Exports Earn $75m in Foreign Exchange

Some 75 million dollars was secured from exporting over 61 million kilogrammes of oilseed, cereal, vegetables, fruit, and livestock over the past four months at the Adama branch office of the Ethiopian Revenues & Customs Authority (ERCA), according to the office. The products were exported to China, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Britain, Italy, Djibouti, Germany, and the US, according to Addis Abshiro, head office coordinator at the branch.

Fattening Fetches Fourfold Fortune in Arsi

About 54,300 farmers in Arsi Zone, Oromia Regional State, engaged in animal fattening have secured over two billion Birr in the past Ethiopian fiscal year by supplying over 155,600 fattened animals to domestic and foreign markets, exceeding by over fourfold that of the same period last year, according to the zone’s animal development, health, and marketing office. Over 11 million fodder seedlings have been distributed among farmers, and over 19,400 of the farmers are women, according to Lulseged Shiferaw, head of the office.

Castel Winery Begins Production

Castel Winery, constructed in Batu Town, Oromia Regional State, at a cost of over 300 million Br has entered the production phase with a projected capacity to produce half a million bottles of wine after six years, using its 18 modern machines, according to Fitehanegest Aynalem, manager of the winery. There is a plan to export over one million bottles of wine to Europe. It has created over 800 jobs, so far, according to the manager.

Bole Airport Adds 50pc in Aircraft Capacity

Ethiopian Airports Enterprise (EAE) is expanding the apron capacity of Bole International Airport, which will be completed at a cost of over 1.1 million Br, according to EAE. The first phase of the project is to enable an additional 10 aircraft to land, adding to the current capacity of 19 aircraft, according to Wondim Teklu, public relations head of EAE. Administering 17 airports and airstrips in the country, EAE is undertaking various construction projects worth over 1.1 million Br across the country, according to Wondimu.

Almost Half of Tigray Roads Already Renovated

Some 322km of asphalt and gravel roads have, so far, been renovated at a cost of 48 million Br in Tigray Regional State, this Ethiopian budget year, according to the Adigrat District of the Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA). There is a plan to renovate the remaining 412km of roads and construct five medium bridges, according to Marzeneb Geday, district manager.

Somali State to Soak up 260m Br for Water Scheme

Some 85pc of the clean water project launched by the Ministry of Water and Energy (MoWE) in Afar Regional State, at a cost of 98 million Br, is nearing completion, according to Tendaho Sugar Project. The already completed portion of the project benefits 4,500 households. It is expected to benefit 70,000 households upon going fully operational at the end of this Ethiopian fiscal year, according to Fasil Kibiru, project processor owner. The project has created 412 jobs.

Wolayita Water Project Takes Wing

The construction of a potable water and sanitation project, including the construction of sinking wells and two reservoirs and the installation of 30km of pipelines, have been launched in Sodo Town, Wolayita Zone, Southern Regional State, at a cost of 130 million Br. The project, which was funded by the government and the European community, is expected to produce water for 15 years and is to be completed within 14 months, according to Ebrahim Asha, head of the zone’s water, mining, and energy department.

Koreans Plan Five-storey Hospital Addition

Myungsung Hospital, part of the existing cooperation of the Ethiopian and South Korean governments, is to construct a new five-storey building, at a cost of 86 million Br, to give health services at international standards, according to Chul Soo Kim, medical director and CEO of the hospital. While the construction is expected to be completed in two years, a new medical college and research centre, constructed by the hospital with 34 million Br, has already been inaugurated.