NOC— upwards in leaps and bounds
By Andualem Sisay
National Oil Ethiopia plc (NOC), a company which entered the industry with start up capital of 100 mln birr in November 2004, has registered 2bln birr annual turnover within two and half years.
This was announced by Tadesse Tilahun, Chief Executive Officer of NOC, opening the National Bitumen Seminar organized by the company, at the Sheraton Addis April 12, 2007. During this time the asset of the company also increased to 500 mln birr while it made a tax contribution of over 60 mln birr to the country’s economy.
 MORE
Addis to stem water shortage temporarily
By Groum Abate
The Addis Ababa Water and Sewerage Authority (AAWSA), requested six water drilling companies to present their capacity for drilling 30 emergency wells in Addis Ababa. Only 48% of the Addis Ababa population gets access to treated water currently.
The Authority in a discussion held on Monday April 9, told the selected companies to notify their stock as soon as possible to start the said projects in the coming few weeks.
MORE
Fertilizer capacity untapped
By Andualem Sisay
The Ethiopian Soil Research Center, a government institution, says Ethiopia is underutilizing its potential of producing organic fertilizers. It has only produced 375 kg of organic bio-fertilizers in six years, while the center has the potential to produce one ton per year.
“When we identified three types of bio-fertilizer seven years ago, our hope was a quick action by the government to produce fertilizer in large quantities and provide to the farmers in need,” says Asfaw Haile Mariam (PhD), Division Head and Senior Researcher at the National Soil Research Center.
MORE
Account for climate variability: IISD
By Andualem Sisay
By considering the potential impact of climate change when establishing or changing policies, governments can reduce the potential for its citizens to be negatively affected by this process and help them change their practices, or adapt, to new climatic conditions.
Following the report of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a group of about 2000 scientists and researchers, released Friday, April 13, 2007, an expert from International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) highlights that climate change will impact the ability of developing country governments, such as Ethiopia's, to achieve their development goals.
MORE
Flood struck again in Dire Dawa
By Groum Abate
Several houses were damaged by flood waters in the eastern town of Dire Dawa, 515 km from the capital, after heavy rains pounded the area.
The Thursday morning floods swept over the Addis Ketema and Dechatu suburbs. There were no reports of casualties, although the flooding was quite intense.
MORE
AAU networked
By our staff reporter
The Addis Ababa University inaugurated Friday afternoon, April 13, 2007 the installation of the-all new network of the University, which was finalized by Huawei Technologies Investment Company Ltd.
The installation is completed as per the donation amounting to one mln USD using Huawei’s Data Communication Products (such as switches and routers), according to a press statement sent to Capital from Huawei Technologies Investment Company Ltd.
MORE
Free at last
By our staff reporter
The Second Criminal Bench of the Federal High Court ruled for 25 journalists to be set free and for eight editors-in-chief to defend the charges brought against them by the Federal prosecutor.
Most of the freed journalists are either managing directors of newspapers or deputy editors-in-chief.
The court has also quashed the attempted genocide and high treason charges leveled against all the accused in the case of Engineer Hailu Shawel et.al.
MORE
Dubai-another vase for Ethiopian flowers
By Andualem Sisay
Dubai Flower Center, which has the capacity of handling 180, 000 tons of perishable products a year, has invited Ethiopian flower growers to consider Dubai as the best location for distributing their flowers to Japan, Russia, and Gulf countries.
This was indicated on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 at the Sheraton Addis, during an introductory dinner program that highlighted Dubai Flower Center’s capacity and Dubai’s geographical proximity to Ethiopia. Talking to Capital about the purpose of the event, “The reason we are here is to highlight our center’s facilities” said Ian Strachan, Managing Director of Dubai Flower Center.
MORE
Real-estate draws investors
By Andualem Sisay
Recent investment data obtained from the Ethiopian Investment Authority reveals that almost half of both domestic and foreign investors are showing more interest in the real estate sector.
Out of the 238 total investment projects approved by the authority in March 2007, 95 local and 22 foreign investors have registered to work in real estate development. In the previous month also, out of 284 investment projects, 131 of which 21 are foreign investors, are involved in the same sector.
MORE
Pediatric ART provision
By Andualem Sisay
Provision of Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) for children and infants living with HIV who are eligible to take the medicine is lagging behind when compared to eligible adults living with HIV in Ethiopia.
Since Ethiopia began providing free ART two years ago, government and its partners were able to provide ART for 3,071 children, which is 7 percent of the total of 43,000 that are eligible for Antiretroviral Treatment (ART). However, when it comes to the provision of ART for the rest of the population, 27 per cent (around 60,000) have received ART so far.
MORE
ECBP launches counseling program
By Andualem Sisay
The Engineering Capacity Building Program (ECBP) in collaboration with Info Mind Solution (IMS), has started counseling university and Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET), students to prepare them for the up coming Career Expo 2007, a first of its kind in Ethiopia, which will take place June 1 and 2, 2007 here in Addis.
MORE
USAID delivers livestock market facilities
By Andualem Sisay
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/Ethiopia and the Government of Ethiopia inaugurated the first livestock market facilities constructed at more than 2.6 mln birr under USAID's Pastoralist Livelihoods Initiative (PLI) on April 13 and 14, 2007.
The two livestock market facilities, located in Teltele and Yabello, are believed to provide immediate benefits to pastoralists-for instance by boosting bargaining power by providing the option of holding their animals until the next market day to obtain a higher price. In the medium and long term, the market improvements will increase Ethiopia's competitiveness in the international livestock and meat markets, thereby increasing demand and further benefiting pastoralist communities.
MORE
Developing nations suffer more, says IPCC
By Andualem Sisay
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a UN-sponsored group of scientists, concluded in Brussels on Thursday April 6, 2007, that climate change is inevitable, adaptation to it is critical and that those who contributed least to the climate change will suffer the most.
According to a the statement sent to capital by IPCC, those least responsible for global warming - the poor, the indigenous communities - are the ones to be the most immediately and severely impacted by it. This is a core equity issue that must be addressed in the international negotiations, according to John Drexhage, director of climate change and energy of the International Institute for Sustainable Development, and an expert reviewer of the IPCC report.
MORE
India, the affordable medical haven
By Groum Abate
Ethiopian patients seem to have found yet another medical destination in Indian hospitals, “one of the most modern and affordable medical facilities in the world” according to News week magazine.
In its October 30, 2006 cover article titled “Medical Meccas”, Newsweek featured Indian hospitals as “World-class Destinations”, a list that included hospitals in Germany, Thailand, Russia, the UK, France, Israel, and the US.
MORE
Automobile prices rises as surtax imposed
Grain Trade Ent. starts distributing wheat in Addis
By Groum Abate
After the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development announced it will impose a 10% surtax on some import items for an unlimited period, with a view to creating the financial capacity needed to address the price hike and rising cost of living being observed in rural areas, automobile rose amazingly high all of a sudden.
MORE
Kangaroo hops into beer business
By Groum Abate
A new beer factory is in the making by a private Ethiopian investor in the outskirts of Addis Ababa.
The beer factory, which is under the process of being set up around Dukem, 35 kms outside Addis Ababa, would make the number of beer factories rise to six, after Meta Abo S.C, Harar Brewery, Bedele, BGI, and Dashen Beer Factory.
MORE
‘The sound of my steps’
By Mina Yirga
The most effective way of serving vulnerable children living in communities is by strengthening the circles of care. Families and communities are the first and remain the vanguard, to take actions against the impairing conditions for children through utmost supporting structures.
‘The sound of my step’ is a venture underway in Debrezeit (Bishoftu) designed to assist hearing-impaired and mentally challenged children by imparting the knowledge, skills and resources they need in upgrading their livelihood.
MORE
Donating Life
The Rotaract club of Abugida has organized a life saving event which is to donate blood so that there is a continuous supply in the country. The club has been working closely with the Ethiopian Red Cross Society since March 6, 2005.
Becoming aware of the scarcity of blood has brought the members to think of the seriousness of the issue and to act upon it by donating blood every four months, as the club’s priority one community service project. The club members, other Rotaract clubs and friends and families of members have donated blood six times so far. Now the club has organized the event yet again for the 7th time, which is to take place at the Ethiopian Red Cross Association on Sunday April 22, 2007.
|
NOC— upwards in leaps and bounds
By Andualem Sisay
National Oil Ethiopia plc (NOC), a company which entered the industry with start up capital of 100 mln birr in November 2004, has registered 2bln birr annual turnover within two and half years.
This was announced by Tadesse Tilahun, Chief Executive Officer of NOC, opening the National Bitumen Seminar organized by the company, at the Sheraton Addis April 12, 2007. During this time the asset of the company also increased to 500 mln birr while it made a tax contribution of over 60 mln birr to the country’s economy.
As a result, NOC is planning to add 30 new stations at the end of 2007 to its already existing 70 outlets. He said that his company is planning to spread evenly and as per the market demand across the country.
In addition, the company has completed the design work of an all-in-one full fledged depot that has a capacity of 20 mln liters of different petroleum products and plans to commence construction next year. It has also created direct employment opportunities for over 2,000 people excluding those that were engaged during construction phase.
Furthermore it has spent over two mln birr on community support activities including support to different regional states development programs on several fund raising campaigns. Support to children, youth and disabled, relief support to natural disasters, forest conservation, like tree plantation and on promotion of safe/defensive driving, according to Tadesse.
According to Tadessse, with in only two years, the company has been able to get a 25 per cent market share in the sector. In 2006, the company was able to increase the number of its stations from 50 to 70.
Currently, the company is engaged in the importation, distribution and retailing of petroleum products including Gasoline, Gas-oil, kerosene, Fuel oils, Lubricants, LPG and Bitumen.
The company has also been able to import and distribute close to 50,000 tons of different grades of bitumen worth 400 mln with in a short period of time. More than 80 per cent of the bitumen that the country uses for road construction is imported by NOC from Iran. The main objective of the seminar is to create awareness on the proper usage of bitumen to contractors who are engaged in road pavement in the country.
“We organized this workshop to create awareness on the proper implementation of bitumen,” he said briefing to journalists during a break at the seminar. “It will increase our knowledge and the product’s proper application as well testing methods of bitumen use in paving road’s.”
Addressing the gathering Mesfin Haile, Deputy Director of Ethiopian Road Authority, on his part indicated that the government of Ethiopia has earmarked on investing close to bln USD in the road sector in the coming five years. “Most of this fund will be used to build new asphalt roads,” he said.
An expert in the industry, Professor Hussain Bahia who,was is invited from the United States of America shared his experiences during the two day seminar.
Addis to stem water shortage temporarily
By Groum Abate
The Addis Ababa Water and Sewerage Authority (AAWSA), requested six water drilling companies to present their capacity for drilling 30 emergency wells in Addis Ababa. Only 48% of the Addis Ababa population gets access to treated water currently.
The Authority in a discussion held on Monday April 9, told the selected companies to notify their stock as soon as possible to start the said projects in the coming few weeks.
The six companies, GI Synthetic, Watt, Yadot, PipeNet, Tensae, and Siuma also told officials of AAWSA of their complaint that the authority fails to pay according to agreements and that the tender process is not transparent. The authority, which is now headed by Wondimu Shiferaw, Technical Department head and acting general manager, acknowledged the problems and vowed to act on them.
The companies agreed to notify their stock, which include pumps and other accessories for the emergency well project for alleviating the severe shortage of water in the capital city.
30 wells would be dug for the city along with rehabilitating other wells that used to be in use.
The authority also advised the companies that before the Legedadi Dam rehabilitation project starts, the wells should be dug and supply the city with water. When the dam is in rehabilitation in three months time, it would decrease production capacity by almost half.
The authority recently increased the price of water, which is the last part of the price adjustment that has been going on for the last five years. The adjustment of water tariffs is introduced in order to ensure financial sustainability in the provision of utilities and viability of planned expansion programs of the authority. According to a World Bank Group report, water tariffs are less than 20% of operations and maintenance costs. Moreover, the price increase in Addis Ababa aim at total cost recovery through time (which covers operation & maintenance costs, depreciation and debit servicing).
AAWSA has so far executed 13 major water supply projects. These are Kebena Mini-Dam, Kechene Mini-Dam, Series of Springs Development, Entoto Water Treatment Plant, Gafarsa-I Dam, Gafarsa-II Dam, Gafarsa-III Dam, Water-I (Legedadi Dam & Water Treatment Plant), Water-IIA (Legedadi Water Treatment Expansion & Rehabilitation of the Existing Legedadi & Gafarsa Water Treatment Plants), Water-IIB (Replacement of the Existing Legedadi transmission & Major Lines as well as Construction of Service Water Reservoirs), Wells & Springs Development-Emergency, Akaki Town Water Supply and Dire Dam-Emergency Projects.
Fertilizer capacity untapped
By Andualem Sisay
The Ethiopian Soil Research Center, a government institution, says Ethiopia is underutilizing its potential of producing organic fertilizers. It has only produced 375 kg of organic bio-fertilizers in six years, while the center has the potential to produce one ton per year.
“When we identified three types of bio-fertilizer seven years ago, our hope was a quick action by the government to produce fertilizer in large quantities and provide to the farmers in need,” says Asfaw Haile Mariam (PhD), Division Head and Senior Researcher at the National Soil Research Center.
The annual urea import of Ethiopia has currently surpassed 100,000 tons a year. It is estimated by the National Fertilizer Industry Agency in 2001 that the demand will be about half a mln tons per year. The price per ton is close to 400 USD from 310 USD last year.
“We know that its policies do allow the government to be engaged in production activity. But at least it can do some thing by providing incentives like countries such as India to attract private investors to be engaged in the production of such an important input for our farmers.” “Even though, the center has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with, Ambassel plc, the company did not take concrete action to begin producing fertilizer, other than ordering the center to produce a small quantity and then buying it from them to sell it on to farmers.
The center sells one bucket (125 gm) of powder bio-fertilizer to Ambassel plc for 25 birr.
“From what we have observed in the field, a farmer who used to produce 10 to 12 quintals of soybeans is able to increase production per hectare up to 26 quintals. If this farmer sells one quintal for 700 birr, he/she will be able to earn an additional 9,800 birr as a result of harvesting additional 14 quintals on that same plot and using the same labor but buying 35 birr of bio- fertilizer (if we assume that is the cost Ambassel sells to the farmer),” says Asfaw.
Rhizobium Leguminosarum, Bradyrhizobium Japomicum and Sinorizobium are the scientific name of the bio-fertilizers prepared by center for selected six crops-soybean, haricot bean, feta bean, lentil, chickpea and field pea. The findings are based on the method that urea is produced and nitrogen cycle. It is a result of identifying bacteria with nitrogenous enzymes.
“One bucket is enough for a quarter hectare and can serve from three to four years as the microorganisms continue a natural interaction with the atmosphere and the plants. The relation between the bio-fertilizer, which is prepared of microorganisms and the plant, is a give and take kind,” he says.
The microorganisms in the fertilizer provide nitrogen to the plant and as a result,take carbon dioxide and another 32 types of elements from it. When the plant gets enough nitrogen and stops taking it from the microorganism, they will begin to die. But some of them remain alive in the soil by taking in carbon dioxide from the surroundings until they meet their natural partner (the plant) in the next harvest season.
Being very cheap, simple and not difficult to transport when compared to imported urea, saving the country’s foreign currency and being environmentally as well as farmer friendly are some of the advantages of these locally produced organic bio-fertilizers, according to Asfaw.
In addition to the hydrogen based bio-fertilizers, the center has also recently identified phosphorus based bio-fertilizers, which are highly effective on acid soils and can be used for all kinds of crop production.
Account for climate variability: IISD
By Andualem Sisay
By considering the potential impact of climate change when establishing or changing policies, governments can reduce the potential for its citizens to be negatively affected by this process and help them change their practices, or adapt, to new climatic conditions.
Following the report of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a group of about 2000 scientists and researchers, released Friday, April 13, 2007, an expert from International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) highlights that climate change will impact the ability of developing country governments, such as Ethiopia's, to achieve their development goals.
This was indicated by Jo-Ellen Parry, Program Manager, Climate Change and Energy at the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) who responded through email to Capital on how countries like Ethiopia can adapt to climate change.
IISD is a not-for-profit research institute based in Canada and works related in activities to the implications of climate change for developing countries. Due to the increase in greenhouse gas emissions in the Earth's atmosphere, climatic changes have begun and will continue for decades into the future, according to the expert.
“Climate change likely will, for example, negatively affect food production and the availability of fresh water. In response, policy makers need to keep in mind that the climate of the past will not be the climate of the future when making important policy decisions such as the type of agricultural production to promote and how to build infrastructure such as roads and bridges.”
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a group of about 2000 scientists and researchers that have prepared a Summary for Policy Makers on Impacts and Adaptation to Climate Change highlights Africa as one of the most vulnerable continents to climate variability and change because of multiple stresses and low adaptive capacity.
IPCC’s report revealed that by 2020, between 75 and 250 million people are projected to be exposed to an increase of water stress due to climate change. If coupled with increased demand, this will adversely affect livelihoods and exacerbate water-related problems.
In addition it highlighted that agricultural production, including access to food, in many African countries and regions is projected to be severely compromised by climate variability and change. The area suitable for agriculture, the length of growing seasons and yield potential, particularly along the margins of semi-arid and arid areas, are expected to decrease. This would further adversely affect food security and exacerbate malnutrition in the continent. In some countries, yields from rain-fed agriculture could be reduced by up to 50% by 2020.
Furthermore, local food supplies are projected to be negatively affected by decreasing fisheries resources in large lakes due to rising water temperatures, which may be exacerbated by continued over-fishing. Towards the end of the 21st century, projected sea-level rise will affect low-lying coastal areas with large populations.
The cost of adaptation could also amount to at least 5-10% of GDP. Mangroves and coral reefs are projected to be further degraded, with additional consequences for fisheries and tourism. Some adaptation to current climate variability is taking place; however, this may be insufficient for future changes in climate, according to the report.
Flood struck again in Dire Dawa
By Groum Abate
Several houses were damaged by flood waters in the eastern town of Dire Dawa, 515 km from the capital, after heavy rains pounded the area.
The Thursday morning floods swept over the Addis Ketema and Dechatu suburbs. There were no reports of casualties, although the flooding was quite intense.
It is the second time in less than a year that Dire Dawa, Ethiopia's second-largest town with a population of 400,000, was hit by floods. In August, at least 250 people died and nearly 10,000 were forced to leave their homes - some 5,524 of whom are still living in tents in the Mariam Sefer area - when floods inundated the town.
Binyam said that the flood hit the city around 1:30 am [local time] and continued to rush over it for three hours. "Some policemen fired guns into the air and fire fighters used their alarms to wake up the residents," he said.
Many of those who woke up left their homes and spent the night on higher, safe ground. However, a 100m bank of Dechatu burst while other barriers in Addis Ketema were also damaged.
According to the Ethiopian Meteorological Agency, heavy rainfall is expected in the area over the next 10 days.
Police had begun to set up radio communications in Egeneni village, where water converges from four different sources.
A meeting of top government and local administration officials was held on Thursday to discuss strategies to minimize possible damage, should more flood waters hit the area.
After the 2006 floods, the Dire Dawa interim administration allocated funds to build four flood banks in the Dechatu, Ashwa, and Hafcat areas of the town.
AAU networked
By our staff reporter
The Addis Ababa University inaugurated Friday afternoon, April 13, 2007 the installation of the-all new network of the University, which was finalized by Huawei Technologies Investment Company Ltd.
The installation is completed as per the donation amounting to one mln USD using Huawei’s Data Communication Products (such as switches and routers), according to a press statement sent to Capital from Huawei Technologies Investment Company Ltd.
Huawei’s Viewpoint video conferencing terminal has also been deployed in this network and will allow for remote teaching made easy by the new gigabit network.
Huawei Technologies is a Chinese private enterprise established in 1988. It is specialized in research and development, production and marketing of communications equipment, and provides customized network solutions for telecom carriers in mobile network, fixed network, data communications and value-added services.
Free at last
By our staff reporter
The Second Criminal Bench of the Federal High Court ruled for 25 journalists to be set free and for eight editors-in-chief to defend the charges brought against them by the Federal prosecutor.
Most of the freed journalists are either managing directors of newspapers or deputy editors-in-chief.
The court has also quashed the attempted genocide and high treason charges leveled against all the accused in the case of Engineer Hailu Shawel et.al.
Regarding the charge of attempted genocide, the court stated that the prosecution's evidence did not show that the accused acted with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, members of the Tigray nationality. It noted that the acts of the accused, namely issuing a call to ostracize sections of the society that support the EPRDF, could only be construed to be a strategy aimed at exerting pressure on the government. It also stated that the [election campaign] speeches of one of the accused, Bederu Adem, made in Addis Ababa and Assela towns, only demonstrated hatred and not intent to commit genocide. Due to these reasons, the court said, the accused should not defend the charge of attempted genocide.
In a ruling on April 9, concerning the charges brought against journalists and publishers in the first charge, the court first stated that the role of the press was to promote the building of a democratic order by providing constructive criticisms, adding that it should be free and independent. It then went on to say that pursuant to the Criminal Code of Ethiopia, for crimes committed through periodicals, it was chiefly the
editor-in-chief who should be held liable and accordingly, ordered the editor-in-chiefs and four publishers among the accused to defend the charges against them, setting free deputy-editors-in chief as well as newspaper owners and managers of the companies that publish the newspapers.
Serkalem Fasil owner of Serkalem Publishing and her husband Eskinder Nega, who were also freed, told Capital that they thanked those who supported them morally during their incarceration.
The court last week has also acquitted former member of the Teachers Association, Kassahun Tafesse, who was charged with the first case as the prosecutor had not presented evidence against the accused.
Dubai-another vase for Ethiopian flowers
By Andualem Sisay
Dubai Flower Center, which has the capacity of handling 180, 000 tons of perishable products a year, has invited Ethiopian flower growers to consider Dubai as the best location for distributing their flowers to Japan, Russia, and Gulf countries.
This was indicated on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 at the Sheraton Addis, during an introductory dinner program that highlighted Dubai Flower Center’s capacity and Dubai’s geographical proximity to Ethiopia. Talking to Capital about the purpose of the event, “The reason we are here is to highlight our center’s facilities” said Ian Strachan, Managing Director of Dubai Flower Center. “Although the Dubai flower market at the moment is not as big as that of the Netherlands, it is much easier for us to reach all the Gulf countries, Japan and Russian flower markets among others. We would like to see Ethiopian flowers in Dubai.”
The Netherlands is the destination for most of Ethiopia’s flowers and takes some 60 per cent of the total. Based in Dubai, U.A.E., at a geographical crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa; Dubai Flower Center serves an international market of over two bln potential consumers and a local gulf market with a GDP of nearly 540 bln USD.
Addressing the gathering, Fantaye Biftu, Special Assistant on floriculture at the Ethiopian Ministry of Trade and Industry, indicated that Dubai Flower Center’s interest will fit to Ethiopia’s diversification strategy for the floriculture market. “Dubai’s geographical proximity will be an advantage for Ethiopian flowers,” he said.
Dubai Flower Center is strategically located at Dubai International Airport, which processed nearly 1.3 mln tons of air freight in 2005 and around 1.5 mln tons in 2006 and is projected to increase to 3 mln by 2010. Over 112 airlines already connect through Dubai International Airport to more than 165 destinations to unite global markets.
Repacking for transshipment to world destinations, fruit and vegetable pack house, value added services such as bouquet making, and preassembly of product lines sourced from around the world and tailored to end markets are some of the services of Dubai Flower Center.
Ethiopia’s foreign currency earnings from the floriculture sector have now reached 21.9 USD in 1998 Ethiopian Calendar (2005/2006), from 12.7 mln USD in the previous year. Currently some 100 investors are engaged in the sector.
The growth in the sector is expected to be faster than before, as recently, the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture has allocated 400,000 hectares for vegetable, fruit and horticulture producers in the Rift Valley, Dire Dawa, Dedesa Valley and Tana Beles corridors.
Real-estate draws investors
By Andualem Sisay
Recent investment data obtained from the Ethiopian Investment Authority reveals that almost half of both domestic and foreign investors are showing more interest in the real estate sector.
Out of the 238 total investment projects approved by the authority in March 2007, 95 local and 22 foreign investors have registered to work in real estate development. In the previous month also, out of 284 investment projects, 131 of which 21 are foreign investors, are involved in the same sector.
The next most popular investment interest area of both domestic and foreign investors is manufacturing, followed by agriculture, hunting and forestry.
The least area of interest is fishing and attracted only one investor out of 522 in February and March. The wholesale, retail trade and repair service sectors, which attracted only three investors, followed by construction with four, are also among the sectors which investors have shown minimal interest.
The total capital of the 522 approved investments by the Ethiopian Investment Authority in the past two months is close to 10 bln birr and is expected to create permanent job opportunities for 34,602 and 53,971 temporary employees.
Recently, the investment activity of the country has been showing an increase as the government continues to introduce various incentives for both foreign and domestic investors.
It is as the result of such incentives that the country was able to increase the FDI share in GDP from 0.3 per cent of GDP in 1994 to 7 in 2004, according to Economic Report on Africa 2007, which was launched last week in Addis Ababa.
Unfortunately, some, like the more than 100 located in Oromia, have not even begun construction after 10 years, have been observed misusing the incentives and spending years writing complaint letters to various offices rather than directly embarking on going into the implementation of their investment projects.
Pediatric ART provision
By Andualem Sisay
Provision of Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) for children and infants living with HIV who are eligible to take the medicine is lagging behind when compared to eligible adults living with HIV in Ethiopia.
Since Ethiopia began providing free ART two years ago, government and its partners were able to provide ART for 3,071 children, which is 7 percent of the total of 43,000 that are eligible for Antiretroviral Treatment (ART). However, when it comes to the provision of ART for the rest of the population, 27 per cent (around 60,000) have received ART so far.
Out of 43,000 children living with HIV/AIDS and who need ART, half will die with in the coming two years, if government and its partners fail to provide them with the medicine.
This was indicated at a half day workshop prepared to sensitize local journalists about pediatric ART in Ethiopia at Ghion Hotel on April 11,2007.
Out of the estimated total of 1.3 mln people People Living With HIV (PLWH) in Ethiopia, 280, 000 are eligible for ART. 43,000 are children under 15 years. Although this figure shows those who need ART based on their CD 4 count, currently there are more than 134,000 children living with HIV in Ethiopia. Approximately in 2006, 30,000 babies were born with HIV.
According to a presentation on the day, children and infants are getting the medicine with support under International Center for AIDS Care and Treatment Programs (CU-ICAP), which is an initiative of Colombia University (CU), of the United States of America.
CU-ICAP and the Federal Ministry of Health have began providing medicine for children and infants after they found out of the lack of ART providers trained in pediatric care and treatment in January 2006 and began Pediatric ART provision in December, 2006.
The initiative is providing the service for children using a family centered approach and establishing linkages between ART and Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV. It is giving the service at hospitals in Oromia, Somali, Harari and Dire Dawa regions.
CU-ICAP in collaboration with other partners is engaged in giving training on pediatric care and treatment for health professionals, supporting the national early infant diagnosis and preparing guidelines and materials for ART and PMTCT among other.
In a related development, the second annual pediatric conference was held at the Sheraton Addis from April 12-13, 2007. The conference discussed with all stakeholders including from regional health stations on how to diversify the service of ART in all regions of the country and reach all children who are eligible for the medicine.
ECBP launches counseling program
By Andualem Sisay
The Engineering Capacity Building Program (ECBP) in collaboration with Info Mind Solution (IMS), has started counseling university and Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET), students to prepare them for the up coming Career Expo 2007, a first of its kind in Ethiopia, which will take place June 1 and 2, 2007 here in Addis.
Counseling offices in both private and state universities and colleges are now open to guide the students on how to prepare themselves for the expo. During the two-month counseling period, the counselors will teach the students methods of preparing Curriculum Vitae (CV), that enable the students to sell themselves to the companies which participate on the career expo.
The career expo is expected to gather some 10,000 students and most of the companies in the country. The main objective of the expo is to provide graduates of universities and colleges with the opportunity of coming together with the industry and the public as well as to establish an internship system in Ethiopia.
Students in different regions can also send their CVs to the website that will be prepared for the expo and participate on Career Expo 2007, according to Yusuf Reja, general manager of IMS.
Launching the counseling program on Tuesday, April 10,2007 at the Addis Ababa University Technology Faculty, “Education and economy (industry) don’t have to look at each other like separate islands,” said Mrs. Nele Wasmuth, Senior Expert University-Industry Linkage at ECBP. “Both have to be networked if they both want to learn from each other.”
Describing the experience of her homeland, Germany, which gathers 10,000 students and 600 companies every year in Lalogne, the expert expressed her hope that the same will be done every year in Ethiopia.
Dr Eng. Daniel Kitaw, Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies at the Addis Ababa university technology Faculty on his part also stressed the need for both university and industry to stop somewhere and evaluate where both are at the moment and where they want to reach.
According to the Associate Dean, the link between the two is critical to avoid the mismatch between them, to use effectively the scarce resource of the country, to catch up with the rest of the world and be competent in globalization among others.
ECBP is a five-year program of the Ethiopian government with a budget of 180 mln euros and technically as well as 50 percent funded by the German Government.
It is undertaking the internship program under its university reform component, which is one of the four major programs. Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET), quality and standards and private sector development are the remaining intervention programs of ECBP.
USAID delivers livestock market facilities
By Andualem Sisay
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/Ethiopia and the Government of Ethiopia inaugurated the first livestock market facilities constructed at more than 2.6 mln birr under USAID's Pastoralist Livelihoods Initiative (PLI) on April 13 and 14, 2007.
The two livestock market facilities, located in Teltele and Yabello, are believed to provide immediate benefits to pastoralists-for instance by boosting bargaining power by providing the option of holding their animals until the next market day to obtain a higher price. In the medium and long term, the market improvements will increase Ethiopia's competitiveness in the international livestock and meat markets, thereby increasing demand and further benefiting pastoralist communities.
Teltele and Harobake livestock markets are the first in a series of markets that will be built with USAID support, making a tremendous difference in the lives of pastoralists," said Ms Bruktawit Dawit Abdi, ACDI/NOCA Country Representative for Ethiopia. ACDI/NOCA is an international development organization which has been working in Ethiopia since 1994 to improve the livelihoods of small-scale farmers and pastoralists through enhanced market opportunities.
According to the statement sent to Capital from the US Embassy, in October 2005, USAID launched PLI in the Somali, Afar, and Oromia Regions of Ethiopia in order to reduce pastoralist ' food insecurity and vulnerability to droughts and other shocks. Implemented through a team of international and local NGOs, the initiative is improving drought preparedness, enhancing livestock productivity, and increasing the incomes of pastoralists who depend on livestock for their livelihoods.
The livestock marketing component of PLI, implemented by ACDI/NOCA, seeks to transform the pastoralist livestock marketing system in Ethiopia through increased sales to high value domestic and export markets. An essential part of this component is the construction and/or upgrading of key livestock market facilities to reduce market transaction costs and improve pastoralists' access to markets
In selecting the 25 market sites to be constructed under this component, ACDI/NOCA solicited input and weighed various criteria from key stakeholders including pastoralists, livestock traders, government officials and NGOs who support pastoralist livelihood development. Selection criteria included weekly volume of animals supplied to the market, availability of water and feed resources in the area, alignment with the Ethiopian Livestock Development Master Plan, and, most importantly, linkages to terminal/export markets as identified through regional value chain analysis.
During the extensive stakeholder consultations conducted by ACDI/NOGA, pastoralists and local traders stressed that a functional market requires water and feed, Buyers and sellers agreed that if the markets were in better condition and were equipped with a dependable water source, the number of animals arriving at the market and the quality of the animals leaving the market would increase.
Developing nations suffer more, says IPCC
By Andualem Sisay
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a UN-sponsored group of scientists, concluded in Brussels on Thursday April 6, 2007, that climate change is inevitable, adaptation to it is critical and that those who contributed least to the climate change will suffer the most.
According to a the statement sent to capital by IPCC, those least responsible for global warming - the poor, the indigenous communities - are the ones to be the most immediately and severely impacted by it. This is a core equity issue that must be addressed in the international negotiations, according to John Drexhage, director of climate change and energy of the International Institute for Sustainable Development, and an expert reviewer of the IPCC report.
“Even if, by some miracle, the world managed to stop emitting greenhouse gases today, we will still experience climate change in the next few decades, making adaptation unavoidable. “On the other hand,” he says, Richard Klein, coordinator of climate policy research at the Stockholm Environment Institute and a coordinating lead author of the IPCC. “Without any effort in mitigation we are likely to reach a level of climate change that makes adaptation impossible for some ecosystems, while for people it could involve very high social and economic costs.”
For some countries, particularly the poorest countries in Africa and the small island developing states, adaptation is more important than mitigation. For countries like China, India and Brazil, the combination of the two strategies is essential, according to Saleemul Huq, director of the climate change program of the International Institute for Environment and Development, and also a coordinating lead author.
Scientists have outlined a range of effects that have already taken place; they vary depending on how regional climates respond to rising global average temperatures. But as scientists look ahead, broad patterns emerge. Among them:
Fresh-water resources: By the plant and animal species researchers have examined so far could become extinct.
Farming: Globally, food production overall improves if temperature increases locally remain within a 1 degree to 3 degree C range. Productivity is projected to fall if temperatures rise above that range Coastal areas: By 2080, millions of people are expected to be affected by floods because of sea-level rise, especially in regions with high land subsidence, such as the Louisiana coast, or regions in Asia and Africa with large, low-lying, heavily populated river deltas. Small islands, the report notes, are particularly vulnerable.
Human habitation: Cities and industries that sit along coastal areas or river flood plains are expected to face the largest challenges – especially in already poor countries. Even in wealthy nations the poorest people are likely to suffer most.
Public Health: The report sets out a mixed picture, with the heaviest effects falling on poor areas where health care services, sanitation, and sources of clean water already are scarce.
Researchers acknowledge that pegging the changes they see in specific physical and biological systems to global warming is difficult. Changes are being measured at a relatively small number of sites around the world. And they plains are expected to face the largest challenges – especially in already poor countries. Even in wealthy nations the poorest people are likely to suffer most.
Public Health: The report sets out a mixed picture, with the heaviest effects falling on poor areas where health care services, sanitation, and sources of clean water already are scarce.
Researchers acknowledge that pegging the changes they see in specific physical and biological systems to global warming is difficult. Changes are being measured at a relatively small number of sites around the world. And they cover a relatively small number of ecological and physical systems.
Still, the report notes that out of 29,000 data sets contained in 75 studies regarding changes under way, 89 percent are consistent with what models project should happen as the world warms. And the warming patterns people are seeing regionally are consistent with broad distribution of temperature changes global-scale models.
Efforts to encourage sustainable development can help countries improve their resilience. But the report notes that over the next 50 years, the regional effects of global warming could undermine efforts to achieve those development goals.
"Many of these linkages are opportunities to promote sustainable development and alleviate poverty. We found relatively few examples where decision-makers made explicit, economic trade-offs between mitigation and adaptation," said Tom Downing, director of the Oxford office of the Stockholm Environment Institute and a lead author of the IPCC.
The report from Working Group 2 of the Fourth Assessment of the IPCC was released in Brussels on Friday April 5, 2007. Working Group 3 will present its findings on May 4, 2007 in Bangkok and the final synthesis report will be released in November of this year.
India, the affordable medical haven
By Groum Abate
Ethiopian patients seem to have found yet another medical destination in Indian hospitals, “one of the most modern and affordable medical facilities in the world” according to News week magazine.
In its October 30, 2006 cover article titled “Medical Meccas”, Newsweek featured Indian hospitals as “World-class Destinations”, a list that included hospitals in Germany, Thailand, Russia, the UK, France, Israel, and the US.
B.A.D.R.Y Interlink Plc., facilitator’s for international medical treatment, officially started operations in Ethiopian sending patients to India for better and cheaper medical treatments.
The office facilitates visas to India through the embassy in Addis Ababa and makes it possible to obtain visa in just one day, according to general manger, Amare Assefa. The office would also facilitate other pertinent issues for patients who are heading in India for medical treatment.
Verifying doctors’ medical reports that recommend a patient to be treated abroad, checking financial capacity and the patient’s probability to be cured are among the duties of B.A.D.R.Y.
According to the manager, the office would also give an hospice for terminal patients.
The office facilitates patients to visit 42 Indian hospitals that have a combined 14,000 beds.
Total estimated 12 patients leave the country per monthly privately to various countries for medical treatment.
Automobile prices rises as surtax imposed
Grain Trade Ent. starts distributing wheat in Addis
By Groum Abate
After the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development announced it will impose a 10% surtax on some import items for an unlimited period, with a view to creating the financial capacity needed to address the price hike and rising cost of living being observed in rural areas, automobile rose amazingly high all of a sudden.
The automobile market, which is heavily determined by brokers, has shown increases ranging from 10,000 to 30,000 birr.
The surtax aims to be used to ease the price hike and rising cost of living by supplying grains and other basic goods at lower price for residents of urban areas.
Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Sufian Ahmed, in a press conference he gave on Tuesday said local products, services, fuels, grain, investment goods, raw materials for local factories, passenger buses ,trucks, medicines, fertilizer and other consumer goods are exempted from the surtax.
The surtax is imposed on import goods that are believed not to affect the investment activity in the country such as ornaments, perfumes, electronic devices, private automobiles, beverages and canned foods, he added.
The Ministry also indicated that it has designed a system to monitor and take necessary measures over people that do not comply with the provision and increase price on goods the surtax has not been imposed on.
The Minister also said as the surtax is imposed on cautiously selected import items that are not basic needs, it would not aggravate the price hike on consumer goods.
The surtax was put in effect as of Wednesday April 11, 2007.
The money due to be collected as surtax would be used to scale up the efforts the government launched to stabilize the grain market, he said.
The Minister also said a surtax was imposed in 2000, when the country was at war with Eritrea, to build the financial capacity of the government.
“Accordingly, the surtax being introduced now will be lifted when the grain market is stabilized," Sufian said.
In related news, the Ethiopian Grain Trade Enterprise disclosed that it has started distributing wheat at reasonable prices to destitute residents in five Sub-cities of the metropolis.
The enterprise is distributing wheat for people who come up with sales coupons from their respective kebeles in accordance with the plan to distribute wheat at reasonable price in some towns so as to stabilize the price hike on some crops this year.
The enterprise is currently undertaking grain sales in Kolfe, Lideta, Gullele, Bole and Akaki sub-cities.
The government has allocated 24 million birr for the first-round distribution of 200,000 quintals of wheat in six towns, and Addis Ababa has started to benefit from the plan on Friday and shares 60 million birr of the total.
The enterprise will continue its supply until November 2007 and reiterated that the supply will be terminated when the market stabilizes.
Kangaroo hops into beer business
By Groum Abate
A new beer factory is in the making by a private Ethiopian investor in the outskirts of Addis Ababa.
The beer factory, which is under the process of being set up around Dukem, 35 kms outside Addis Ababa, would make the number of beer factories rise to six, after Meta Abo S.C, Harar Brewery, Bedele, BGI, and Dashen Beer Factory.
Kangaroo Plast Plc, a family owned business group with diverse interests, is in the process of erecting the a new beer factory.
The new factory would enter the beer business in the country, which many believed is a big market and where the present ones are expanding.
Bedele, Harar, and Meta Abo were put up for privatization by the then Ethiopian Privatization Agency but were not sold for reasons that the agency did not find attractive prices for the factories.
The previously planned sale of the breweries by EPA was not a success as potential buyers showed neither the skills nor the financial clout to take over three of the country’s biggest breweries.
The other private company, Dashen Beer used to produces about 26,200,000 liters of beer every year in a 300 ml capacity bottle. Following an upgrade, the company is expected to produce about 75,000,000 liters per year.
Present in Ethiopia since 1998, BGI -Ethiopia operates two state-of-the-art bottling plants in Addis Ababa and Kombolcha, Northern Wollo and produces 100,000 hectoliters per month. BGI claims that it has more than 50% of market share.
We had mistakenly reported week before last that the beer factory was a joint venture between Kangaroo Plast and Star Business Group. Kangaroo Plast Plc is the sole owner of the new beer factory.
‘The sound of my steps’
By Mina Yirga
The most effective way of serving vulnerable children living in communities is by strengthening the circles of care. Families and communities are the first and remain the vanguard, to take actions against the impairing conditions for children through utmost supporting structures.
‘The sound of my step’ is a venture underway in Debrezeit (Bishoftu) designed to assist hearing-impaired and mentally challenged children by imparting the knowledge, skills and resources they need in upgrading their livelihood.
In developing the project, Rotary Club of Entoto felt that sensitization on the importance of awareness regarding these special children was insufficient and that the program needed to address the public about the needs of these children.
Accordingly, with support from Rotary Club of Entoto, a four kilometre walk has been organized on May 13, 2007 in Debrezeit to uphold the Bishoftu School project in which the children are educated.
The four kilometer fund raising walk is organized in such a way that, the participants will pay the due of 50 birr if they want to walk, 75 birr if they came with their bicycle and 100 birr if they want to ride carriage (Gari) to complete the race.
At the completion of the 4 kilometer walk, the participant will attend a tree planting ceremony at the formal inauguration of the Bishoftu school project.
The Bishoftu School project was first launched by the late Doron Grossman, the former ambassador of Israel. Forty two children, 20 boys and 22 girls,
between the ages of 7-18 have been enrolled in Bishoftu School project, enabling them to grow in a safe and supportive environment.
The Bishoftu School has 3 class rooms of which two separate rooms are prepared one for the hearing-impaired and the other for the mentally
challenged children. The last room will be their music room.
“We believe education is an empowering process for the children. It is necessary to increase the level of learning and their level of intelligence. The school has been built by Teferi Djemanhe’s family at the cost of 120,000 birr. Furthermore, we have planned to purchase the school equipment and furniture with the 25,000 birr contribution we have received from Mr. Chris De Muinck, General Manager of MOENCO,” says Rotarian Diego Sanchez. Others partners like BGI, Marill, Port of Djibouti and Dubai Ports, La Parisienne Bakery and Pastry shop, and the Embassies of USA, Israel, France in Ethiopia also assisted the project.
“We have planned the music class to be a special room for the kids. These kids like to hear the rhythm of the music and they respond to the vibe” he added.
Accordingly, the music school will be named after the founder of the project the late Doron Grossman.
“The event is not only for the kids. There are very important messages which comes across from these event that mentally challenged and hearing-impaired kids do live in Ethiopia that need our help, so let’s help out in finding solutions.” Sanchez further stated.
Donating Life
The Rotaract club of Abugida has organized a life saving event which is to donate blood so that there is a continuous supply in the country. The club has been working closely with the Ethiopian Red Cross Society since March 6, 2005.
Becoming aware of the scarcity of blood has brought the members to think of the seriousness of the issue and to act upon it by donating blood every four months, as the club’s priority one community service project. The club members, other Rotaract clubs and friends and families of members have donated blood six times so far. Now the club has organized the event yet again for the 7th time, which is to take place at the Ethiopian Red Cross Association on Sunday April 22, 2007.
As a community service club sponsored by Rotary club of Addis Ababa Entoto, the club has participated in different projects like polio eradication program, spending time with the mentally challenged, environmental protection and raising funds for the economically disadvantaged.
Our motto is to make a wish come true We Care!! WHAT ABOUT YOU?
Join us on Sunday April 22, 2007 @ Ethiopian Red Cross Association, around the Stadium.
|