SANNP Earmarks 16 Cities for Investment

the Trade and Industry Bureau of Southern People Nations and Nationalities revealed that 16 cities under the region and 590 ,000 h.t of land are ready for Agricultural investment. Head of the investment office, Ato Mekuria Haile, stated that there are many infrastructure facilities in the cities. To help investors coming to the region, 750 projects were studied and out of these 300  are ready to be given to the investors.        

ERA Winds up Addis-Ambo Road

The Addis-Ambo asphalt road, constructed at the cost of 243 million Birr, has been completed, said the Ethiopian Roads Authurity (ERA). ERA Information and Public Relation Head, Samson Wondimu, said that the fund for the road was covered by the government of Ethiopia and Germany. The road would contribute to the expansion of floriculture development along the route.

FILA to Endorse Tax Lifts on Food Items

The Federal In-Land Authority (FILA) is on the verge of passing a law that will elaborate on the recent tax lift on food items. Following the price hikes in Ethiopia, the government had lifted value added tax and turn over tax on food items across the nation.

Global Challenges on Agenda of NEPAD Summit

The New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) summit to discuss the global challenges that are facing the continent has begun. The summit will focus on means of increasing direct investment access to the markets of industrialized countries, including the removal of distorting tariff and non-tariff barriers. The summit is also expected to discuss the sustainable economic growth of the continent and democracy. Prime Minister Meles zenawi flew to Dakar for the summit on Monday. Heads of the states from four other countries, Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria and South Africa, participated in the summit.

Vegetables and Fruits Secure 2m Birr

 Northern Showa in of Amhara Regional State has more than 5,000 farmers irrigating 967 hectares of land. Office Head of the Woreda Agriculture and Rural Development Office, Jemal Hussein, announced that the farmers were expected to harvest over 24.000 quintals of crop. Vegetables and fruits have secured nearly two million Birr during the current year. More than 18,000 quintals were harvested in the previous year.

Somalia Faces Critical Livestock Mortality Rate

The United Nations Officer for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA) has reported this week that livestock mortality has become critical in Somalia region. Drought related diseases are on the rise and have also affected the weakened livestock. According to the report, because of the cumulative impact of poor seasonal rainfall performance, critical water scarcity continues to threaten the sporadic livestock mortality rate in the worst affected areas. There is also increased food scarcity and physical indication of increased malnutrition among children women and the elderly.

FIRA to Build Additional Offices

Ethiopian Federal Inland Authority (FIRE)is embarking on the construction of additional offices for its customers. The new offices to be built are aimed at creating a favourable environment for the customers. Girma Taddese, the authority’s Planning and Research Service head and Abebe Kebede, head of the Public Relation Department, jointly said FIRA has been striving to satisfy its customers through re-arranging and making suitable conditions for many tasks and law enforcement mechanisms. FIRA vows to collects 45pc of revenue by the end of the strategic planning program in the year 2010.

EAE Renovates Bole Airport

Ethiopian Airport Enterprise announced that renovations of the old airport will be carried out at a cost of  72 million Birr. The upgrading of the airport terminal will be completed by the coming December. The renovations would enable the terminal to handle international flights by  enhancing its civil and electro-mechanical capacity. An American company won the bid. The enterprise added that the Makalle and Bahir Dar airports would begin handling international flights after two months and construction of the new Jijiga airport has already been finalized and is expected to provide services in the coming two months.

World Bank to Compensate Koga Irrigation Contractors

World Bank is paying compensation to Chinese companies. The Bank is paying money for the failure to settle its debt on the due date. World Bank and the Chinese companies reached an agreement for the construction of Koga Irrigation in Ethiopia. The Ministry of Water Resource, Ato Asefa Dingamo, said that the contract was signed with the Chinese companies two years ago and their office wanted the Bank to pay the loan on the agreed date. But the World Bank failed to give the finance within 28 days and the contractors left the country. After the Ethiopian government negotiated with the bank, it agreed to pay compensation for the losses incurred by the companies.