The Fourth International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV) held from May 28-30, 2008 in Yokohama, Japan would step up Africa-Japan cooperation, Kinichi Komano, Japanese ambassador to Ethiopia, said. Over 40 African Heads of States, including Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi, attended the conference. Also present were the  AU Chairperson, international donors and representatives of UN agencies. The conference deliberated on boosting economic growth, ensuring human security, addressing environmental issues and climatic change. Representatives from FAO, World Bank and other stakeholders discussed the impact of food price hikes on developing countries.                                        

Judges and Registrars Complete Mediation Training

The Ethiopian Arbitration and Conciliation Center (EACC), a local non-profit organization established to promote alternative dispute resolutions has today awarded certificates to 31 Social Court judges and registrars whom it has trained in the area of mediation. The trainees have come from different towns of the five regions including Mekelle, Bahrdar, Dire Dawa, Awasa, Adama, Arba Minch and Huruta. The training was provided by Asfaw Seife, former judge of the Federal High Court of Ethiopia and currently Director of Arbitrations and a Senior Arbitrator heading the Distpute Resolution Services of the Financial Services Commission of Ontario, Canada. So far, he has trained 285 social court judges in Addis Abeba. The center has entered into an agreement with the Federal Supreme Court of Ethiopia to provide court annexed mediation services at the High Court for up to 80 files valued at 40 million Br.

Korea to Build Primary Schools in Oromia

The Ethiopia office of Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) in Addis Abeba has signed an agreement with the Education Bureau of the Oromia Regional State for the construction of four primary schools in Arsi Zone at a cost of over 2.2 million dollars. The agreement was signed at the Bureau on May 23, 2008, between Kim Tae Young, resident representative of KOICA Ethiopia Office and Dereje Asfaw, head of the Bureau. Once construction of the schools is completed, KOICA Ethiopia office is also considering dispatching Korean Overseas Volunteers (KOVs) as teachers to the schools. KOICA Ethiopia Office is currently actively working on cooperation programmes in development projects, human resource development and capacity building through the KOVs.

Construction of Tanabeles Power put on Fast Track

The construction of the Tanabeles Hydro-Electric Power Project is being speeded up, Kifle Horo, the project manager, told Ethiopian News Agency. The construction of the project, which can generate 460MW, is expected to be finalized by the middle of next year. Close to 79pc of the construction of the project is expected to be finalized this year. So far, 70pc of the project has been completed.

Ethiopian Coffee Cuppers Certified

Twenty-five coffee cuppers were certified yesterday by the US based Coffee Quality Institute (CQI) as part of a training agreement with Fintrac-Ethiopia and the USAID funded Ethiopia Agribusiness and Trade Expansion Programme (ATEP) with the backing of the Central Liquor Unit (CLU) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. In the certification ceremony conducted at the Golf Club, Steven Humphreys, USAID (ATEP) programme director said that the whole idea of the training and other efforts is to upgrade the quality of the Ethiopian coffee that enables it to consistently have a higher price.

EEPCO Signs 74.9m Dollars Agreement with Egyptian Company

The Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCo) and El Sewedy Electric, an Egyptian company, signed an agreement for the purchase of electrical materials worth 74.9 million dollars from the latter. Meheret Debebe, general manager of EEPCo and Ahmed El Sewedy (Eng) signed the agreement. The equipment would be used for the implementation of Melkawakena-Ramo-Gode and Harar-Fiq power transmission projects. The company would supply the materials in five months.

Ethiopian Airlines Official Carrier for Leon H. Sullivan Summit

Ethiopian Airlines was selected as the official carrier for the 8th, Leon H. Sullivan Summit. The airline will bring two 767 jetliners from Washington, D.C. to Arusha, Tanzania for the Summit, which will be held from June 2 – 6, 2008. Although the planes will depart from Dulles International Airport on two separate dates (May 28 and May 30), both flights will arrive in Arusha on Saturday, May 31, 2008. The delegates taking the May 28, 2008 flight will have a two-day stay in Ethiopia’s magnificent capital city of Addis Ababa, while the May 30, 2008 flight will make a one-night stop in tropical Zanzibar. “The 2008 Summit marks the first time we are hosting the event in an East African country. It is only fitting that an East African airline, such as Ethiopian Airlines, embarks on this journey with us,” stated Hope Masters, President and CEO of the Leon H. Sullivan Foundation. “Many will be seeing Africa for the first time and I am proud that Ethiopian Airlines will not only be the captains of this voyage, but participants in the experience.”