Lallibela Gets $1.5m Modern Hotel

A modern hotel, built at a cost of 1.5 million dollars in Lallibela town, Northern Wollo Zone of Amhara Regional State, has gone operational. The hotel, named "Mountain View," was built by two investors said Belete Wodaje, head of the town's Cultural and Tourism Department. The construction of the hotel is believed to raise the number of modern hotels in the town to 12, and thus, this new hotel goes a long way in assisting the efforts being made to make the town a tourist destination. "Mountain View" has 30 beds, a restaurant that could serve up to 150 customers at once, and has created jobs for 42 people.

Tigray, Investors Launch over 284m Br Projects

Investors with a combined capital of over 284 million Br have launched various investment projects in Shire Endasilassie Town of the Tigray Regional State. The investors were licensed to construct educational and health facilities, as well as various factories and hotels, Mekonnen Berhane, the town mayor said. Upon the completion, the projects are expected to create jobs for 912 people. The Town Administration has designated 35hct of investment site, according to the Mayor.

Ethiopia, France Ink $1.3m Grant Accord

Ahmed Shide, state minister of the Ethiopian Finance and Economic Development, Jean Christophe Bellard, French Ambassador to Ethiopia and Yeves Boudot, director of the French Development Agency (AFD) signed an agreement providing for a 1.3 million dollars grant. On the basis of the Five-year Partnership Framework Document signed in 2006, a number of projects in the areas of water, education, agriculture and urban development are at different stages of implementation, Ahmed said. AFD has provided 83 million dollars in the form of loans and grants to Ethiopia from 2004 to 2008, according to Ambassador Bellard.

Housing Agency Collects over 100m Br in First Half Year

The Agency for Government House (AGH) collected more than a 100 million Br revenue in the first half of the current budget year. The revenue collected in the reported period exceeds that of the initial target by more than 16.5 million Br, stated Kassahun Woldegiorgis, head of the agency's Public Relations service. This revenue also surpasses that of the same period last year by 13 million Br, according to Kassahun. Meanwhile, the agency has carried out maintenance works on 924 houses with an outlay of more than 1.6 million Br.

Construction of Gondar Univ. Referral Hospital Begins

MIDROC-construction is to launch the first phase construction of a referral hospital for Gondar University with 200 million Br. The first phase construction works will be carried out at a cost of 50 million Br, an amount granted recently by Sheikh Mohammed Al-Amoudi. The institution has plans to construct a three-storey building under the first phase, said Mengesha Admasu (PhD), acting president of the university. The existing hospital, constructed 60 years ago, serves close to 300,000 people in Gondar Town, as well as residents around the town.

Somali Region, New Veterinary Posts Operational

A total of seven veterinary posts constructed in Jijiga Town of the Somali Regional State at a cost of over 4.5 million Br have gone operational. The veterinary posts have been constructed in pastoralist localities. Construction of the facilities has raised animal health service coverage in the Town to 41pc from 20pc, Sehardid Abdilahi, head of the Wereda Rural Development Office, said. Meanwhile, the woreda provided vaccination and other veterinary services to over 300,000 animals over the past seven months through 14 veterinary posts.

British Council Undertakes 16.4 million Br worth Dev't Works

British Council, UK's International Aid and Development Partner, has been undertaking various development activities across Ethiopia worth about 16.4 million Br. The activities are designed to benefit over two million people in Ethiopia, many of them in the Oromia Regional State, said Barbara Wickham, country director of the council. British Council has objectives for further collaboration through strengthening joint effort with Oromia, according to Barbara.

Ministry, Company Sign Metal Ore Mining Accord

Alemayehu Tegenu, minister of Mines and Energy, and Rajesh Jupta, general manager of the Indo-UK Abyssinia Share Company signed an agreement providing the latter with mining rights of metal ore on a small-scale in Melka Arba locality of Western Bale Zone, Oromia Regional State. The company is expected to produce 1,200,000tn of minerals in the reported period from 677,655Sqm of land as per the agreement. The company has allocated more than 41 million Br for the production. It will create jobs for 45 people. The company is already producing 330tn of cement daily and addressing the shortage of the product in the booming construction industry.