suggests.

Dire Dawa Cement Factory Boosts Production 100pc

After 80pc of its share was sold off for East Africa Group in February 2006, the National Cement Factory planted in Dire Dawa is capacitated to produce 5,000qts of cement daily, a 100pc increase in production capacity. Before being privatised, the 70-year-old plant had gone bankrupt and was only producing 2,500qts per day. The government maintains 20pc of shares in the plant and a new plant is to be opened as preparation is underway.