Ministry Conducts Testing on e-litigation System

The Ministry of Capacity Building (MoCB) disclosed that preliminary testing has been conducted on the newly proposed e-litigation programme at the Federal Supreme Court and on high courts of six towns. Upon the full functioning of the system, it is hoped that it will deliver speedy, accessible and transparent service to the public. E-litigation will enable a plaintiff to file suit on the Internet and then follow his case accordingly. The Ministry also said that it will enable reliable and fast services for investors that will ultimately boost their confidence.

Southern Regional Agency Licenses Investors with 450m Br Capital

The Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Regional State Investment Agency said that investors with 450 million Br registered capital have been licensed over the past six months. Yishak Azaj, the Agency’s investment programme execution and industry promotion department head, said that the over 130 investors have been licensed to engage in trade, agriculture, construction of residential houses, industry, social services delivery, hotel and tourism sectors. He further said that the investors are currently working to launch construction that would create more than 8,000 jobs upon going fully operational.

Ministry Says Seven Bln Birr Loans, Grants Secured in Six Months

The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MoFED) announced that Ethiopia has secured seven billion Birr in loans and grants over the last six months. It also said that the country has enjoyed debt cancellation amounting to 869.4 million Birr during the reported period. Getachew Admasu, the Ministry’s public relations and information department head, said that Ethiopia has signed various bilateral and multilateral agreements providing for the stated with development partners and multilateral organisations.

Capital’s Investment Authority Licenses Seven Bln Birr Projects

The Addis Abeba Investment Authority issued investment licenses to projects worth more than seven billion Birr during the first half of the current Ethiopian fiscal year. Abraham Fanta, Authority investment promotion team leader, said 857 investment projects have received licenses so far. The projects focus on manufacturing, construction, education, hotel and tourism development and health and would create jobs for 73,000 people.

Anticorruption Comm’n  Receives 1,687 Tips in Six months

The Federal Ethics and Anticorruption Commission announced that it has received 1,687 tip-offs against corruption in public affairs over the past six months. Berhanu Assefa, Commission education and public relations department director, said that the number exceeded that of the same period last year by 1,000 cases, attributing the increase to more public awareness against corruption.

Jimma Investors Undertaking 56m Br Construction Projects

Forty-five investors with a capital of 56 million Br started constructions for various investment activities in the Jimma, according to Kefyalew Ayana, the town’s deputy mayor. Kefyalew said that the investors will participate on trade, urban agriculture, real estate, tourism, entertainment and other social services. The constructions have already created job opportunities for 550 persons and are expected to absorb 1,300 more when the investments go operational fully. He added that a 14hct plot furnished with infrastructure is prepared for investors in the city.

East Harerge Zone Collects 58.6m Br Revenue

The East Harerge Zone Revenue Department disclosed that it has collected 58.6 million Br in the past six months. The revenue is up by half a million Birr from the previous year’s corresponding period. Abdulrezak Abubakar, revenue collection head at the Department, said that the revenue is collected from direct and indirect sources, khat tax, trade tax, salary tax and other income sources. The Department is planning to collect 136.5 million Br in the budget year.

Sterlite Technologies Grabs $17.5m EEPCo Power Supply Contract

Sterlite Technologies Ltd, a power conductors and fibre optic cable manufacturing company, bagged a 17.5 million dollar contract from the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCo) for the supply of power transmission conductors, the Indian-based company said. As per the agreement, the company will deliver over 17,000Km of AAAC conductors, to be installed on the 4,000Km route of the Accelerated Electrification Program (AEP) from April to September 2008. The project is being executed with funding fromthe World Bank.

Revenues Ministry to Merge Three Agencies

The Ministry of Revenues (MoR) announced that the government will not just coordinate the activities of the Ethiopian Customs, Inland Revenue Authority and the National Lottery Administration; it will merge them all. The three government bodies, particularly the Customs Authority and the Inland Revenue Authority have in the past been characterised by many for their inefficient services and corrupt staff.

Customs Fires Six Nazareth Managers

The Ethiopian Customs Authority fired six managers of the Nazreth (Adama) Customs Bureau, including the general manager. The operation section head, price setting bureau head, the customs area manager, documents estimation unit head and the information head were told to submit any property on their hands.

Butajira Farmers’ Union Earmarks 26.4m Br for Agriculture Inputs, Loans

Walta Farmer’s Cooperative Union operating in Butajira town in Gurage Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Regional State (SNNPRS) said it has earmarked 26.4 million Br for the purchase of agricultural inputs and loan provisions. Speaking at the conclusion of the annual meeting of the Union held in the town last Saturday, Manyazewal Ogata, Union general manager, said the Union has already purchased over 35,000qts of fertilizer.