The Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) says it has made a record high profit amounting to 1.3 billion Br in the past six months. Bekalu Zeleke, president of the bank told Ethiopian News Agency(ENA) that the profit secured is an all time high in the bank's history. The profit surpassed that of last year same period by 80pc. Its assets which were below 20 billion Br before the 1998 Ethiopian fiscal year has more than doubled, now reaching 55.1 billion Br, according to him. The president attributed the increase in the bank's profit and assets to the steadily growing national economy in the past few years.   Regarding loans, he said the bank has granted 6.1 billion Br worth of loans in the last six months, exceeding that of last year the same period by 3.2 billion Br. The bank's deposits which stood at 36 billion Br last year, reached 42.8 billion Br this year, said the president.

Company Earns 13m Br from Exports

The Anbessa Shoe SC, a government development organization, announced that it has earned 13.2 million Br from export of leather shoes over the past six months, according to Enyew Zeleke, general manager of the company. The company is exporting its products mainly to Germany, France, Netherlands and Italy.

Lalibela Attracts over 20,000 Foreign Tourists

Over 20,000 foreign tourists have visited the hewn-rock churches of Lalibela over the past six months, Lasta District Culture and Tourism Office in the North Wollo Zone of Amhara Regional State announced. The number of tourists who visited 10 hewn-rock churches in Lalibela town and 12 others in Lasta Wereda as well as natural attractions in the reported period exceeded that of last year the same period by 5,000, according to Kidanemariam W.Giorgis, Culture and Tourism Officer of the District.

Airports Enterprise Makes 47m Br Net Profit

The Ethiopian Airports Enterprise announces that it has made nearly 47 million Br net profits over the past six months. Getachew Abate, Information and Public Relations Officer, told Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) that the airports provided services to nearly two million passengers during the reported period. The enterprise has accommodated over 41,000 local and international flights during the period. The profit surpassed that of last year the same period by over 25pc, the officer said. He attributed the success to the growth of the international civil aviation industry.

Japan Donates $9m to WFP

The government of Japan donated nine million dollars to the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) to assist food insecure people in Ethiopia. The donation will be channeled via the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JAICA). Felix B. Gomez, WFP Acting Country Director for Ethiopia says WFP will procure maize, beans, and fortified blended food with the donation and, these will be distributed to beneficiaries on its emergency relief programme.

SNNPRS Collects Over 267m Br

The Southern Nation Nationality and Peoples Regional State (SNNPRS) Tax Administration Authority said it collected 267.3 million Br revenues over the past six months. Authority planning and monitoring work process owner, Amenu Bogale told Walta Information Center (WIC) that the income was collected from direct and indirect tax as well as various services. The regional state government envisaged collecting over a half billion Birr revenue this fiscal year.

Grain Enterprise to Launch Wheat Auction

The Ethiopian Grain Trade Enterprise announced that it is making preparations to begin selling wheat through auction to factories and other complexes. Berehane Haile, enterprise manager told Walta Information Center (WIC) that the enterprise is launching wheat auctioning with a view to stabilizing the grain market. The auction will be opened on February 19, 2009, to flour factories and food complexes. According to the manager, the wheat auction will be carried out in all branch offices of the enterprise, twice a month.

Tigray, Farmers Earn 29m Br Incomes

Some 300 farmers engaged in groundnut development in Mereblehe District of Central Tigray Zone of the Tigray Regional State have earned 29 million Br. District Agriculture and Rural Development Office head, Tewodros Haile told Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) that the farmers produced 24,650 quintals of groundnuts on 2,000 hct of land. A quintal of groundnuts costs 1,200 Br according to him.