Oromia, over 747m Br worth Roads  Complete

In the effort being made to expedite the development of the state, over 1,000Km of roads constructed at a cost of over 747 million Br have been opened to traffic, the Oromia State Road Authority said. Authority Plan and Programme Acting Manager Hailu Kene'a said that the construction of the all weather roads was carried out in rural areas of the state over the last four years. Work on the repair of some 15,915Km of roads has already been finalized and the state government has allocated over 971 million Br for the successful completion of the construction, he added. Some 8,737Km of roads have been constructed through public participation and the public have also provided labour valued at over 262 million Br, he said.

Ethiopian, Dubai Firms Ink $300m Agreement

An Ethiopian firm has signed a 300 million dollars joint venture deal with a Dubai company to develop a tea plantation, the government official said. "The joint venture agreement to develop tea on 5, 000hct of land in Illubabor, at a cost of nearly 300 million dollars, was signed between East Africa Agri-business and Dubai World Trading Company," said Berhanu Tesfaye, a senior agronomist in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Saudi Investors plough over Seven Billion Br into Projects

Saudi investors are engaged in various investment sectors in Ethiopia worth over seven billion Br combined capital, the Ethiopian Investment Agency announced. Agency Information and Public Relations Director Aklilu Wolde-Mariam said that the investors are undertaking close to 85 projects in the areas of agriculture, construction, education, health, hotel and tourism, industry and exploration of mining, among others. Upon going fully operational, the projects are expected to create jobs for over 34,000 citizens. Other Saudi investors with over 21.7 billion Br combined capital have received licences to launch 187 investment projects, Aklilu said. These projects are expected to create jobs for over 113,000 people.

Gambella licenses over 718m Br Investment Projects

Some 140 investors with over 718 million Br combined capital have been licensed to engage in various investment activities in Gambella State over the past nine months, the state investment agency said. Agency Director General Chenkuat David said the investors would engage in agriculture, agro-industry, construction, health, and hotel and tourism sectors. The investors, most of whom are engaged in the agriculture sector, have received over 40,000hct of land. Some 254 local and foreign investors with 3.7 billion Br combined capital, including the recently licensed ones, have been engaged in various investment sectors in the state. Upon fully going operational, the projects are expected to create permanent and temporary jobs for 60,000 people.

Amhara, Cooperative Unions Provide  Savings, 20m Br Loans

Some 13 credit and saving cooperatives unions in Amhara State are providing saving and credit service to beneficiaries, the State Cooperatives Promotion Agency said. Agency Manager Ayenew Belay said that the unions have embraced 250 basic associations across the state. Established with 26 million Br capital, the unions have accumulated over 12 million Br in savings over the last four years, he said. Besides the savings service, the unions have provided 20 million Br in loans to member associations and other beneficiaries, he said.

SNNPRS, Finance Inst. Distributes over 866m Br Loans

The Omo Micro-Finance Institution said it is granting over 866 million Br in loans to rural and urban areas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples State. Institution General Manager Ake Hibana said that the loans are being apportioned among over 138,000 people. The beneficiaries would utilize the loans to purchase agricultural inputs, to construct residential units and to be engaged in micro and small-scale businesses. The institution has been providing services to more than 34, 000 pensioners. It also encourages customers to develop a culture of saving.

Adama, Revenue Exceeds Target by 8.8m Br

More than 108 million Br revenue was collected from various income titles in Adama town over the past nine months, the Town Revenue Office said. Office Manager Abera Aba-ire said that the revenue was collected from land lease, provision of various services, tax and non-tax income titles. He said the revenue earned in the reported period from regular income tax exceeds the target set by more than 8.8 million Br. The office has planned to collect 200 million Br this fiscal year.

Tigray, Farmers Secure over 12m Br from Produce

Over 6,000 farmers in Ambalage Woreda, Southern Tigray Zone have obtained over an 12 million Br income from the sale of nearly 8,000Qtls output over the past six months, the Woreda Agriculture and Rural Development office said. Office Head Kiros Halefom said that the farmers cultivated the output on 128hct developed through irrigation. Kiros said the farmers cultivated vegetables, spices and other crops on the stated area of land. Farmers engaged in irrigation development over the past six years in the woreda have become self-sufficient in the food production.