Wild Coffee Certification Proposed

Experts and Researchers raised the need to certify Ethiopian forest coffee. The researchers and experts expressed this on Wednesday at a workshop organized by Ethiopian Forest Coffee Forum (EFCF) in association with Bonn University Center for Development Research. They said that the country’s Bio-Diversity Institute should go for certification of Ethiopian wild coffee. The discussion included how to go about getting certification and the need for the improvement of the life of poor farmers. EFCF Research project director, Dr Tadesse W/mariam, in his opening speech at the workshop told the participants that the workshop was held with the view to facilitate the mutual transfer of information on Ethiopian forest coffee and to brainstorm on possible issues in the process of providing identification for coffee farmers to access markets, as well as to secure premium prices for the coffee. Dr Stellmacher, senior researcher at the University of Bonn with a PhD dissertation on Kaffa forest coffee, noted that the whole idea of certification creates specialty market entry and premium prices in harmony with trade andproduction systems. This certification is a new idea in the country and has far reaching significance to Ethiopian farmers and the country’s economy at large.

Quatar and Ethiopia: Diplomatic Rift

The Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affair told The Reporter on Monday that Quatar has now becoming a major source of instability in the horn of Africa. The country  has subsequently terminated its diplomatic relations with Quatar in all aspects after a long observation of Quatar’s activity in the horn of Africa. Ethiopia accuses the Arab state of funneling direct and indirect assistance to “terrorists and extremists”. The ministry added, “We have long known and have ample evidence that Quatar has been channeling funds through Eritrea and directly to elements such as Al Shabab.” Quatar’s government  denied the allegation by Ethiopia of any destabilizing activity in the horn of Africa, particularly in Ethiopia and Somalia. Doha said it was surprised by Addis Ababa’s “unfounded and untruthful allegation,’ and saw it as a deliberate attempt to justify Ethiopia’s own erroneous polices.

Preliminary Election Results Released

The National Electoral Board of Ethiopia released preliminary results for the local and by-elections in Addis Ababa on Wednesday. According to the Electoral Board Office Head, Ato Tesfaye Mengesha, The Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) won the election. The Office Head told the Ethiopian Herald in a press conference that EPRDF gained a sweeping victory in the elections held to fill vacant seats in the national parliament in all 14 constituencies in Addis. The Collusion for Unity and Democracy took one of the 14 seats designated to the Bole Sub-City in the city council. EPRDF has won all the seats of the City Administration Council in the elections held in the 10 sub-cities of the administration. Tesfaye stated that the board would soon release  the preliminary results for the other states in accordance with the amended Electoral Law of 532/76.

ELA Gives 25pc Discount to AAC participants

 Ethiopian Air Lines (ELA) announced that it would offer air ticket discounts for participants of the 16th African Athletics Championship (AAC) to be held in Ethiopia. The Air Line would offer a 25pc discount for the participants said a press release sent to Addis2008.org.The discount extends to all the athletes, their fans and spectators, as well as the media people who will come to Addis Ababa. The move will encourage more countries to take part in the showpiece to make the Championship a success. Ethiopian Air Lines is proud to be the platinum sponsor of the 16th Africa Athletics Championship. Some 42 countries have so far confirmed their participation in the competitions set to take place between April 30 - May 4, 2008.

(QSAoE) Controls Quality, Quantity of Bread

Quality and Standard Authority of Ethiopia (QSAoE) has begun to control the quantity and quality of bread supplies. The Authority is taking samples from various bakeries found in Addis Ababa and the research focuses on the quality, quantity and where bakery shops are located. The Public Relations and Training Officer of the Authority, Ato Sisay Aseffa, revealed to the Addis Zemen newspaper on April 25 that the authority started research on the bread to verify whether the bread in the market is up to standard or not. The PR Officer added that the office is conducting the research to solve the problems related to the supply of bread and to create fair transactions in the market. The results of the research would be revealed in a meeting to be held in the near future.

Opposition Gives Green Light To Amended Press Law

Two opposition parties and a parliamentary team praised the amendments made on the Bill  of Press Proclamation. During discussions in the House of People’s Representatives on Thursday. The two opposition parties, EDUP Medhin - chaired by Lidetu Ayalew, and CUDP - led by Ayele Chamiso, told The Daily Monitor that they found that most of the issues they had proposed had been incorporated into the draft law, thus they were unreservedly giving the go-head to the amended Draft Press Law. The UEDF party (formerly a part of CUDP), led by Temesgene Zewde, and OFDN did not participate in the debate on Thursday owing to their decision to boycott discussions on the Draft Press Law in a similar session previously. The bill was sent to the standing committee after the comments by the participants. The Ministry of Information (MoI) has begun to draft a new law that will replace the 1992 Press Law prescribed by independent journalists, international media watch dogs and pressure groups.

Sudanese Company Buys Bahir-Dar Oil Factory

Ashraf Agricultural Plc, a Sudanese multi-spectral oil company, has bought the government-owned Bahir-Dar Edible Oil Factory at a cost of 20 million Birr. The agreement was signed by the Sudanese company and representative from the Ethiopian Government on Wednesday. Ashraf Board member, Dr Mustafa Ahmed Baha said on the signing ceremony that his company was buying the factory because there was a conducive environment in the country. Ashraf will take over the oil factory in one month’s time upon finalization of the procedure with a privatization agency. Bahir-Dar Edible Oil Factory was established as a production company in 1994 and has a production output of 10 million litres of oil per year.

USAID Builds Skin Collection Centres in Ethiopia

Ethiopian Tanners Association and USAID Agri-business have built 30 hide, skin and leather collection centers in cooperation with Addis Ababa City administration. Ethiopian Tanners, Footwear and Leather Good Manufacturers’ Association takes 30 pc and the USAID Agri-Business and Trade Expansion Activity takes 70pc of the shares. The city administration allowed the sites on a provisional basis. USAID added that efforts to create awareness about the uses of the collection centers were underway. It also trains the collectors in proper slaughtering and flaying of animals and curing and management of hides and skins. The hide, skin and leather projects by USAID started in April 2005 to be conducted over 3-5 years with a total project cost estimated at 20 million dollars. The project is working with Addis Ababa, Tigray, Amhara and Oromia regions, which produce over 80% of the country’s hide and skin products. USAID established the market lead Ethiopian Agri-Business Trade Expansion Program to energise four industry sectors: horticulture, coffee, hides, skins, leather and oil seeds etc.