Factory to Manufacture Power Cables

Tabor Ceramics Factory announced plans to manufacture high and medium-voltage electric power cables. Mesfin Abate, production and technical operation section manager, said that the factory procured machineries at a cost of eight millon Birr to begin production. The factory has been supplying low-level electric power cables to the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCO). Tabor ceramics factory, established in 1996, has over 600 workers.

NGOs Undertake Development Projects

About 26 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating in North Gonder Zone, Amhara Regional State, are undertaking development projects at a cost of more than 233 mln Br. Adebabay Tsegaw, representative of the Zonal Food Security Coordination and Disaster Prevention Office, said that 40 projects are being undertaken, focusing on agriculture, health, education and prevention of HIV/AIDs. The projects will last up to five years, finally giving service to more than 1.5 mln people, the representative said. 

Spain Donates to WFP HIV/AIDS Programme

The United Nations World Food programme (WFP) announced that it has received 500,000 euro from the Spanish government. The donation would be used for the urban HIV/AIDs component of its protracted relief and recovery operation, says Mohammed Diab, country director and representative of WFP. Spain is committed to assist Ethiopia achieve the Millennium Development Goals, said Carmen de Peña, Spanish Ambassador to Ethiopia.

Institute Lends More Than 151M Br

The Omo Micro Finance Institute distributed more than 151 mln Birr to 132,000 people in the Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Regional State in the past 11 months,Institute representative Ashenafi Wagiso said. He said beneficiaries are engaged in rural development, handicrafts work, service rendering and micro and small enterprises. Omo plans to offer more than 478 mln Br to over 181,000 clients next year, he asserted

US Company Receives Concession for Oil Exploration

Inter Global, a US-based company, will be granted land for oil exploration in Afar, Tigray and eastern Amhara states. The company had requested a concession to the areas from the Ministry of mines and Energy (MoME). MoME will submit the request to the Council of Ministers for endorsement in the coming two weeks. Presently, five foreign companies are engaged in oil exploration activities in Ethiopia.

Investors Launch Forest Development

Investors with a capital of more than 43 mln Br began forest development activities in Qelem Wellega Zone, Oromia state, the zonal administration announced. Gemechu Kejela, deputy administrator of the Zone, said the 16 investors are engaged in the sector in two woredas of the Zone to plant seedlings on 16,430 hectares of denuded land, creating 3,200 jobs.

Farmers Earn Over 15M Br from Fruit, Vegetable Sales

Farmers in Dolloada Woreda, Somali Regional State, obtained more than 15 mln Br in revenue from the sale of fruits and vegetables during the current season. Aden Guleye, Woreda pastoralist agriculture and rural development office representative, said more than 2,500 pastoralists organized and supplied 28,000 quintals of fruits and vegetables to local and foreign markets. The farmers developed the fruits and vegetables on 16,000 hectares of land, with each pastoralist earning up to 6,000 birr.
 

Leather

Institute to Certify Leather Quality Standards

The Leather and Leather Products Technology Institute will undertake laboratory tests to help issue international standard quality assurance certificates, Institute Director Belay Woldeyes (PhD) said. Close to two million euros have been used for furnishing the laboratory to serve as centre of inspection, he said. The centre is expected to get accreditation within six months from a South African institution.

Flower Exports Expected to Earn 125M Dollars

Ethiopian flower exporters are expected to earn more than 125 mln dollars in 2007 in Ethiopia. Tsegaye Abebe, president of the Ethiopian Horticultural Producers and Exporters Association, said that more than 100 foreign firms were cultivating flowers as of this month, eight of them in Holeta, Oromia state. Exporters cite Ethiopia's proximity to the Middle East and the availability of flights to Europe, Asia and North America for the growth in the industry.

Application Fees to Increase for US Non-Immigrant Visas

The United States Embassy in Addis Abeba announced an increase in the application fee charged for non-immigrant visas beginning from January 1, 2008 and taking effect at all US Embassies worldwide. The fee will increase from 100 dollars to 131 dollars. The increase reflects the US Department of State's legal obligation to recover the rising processing costs. Processing is more expensive for US embassies due to security-related costs, new information technology systems, and inflation. The non-immigrant visa application fee was last increased in 2002.