The Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR) has launched the execution of water supply and sanitation projects in 15 towns at a cost of over 36.2 million Euros. Project Coordinator, Tilahum Asmare said the project is expected to improve the living conditions of over 500,000 people in the 15 towns found in Oromia, Amhara, Tigray and Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples (SNNP) Regional States. Briefing journalists at the launching of project on Tuesday June 10, 2008, Tilahun said these regions would have four, seven, two and two towns included in the project, respectively.       

Standards Authority to Work with Private Sector on Nat’l Quality

The Quality and Standards Authority of Ethiopia (QSAE) announced plans to work with the private sector on the national quality infrastructure management in order to cope with the rapidly growing economy and the expansion of investment activities in the country. Authority Director General, Mesai Girma said, such conditions and the encouraging national economic growth need the participation of the private sector in the national quality infrastructure management process. The authority has already drafted a project on how government and the private sector could jointly work in the inspection, certification and other related activities in the national quality infrastructure management process to contribute to the development of the national economy.

Investors Get 700hct Land in Bahir Dar Vicinity

More than 10 Ethiopian and foreign investors have received land from the 700hct land prepared around Bahir Dar town, seat of Amhara Regional State, for horticulture development, according to the Ethiopian Horticulture Producers and Exporters Association. Tsegaye Abebe, association chairman, said as part the government’s initiative to expand horticulture development, which has so far been concentrated around Addis Abeba to different parts of the country, Bahir Dar town vicinity has been identified as one suitable for this and has distributed land among investors engaged in the sector over the past two months alone. Horticulture production from around Bahir Dar for export markets will start in the middle of the coming year and the town’s airport, which started to handle international flights, would facilitate transporting the products to European markets, according to Tsegaye.

Shipping Lines Transports Two million Tonnes Cargo

The Ethiopian Shipping Lines Share Company has transported two million tonnes of cargo abroad and to the hinterland over the past nine months, its Reform Organizations and Working Service Manager, Engidashet Mamuye, said. He stated that the performance accounts for 134pc of the target it set for the period, exceeding that of last year’s same period by 61pc. Company Managing Director, Ambachew Abraha, on his part said the company has earlier been providing the service by leasing additional ships; but now it owns two more ships that enabled it to provide effective services.

Ethiopia-South Sudan Road Projects to Cement Cooperation

Ethiopia and neighbouring regions of South Sudan, on Sunday June 8, 2008, signed an agreement enabling the strengthening of existing cooperation in trade, education, transport and capacity building sectors. Ethiopia's State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tekeda Alemu (PhD) and South Sudan Regional Cooperation Minister Barnaba Maria Benjamin (PhD) signed the agreement. Director-General of the Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA), Zayid Wolde-Gabriel, told journalists that the two parties reached a consensus to undertake three road projects linking Ethiopia and South Sudan. The roads are expected to cement socio-economic relations between the nations. Zayid said there are plans to connect the Gambella-Etang-Jikawo road in Ethiopia, which is under construction, to Malakal in South Sudan. The Mizan-Teferi Dima road would also be linked to Boma, likewise. 

ETC’s 1.2m Network Millennium Project Goes Operational

The Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation (ETC) said the 1.2 million network capacity mobile telephone service project for the Millennium has gone operational. ETC Corporate Communication General Manager, Abdirahim Ahmed, stated that the project, executed at a cost of 769.6 million Br, has enabled 600, 000 subscribers get access to mobile telephone services. The Corporation is currently in expansion work at 17 spots to curb network congestion, which occurred following the launching of the Millennium Project.  There are preparations being made towards implementing a third generation mobile project. In the second one currently underway, ETC aims to increase the number of mobile subscribers to 5.6 million, with an allotted budget of over 4.3 billion Br.

Russian Investors Keen on Business Joint Ventures

A Russian business delegation on a working visit here expressed the interest of investors from their country to engage in trade and investment in Ethiopia. The delegation discussed with members of the Addis Abeba Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations on ways of working together. Delegation leader, Vladimir I. Litvinov, said Russian business people are keen to engage in medium manufacturing industries, housing construction and power generation sectors in Ethiopia. There is also interest, on the part of the Russians, to work with their Ethiopian counterparts in the form of joint ventures.

Farmers Secure Eight Million Br from Coffee, Fruits Sales

More than 1,160 farmers engaged in coffee and horticulture development in Mecha Woreda of West Gojam Zone, Amhara Regional State, have secured over eight million Br in the current Ethiopian year, Woreda Agriculture and Rural Development Office said. The farmers secured the stated sum from the sale of 50,000 quintals of coffee, vegetables and fruits, Horticulture Development Expert with the office, Habtamu Tamir said. More than 340 of the farmers are women.