Ethio-Yemen Bazaar

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that the Ethio-Yemen Trade Fair and Bazaar was held in Sanaa. A statement by the Ministry sent to ENA yesterday stated that the idea of the event was to strengthen the longstanding trade and economic cooperation between the two countries and to address the problem of illegal trade in border areas in order to find ways to improve legal business activities. The Ethiopian Ambassador to Yemen, Dr. Towfik Abdullahi and Deputy Mayor Ameen Jamaan of Sanaa inaugurated the bazaar.

The Mayor expressed his satisfaction with the participation of the Ethiopian business community and the promotion of Ethiopian products in Yemen at the bazaar. He also stated that there was a high demand for Ethiopian products in the Yemen market

Amhara Sate Collects 51mn Birr from Tourism

The Amhara State Culture and Tourism Bureau stated that the region raked in over 51.7 million Birr from the tourism sector during the past nine months. The Head of Culture and Tourism Resource Development and Conservation Department in the Bureau, Wagaw Hailu, told ENA on Monday that over 120,000 local and foreign tourists had visited the state during the reported period. The tourists visited historical and natural sites such as monasteries, the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, the Semien Mountains National Park, the Gondar Castle and the waterfalls of the Abay River. The number of foreign tourists increased by 16,000 and that of local tourists increased by about 30,000 compared to the same period last year.

Oromia Coffee Farmers Establish Semi-processing Company

The Oromia Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union (OCFCU) is establishing a coffee semi-processing company at a cost of 20 million Birr to further improve the quality of coffee. The company is expected to go fully operational next year, according to a publication circulated by the union at the 20th Annual Conference of Specialty Coffee Association of America held in Minneapolis recently. The company is going to be equipped with a coffee washing facility and a laboratory to distinguish coffee origins.

Oromia; Investors Launch Projects

Nine investors with a capital of 22 million Birr have launched investment activities in East Wollega Zone of Oromia State, Ethiopian News Agency reported, citing the zonal investment office. “The local and foreign investors are engaged in crop, oil seed, vegetable and fruit development, as well as in animal husbandry, the hotel industry, the construction sector, among others,” said Office Head, Kebede Desta. He also said that when they go fully operational, the investment projects would create jobs for 263 people.

Precious Metals Rake in over 60mn Dollars

The Ministry of Mines and Energy said Ethiopia obtained over 60 million dollars from the export of precious metals over the past nine months. The Ministry’s Public Relations Service Head, Sofia Mohammed, said various activities were carried out in the country to coordinate the production, transportation and selling of the metals. She also said that the amount obtained has shown an increase compared to previous years. Gold, tantalum, platinum, and other precious metals were legally exported through the National Bank.

South Ethiopia People’s State Registers Economic Growth

The South Ethiopia Peoples’ State registered an average of over 11 per cent economic growth over the past five years, ENA reported, citing the South Ethiopia Peoples’ Democratic Movement (SEPDM). The Federal Affairs Minister, Siraj Fegesa, stated at the 15th founding anniversary of SEPDM here in Addis Ababa that the economic growth registered during the reported period is the first of its kind in the region. He also said that the efforts of the organization to mobilize the public for development over the past years were successful.

Netherlands’ Donation to Benefit Drought Victims

Victims of drought in southern parts of Ethiopia will benefit from a 3.5 million Euros (equivalent to about 52.5 million ETB) contribution made this week by the government of the Netherlands. The Royal Netherlands Embassy in Addis Ababa said, in a statement on Wednesday, that the funds would be used to meet the pressing needs of vulnerable communities in the drought affected areas. The statement also stated that the contribution would be channeled through the United Nations Humanitarian Response Fund, a fund administered by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA).