Capital

Condoleezza Rice due here this week

Dr. Condoleezza Rice, US Secretary of State is expected to pay a one day visit to Addis Ababa this week.
The US Department of State has announced that Dr. Rice will hold talks on Ethio- American relations with Ethiopian government officials and will also confer with officials from Somalia, DR-Congo and Sudan. This is Rice’s first ever visit to Ethiopia.

International humanitarian, peace maker arrives Thursday

By Addis Mulugeta

Starbucks agrees to pay premium price for Ethiopian coffees

By Andualem Sisay and Kirubel Tadesse

ETC finalizing preparations to launch 3G mobile service
Nokia Amharic phones available on market

By Kirubel Tadesse

265 private Indian companies operating with 465 million USD capital

By Kirubel Tadesse

Cotecna: poised for Ethiopia market

By Andualem Sisay

Nib Insurance profits increase 135 % By-election brings two individuals to board

By Andualem Sisay

Meles says situation in Somalia definitely improving

By Andualem Sisay

Joaquim Chissano wins Mo Ibrahim Prize

By Muluken Yewondwossen

King of the road unveiled

By Addis Mulugeta

Somali region recieves relief aid

By Muluken Yewondosen

Fine wine time

By our staff reporter

Rotary, Gates Foundation commits US$ 200 million on polio campaign

By our staff reporter

Global malaria community plans intensified battle against disease

By Muluken Yewondwossen

Dashen named Bank of the year

By our staff reporter

Ethio-Con international exhibition being held

By Muluken Yewondwossen

GTZ SUN to enter last phase of scale up

By Kirubel Tadesse

Make slavery history: Ban ki Moon

By Andualem Sisay

UN Humanitarian chief visits Ethiopia

By Addis Mulugeta

HR 2003 violates Ethiopian constitution: Meles

By Andualem Sisay

Ethiopia launches U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative

By Muluken Yewondwossen

No security problem for Somali census

By Muluken Yewondwossen

‘End violence against women ’

By Addis Mulugeta

‘We must do more!’

By Addis Mulugeta

Ethio Romania relations going on to higher levels

By Muluken Yewondwossen

Ethio Poultry Expo held

By Addis Mulugeta

Condoleezza Rice due here this week

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International humanitarian, peace maker arrives Thursday

By Addis Mulugeta

His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the founder of the Art of Living Foundation and a renowned international humanitarian, peace maker, and a deep and profound speaker, will visit Ethiopia for the first time, December 6-7, 2007.
He is coming to Addis Ababa in recognition of the work that his organization has performed in Addis Ababa, such as projects aiming to make the youth catalysts for community change. The organization is also working with Ethiopian parliamentarians on bolstering feelings of social responsibility and commitment through its Art of Living courses.
The objective of the Guru’s visit will be to interact with Ethiopian decision makers and senior officials on issues related to development and human values. His esteemed foundation works through a large number of volunteers who conduct courses for social and personal transformation around the world.
The Art of Living organization is currently active in over 156 countries around the world and it is involved in social service projects including projects related to conflict resolution and peace, trauma relief, prison rehabilitation, women’s and youth empowerment, rural development, education, biodynamic farming, tribal welfare and social awareness.
During his visit he will meet with senior dignitaries of the Ethiopian Government as well as the Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and the Mayor of Addis Ababa. He is also expected to hold talks with the President of Ethiopia and the Speaker of the House of Peoples Representatives. The Guru will give a special address at the Ethiopian Parliament and a public lecture is planned at the Hilton Hotel on December 6, 2007.
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Starbucks agrees to pay premium price for Ethiopian coffees

By Andualem Sisay and Kirubel Tadesse

A few months ago, Oxfam had accused US coffee chain Starbucks of denying Ethiopia more than 88 USD a year. Oxfam reported that Starbucks asked the National Coffee Association (NCA) to block the country’s bid to trademark three types of coffee bean in the US but Starbucks had denied initiating any kind of opposition to Ethiopian trademark application.
It was also reported that the Ethiopian government filed its applications to trademark its coffee bean names - Sidamo, Harar and Yirgacheffe and at that time Oxfam claimed that Starbucks flagged up the application to the NCA, which then filed its opposition at the US Patent and Trademark Office.
After a months long dispute earlier this year, Starbucks has signed distribution, marketing and licensing agreements with Ethiopia and has agreed to assist in expanding consumer awareness of Ethiopia’s coffee brands- Sidamo, Harar/Harrar and Yirgacheffe.
Howard Schultz, the Chairman of Starbucks who paid a three day visit to Addis Ababa this week with his senior officials, vows to pay premium prices for Ethiopian coffee.
Even if Prime Minister Meles showed no indication of agreeing that Ethiopia had gone the wrong routes to success; he seemed to be satisfied with the ‘unprecedented decision’ of Starbucks.
“All of the disagreements are behind us now because of the decision made by the chairman,” said Prime Minister Meles, during a joint press briefing he gave with Howard Schultz, Starbucks Chairman, at the Prime Minister’s office on Wednesday, November 28, 2007.
“He made an unprecedented decision in favoring our coffee farmers by recognizing their property rights. It has never done before for any other product from a country such as Ethiopia,” he added.
“The issue of the trademark was never as contentious as it was reported,” said Chairman Howard Schultz later on, in an exclusive interview with Capital on Thursday November 29, 2007 at Sheraton Addis.
He said: “We were having very positive discussions with representatives of the government for much of the past six months or so and the Ambassador has been to Seattle a number of times as have members of the coffee industry. Our interest has always been the same” .
Explaining the dispute, Schultz said: “The Ethiopian government wanted to potentially trade mark pieces of geography that stand for where the coffee is from, whether it is Harar or Sidamo or any other place and that is their privilege and their right. Starbucks as a company, we can’t tell any government what to do or what not to do, we are just customers.
He added that the better way proposed was for Starbucks to be in total alignment with coffee farmers to build a partnership around sustainability, high quality premium coffee, and for that, Starbucks should pay a premium price for the coffee.
Starbucks has also indicated its readiness to support Ethiopian coffee farmers by opening a farmers support center in Addis Ababa in 2008.
The farmers support facility, which is the first in Africa and the only second after Costa Rica, is designed to enable Starbucks to work collaboratively with Ethiopian farmers to raise both the quality and production of the country’s high quality specialty coffees.
During this visit, the chairman with his officials discussed the issue with some coffee farmers and coffee industry representatives.
Between 2002 and 2006, Starbucks increased its Ethiopian coffee purchases by nearly 400 percent. Today, Ethiopian coffee is found in nearly all of Starbuck’s U.S stores.

ETC finalizing preparations to launch 3G mobile service
Nokia Amharic phones available on market

By Kirubel Tadesse

The Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation is finalizing preparations to launch 3G (Third Generation) mobile services in fifty selected areas to corporate customers and its professionals. According to Abdurahim Mohammed, ETC’s Public Relation Office head, the corporation is making final preparations to distribute the service to potential customers.
Abdurahim explained that the service will enable users to make video calls and messaging and enjoy other third generation mobile features such as a wide range of high-speed mobile services, online games, photo messaging, and broadband internet connection. Abdurahim added that the pilot programs to be launched are intended to see the service results and asses its acceptance in a shorter period.
ETC also announced that the new Nokia Amharic Mobile Phones are supported by its mobile networks. Abdurahim added, “ETC is not only making investments in areas where it needs but also in areas where it is needed. What has been a major problem in internet service is a lack of national content. Most of Ethiopian users are forced to download what has been put by the rest of the world since more than 90% of users’ download non- Amharic or non- Ethiopian language contents.” He also added that now the five Nokia models with alphabet and Amharic user’s interface are available in market and, ETC will support Amharic SMS and other Amharic content dissemination and exchanges through its mobile networks.
On Friday November 30, 2007 Seyoum Bereded, Director of Ethiopian Millennium Celebration National Council Secretariat, Levi Girma, Nokia’s East Africa Account Manager, and ETC’s Abdurahim Mohammed gave a press conference to mark distribution of the first Amharic mobile phones that were made available on market this weekend. Seyoum Bereded said that the introduction of the Amharic phones will play an important role in preserving national identity and language. “At this time of Ethiopian third millennium celebrations, we need to show our own identity, language and culture and this introduction of an Amharic phone helps in doing that, “Seyoum Commented.
Levi Girma announced that as of this weekend, the new Nokia products - Nokia 1200, 1208, 1650, 2630 and 2760 – are available through Glorious PLC and its retailers. He said all the necessarily preparations and testing in ETC networks are under taken and showed a complete success in both post and pre paid mobile services in all the old and new networks.

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265 private Indian companies operating with 465 million USD capital

By Kirubel Tadesse

Ethiopia is increasingly attracting investment from India with over two hundred sixty five private Indian firms having had obtained project approvals from the Ethiopian Investment Agency, with a total approved capital of 465 million USD, Ambassador of India, Gurjit Singh disclosed.
Ambassador Gurjit explained that the main sectors covered by the investments are floriculture, engineering, and consultancy. In his opening remarks at a workshop on Economic Policy of a Developing Country in a Globalizing World, for Parliamentary Standing Committee on Trade and Industry, on November 26, 2007 at Hilton Hotel, the Ambassador attributed India’s rapid development and high economic growth to investment and progress in agriculture, education, HRD, infrastructure and service sector, Information Technology, healthcare and financial sectors.
Ambassador Gurjit Singh also shared his views about the WTO, trade concessions and on climate change. He assured that India will support Ethiopia for membership of the WTO. On his part Chairman of the parliamentary standing committee, Kebede Abera, said that India and Ethiopia have long standing relationships in various fields and added, “One of the exciting aspects of this relationships is the bilateral trade between the two sisterly countries. “He also stated that India is a shining example for Africa and thanked Ambassador Gurjit for organizing such a symposium on various thematic issues such as WTO, trade concessions, India-Ethiopia trade and investment relations and Indian investors’ success story.
Two such Indian investors are Cadila Pharmaceuticals (Ethiopia) PLC and Roshanara Roses PLC both of which gave presentations explaining their investment and the role of their companies in the pharmaceuticals and floriculture sectors respectively in Ethiopia. Other presentations were given by an embassy official, on the Pan African e-Network Project and the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Program.
Ethiopia is the first beneficiary of the Pan African e-Network project in Africa under a pilot project which is already in operation. The cost of the pilot project for Ethiopia is 2.13 million USD, which has been provided as a grant by the Government of India. More than 450 Ethiopian nominees have benefited under the ITEC programmes.
The Embassy of India has labeled the workshop a resounding success and all the members of the standing committee warmly thanked the Embassy and declared that India was a model of choice for them and they wished more such workshops would be held in the future.
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Cotecna: poised for Ethiopia market

By Andualem Sisay

Cotecna, a Switzerland based international trade inspection and facilitation company has announced that it is to open a laboratory which is a month away from beginning services in Ethiopia.
According to information obtained from the company’s representative in Ethiopia, Cotecna will officially inaugurate its planned activities in Ethiopia on Tuesday, December 4, 2007. “We will also open a laboratory within a month,” said the representative.
Cotecna is one of the world’s top trade inspection, security and certification companies with experience in the inspection industry for over 30 years. It operates with close to 100 offices worldwide, and 4000 employees and agents in its network.
Inspection of goods prior to shipment and at destination; verification and certification of quality standards; and valuation and tariff code classification of any kind of tradable product are among the inspection service solutions that Cotecna provides to governments and private commerce.
The company is also engaged in business process audits to verify compliance with trade regulations; transit monitoring and cargo tracking; and security solutions to protect trade activities from terrorist and criminal acts.
Its clients worldwide include a diverse range of sectors and industries and include governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), international organizations and private companies.
The information obtained from the company’s website states, “Cotecna combines modern technology and knowledge transfer with innovative, tailor-made services to improve and secure trade environments around the world.”
Established in Switzerland in 1974, the company was born out of an entrepreneurial spirit, with the founder of Cotecna responding to a need to develop professional inspection services in the Middle East.
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Nib Insurance profits increase 135 % By-election brings two individuals to board

By Andualem Sisay

Nib Insurance Company profits this year have increased by 135 per cent compared to last year’s, registering a gross profit of seven and a half million birr.
According to a statement the company sent to Capital on Saturday, December 1, 2007, Nib’s total underwriting surplus rose to 15.5 mln birr. “The highest contribution to the underwriting surplus came from pecuniary insurance which is 40 per cent, followed by Marine insurance at 10 per cent,” according to the statement.
At a closed general meeting of the shareholders, Nib Insurance Company conducted a by-election and elected two board members: Siraj Abdela and Musema Aman. This by-election was required to fulfill the new directive that prohibits one individual from serving a bank and an insurance company as board member at the same time.
As a result, the general assembly has appointed Tafesse Bogale as Chairman of Nib Insurance Company to serve for the remaining one year period, until the general election that is held every three years is conducted next year.
The company’s premium income in the reported period stood at 66.5 mln birr, which shows an increase of 42 per cent over the preceding year. Motor insurance premium contributed for 50 per cent of the total premium income.
Nib Insurance Company, which was established by 700 shareholders, started operations in May 2002. The number of shareholders and paid-up capital reached 800 and 30 mln birr respectively.

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Meles says situation in Somalia definitely improving

By Andualem Sisay

The mission of stabilizing Somalia and strengthening the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia is showing fruitful results said Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
Responding to questions raised by MPs on the time table for withdrawing Ethiopian forces in Somalia, Meles indicated on Tuesday, November 27, 2007 that the mission is meeting its goals and currently, the engagement is limited to policing activities and building the capacity of Somalia’s military forces.
“Even though we don’t see the Somalis depending on their own forces anytime soon and given the kind of slow response from the International community, we are observing encouraging results from our involvement in Somalia,” he said.
The National Somalia Peace Conference conducted in Somalia a few months ago among the various clans, and the peacekeeping activities being undertaken by the 600 Somali troops trained in Ethiopia for six months are among the encouraging results achieved so far, according to the P.M.
As a result of this, he further indicated, Ethiopia is planning to train additional troops, double the previous number, strengthen Somalia’s military and ensure peace and security in the country and the horn region.
The P.M. also stated, despite the procrastination of the international community to deploy the 8,000 peacekeeping African troops requested by the African Union in Somalia, Burundi’s decision to shortly send its troops to join the 1,600 Ugandan forces in Somalia is part of the positive results for restoring peace in Somalia.
The main reason for Ethiopia to involve itself in Somalia is to stop the forces organized under the United Islamic Court (UIC) of Somalia, which includes armed forces of Ethiopian opposition parties orchestrated by Eritrea, from realizing their final plan of attacking Ethiopia after defeating the TFG in Baidowa.
The forces gathered under the UIC were planning to conquer Addis Ababa and pray at the Grand Anwar Mosque within one week by attacking the country from South, East, North and creating internal unrest, according to Prime Minister Meles.
During his briefing to the Parliament, Meles also indicated that Ethiopia is not going to open war on Eritrea as the peace strategy of Ethiopia towards Eritrea is precisely to avoid conflict.
“There is no reason for us to invade Eritrea, as opposed to claims by Eritrea, as our peace strategy is working properly and they are not so far a threat to our struggle against poverty and avoiding famine,” he said.
Meles used the American saying, “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it”, to stress his government’s commitment to maintaining the peace strategy that he said was working quite well.
Government will consider exhaustively all options to avoid war/conflict with any one in order to focus on fighting poverty and sustaining the development of the country, according to Meles. “Nevertheless, if we are forced to go to war, we have to make sure that we return back to the development activities as soon as possible,” he said.
In case Eritrea invades Ethiopia for a second time, Meles indicated that his government will take action in a way that ensures there will not ever be a third invasion by Eritrea.
But currently Ethiopia has no intention of going to war with its northern neighbor, Eritrea, because it is too costly and the root for ‘forces of destruction’, UIC, ONLF, OLF, Eritrea’s government and leaders of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy party who are now advocating the approval of HR 2003 by the US Senate, is not Eritrea but Ethiopia, according to Meles.

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Joaquim Chissano wins Mo Ibrahim Prize

By Muluken Yewondwossen

President Joaquim Chissano, the former President of Mozambique, has accepted the inaugural Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership from Kofi Annan, the former Secretary General of the United Nations on November 26, 2007, at a ceremony in Alexandria, Egypt.
According to the foundation’s website, in his keynote address President Chissano said he accepted the award “with humility and great honour” as “a tribute to the millions of women and men of Mozambique, young and old, for their untiring commitment to freedom, peace, democracy and prosperity in our country.”
Promising to continue his work to uplift his country and his continent, President Chissano said, “We need to develop and root in our societies a culture of peace. We need to promote regional integration. We need to encourage public-private partnerships and give a more robust role to our private sector. We must fight corruption and promote integrity and good governance. And we need to establish a sustained process of national dialogue and reconciliation in all the countries emerging from conflict. In short, we need to work towards building capable states in Africa.”
In his concluding remarks, the former President stated, “The Foundation’s aim to recognize and celebrate African leadership is a noble one. I look forward to using the prize to do all I can to promote good governance in a continent that is changing rapidly for the better.”
The Mo Ibrahim Foundation is the vision of Dr Mo Ibrahim, founder of the African telecommunications company Celtel International and one of Africa’s most successful business leaders, and has been established to support the attainment of good governance in Africa. A not-for-profit organization, the foundation is governed by a board of trustees that includes Dr Mo Ibrahim (founder, Celtel International); Lalla Ben Barka (Deputy Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa); Lord Cairns (Chairman, Charities Aid Foundation); Dr Mamphela Ramphele (former Managing Director, World Bank); Mary Robinson (former President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights); Salim Ahmed Salim (former Secretary-General, Organisation of African Unity), and Nicholas Ulanov (Managing Director, The Ulanov Partnership).
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King of the road unveiled

By Addis Mulugeta

The Motor and Engineering Company of Ethiopia S.C (MOENCO) launched the new Toyota Land Cruiser Station Wagon 200 ‘King of the Road’ on Thursday, November 29, 2007, at the Hilton Hotel.
Managing Director of MOENCO, Chris De Muynck, said during the opening session of the launching ceremony that the major objective of introducing and inaugurating the newly developed Toyota Land Cruiser Station Wagon 200 is to fulfill the demand of new generations. Mr. De Muynck much-admired this vehicle that it possesses newly developed engines, which are very powerful from the previous model and other competing models in its segment.
Stock Sales Manager of MOENCO, Taye Tadesse explained that Toyota has manufactured the new make in two grades, the VX and the GX. The power of the VX is increased from 202HP to 232HP and GX from 130 HP to 217HP. The number of cylinders is also increased from 6 to 8 and uses the latest diesel technology.
He added that what is terrific in this type of Toyota Land Cruiser is that it has been developed to have traction performance, torque sensing limited slip differential to improve traction stability, power transfer switch, down hill assist control which keeps the car at walking speed and secure stability while driving at steep gradient downhill, and multi-terrain ABC to detect not only asphalt and gravel roads but also sandy ones.
The managing director Mr. De Muynck also highly praised that the strength and reliability of the Land Cruiser which has increased newly developed platforms with full frame structure, large chassis with thick panel, high towing capacity with torsion and flexural rigidity. It is one of the world’s most comfortable and luxurious cars on the basis of temperature conditioning system, smart entry, start and switches, he added.
The Stock Sales Manager described to the attendants of the ceremony that the continuous efforts by Toyota to come up with such a 4WD car has hit the target.
The new make has already been provided to the national market and is expected to cost not less than 1.5 million birr after all duties and taxes.

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Somali region recieves relief aid

By Muluken Yewondosen

The Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Agency (DPPA) has announced that 175 Private transporters, 52 from the strategic relief fleet and another 30 trucks from the Ministry of Defense are transporting food to distribution points in five zones of Somali Regional State.
7358.3MT (42%) of allocated food, that includes 5876MT of cereals, 651-3MT pulses, 051.2MT of CSB(nutritional supplement) and 179.7MT of vegetable oil to the dedicated distribution sites of Fik, Gode, Korane, Degehabour and Warder zones.
According to DPPA, joint support centers are already open in Kebridehar and Degehabour, in addition to Dire Dawa. Two monitoring teams drawn from the DPPA, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MoARD), Ministry of Health (MoH) and the region, to work with UN staff at the joint support centers in Kebridehar and Degehabour were deployed on November 8, 2007 and stationed at the centers.
Eighteen UN experts assigned to joint support centers have been given the go ahead and some are already at the centers. In addition nineteen NGO’s have been accredited to operate in the region.
The number of food distribution points has been revised upward from 46 to 186 in wereda capitals and quality of food to be dispatched to each food distribution point is being worked out by World Food Program (WFP). Once they are approved by the region the required food will be determined by DPPA and given due consideration. The decisions materialization is under discussion by a WFP and DPPA technical team.
The Ministry of Health and the Regional Health Bureau are closely monitoring the health situation. According to the MoH, there is no shortage of drugs, medical supplies and health personnel at the moment; in addition the MoH has assigned three clinical nurses to Fik zone.

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Fine wine time

By our staff reporter

A unique vinters' event organized by the Embassy of Italy is to be held at Hilton Addis on December 4 and at Djibouti Kempinski Palace hotel December 5, 2007.
The two events will feature a galaxy of the leading fine wines of Italy, a nation virtually synonymous with the noble and age old art of wine making. The Italian vinters which will be represented include Castello delle Regine, Felsina Berardenga, Canonica a Cerreto, Rocca delle Macie, Vermentino, Contina st Pauls and Monteverdi, the latter imported by Novis Plc. On the occasion, over 300 invited guests will be present and in addition, the gathering will have the pleasure of a lecture in Oenology by an expert.
The events are expected to be more than just informative wine tasting sessions as two representatives from Felsina Beraredenga and Castello delle Regine will be on hand to promote their products to prospective importers, restaurateurs and others, on the two days preceding the Hilton Addis event.
Sponsors of the event are Addis Ababa Hilton, Ethiopian Airlines, Fetan Transit and Mirame plc.

Rotary, Gates Foundation commits US$ 200 million on polio campaign

By our staff reporter

The Global Polio Eradication Institution (GPEI), a partnership led by the World Health Organization (WHO), Rotary International the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and UNICEF, has been bolstered by a U.S. $ 200 million commitment by Rotary International and the Gates Foundation.
In what has been termed as one of the largest grants ever given by the Gates Foundation and as the largest in the 102 year history of the Rotary Movement the Gates Foundation has granted Rotary International U.S.$ 100 million dollars to be matched by Rotary over the next three years. The huge grant gives due recognition to Rotary International polio eradication effort which to date has dedicated U.S. $633 million to the campaign.
The announcement was made public on November 26, 2007 at Rotary’s Evanston, Illinois – (USA) headquarters. Commenting on the occasion, Bill Gates, Co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation said, “The extra-ordinary dedication of Rotary members has played a critical role in bringing polio to the brink of eradication. The eradication of polio will be one of the most significant public health accomplishments in history, and we are committed to helping reach that goal.”
The U.S. $100 million Gates Foundation grant arrives at a timely moment as the GPEI urgently needs funds to achieve total eradication. Dr Robert Scott heads Rotary’s polio eradication effort and is chair of the Rotary Foundation which is the not-for-profit arm of Rotary that is to manage the grant: ‘Rotary members world have worked very hard over the years to reach this point, and it is rewarding to see our approach validated in such a significant way by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, “he stated and added his conviction, “the shared commitment of Rotary and the Gates Foundation will challenge other donors – including foundations, governments and organizations – to step up and make sure we have the resources needed to rid the world of polio once and for all.”
Rotary’s news release disclosed that at present the number of polio cases have dropped 99%. However, the debilitating virus persists in four polio endemic countries, namely, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.
Having almost been once declared free of polio, Ethiopia has registered new cases of recent, as a result of possible migratory viruses from West Africa. In this respect, Rotary which has six clubs in Ethiopia is actively engaged in the Rotary International’s global polio eradication campaign. Correspondingly, a team of Rotarians from the US and Canada in collaboration with local Rotarians, conducts annual vaccination campaign drives in selected areas of Ethiopia. The latest polio vaccination campaign was held in October this year with a team of 70 visiting Rotarians led by Rotarian Ezra Teshome of the University Rotary Club, Seattle.

Global malaria community plans intensified battle against disease

By Muluken Yewondwossen

Health Ministers, heads of agencies, philanthropists, and many of the world’s leading institutions in the global fight against malaria are meeting on November 28, 2007 in Addis to endorse approaches to escalate malaria prevention, treatment and care and achieve high level coverage with malaria control over much of the African continent.
Members of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership Board, representing the malaria community worldwide, will examine comprehensive proposals to bring down the price of malaria treatments and engage all partners in an ambitious global business plan to finance an intensified battle against the disease.
“We will be finding solutions to current challenges”, said Dr Tedros Adhanom, Minister of Health of Ethiopia and Chairman of the RBM Partnership Board. “I am looking forward to highly constructive debate and strategic outcomes that will bring us all closer to eliminating the disease as a threat to the health of our communities.”
Results emerging from countries show that with increased targeted support and innovative efforts to distribute anti malarial commodities, the fight against malaria is gaining ground. Tanzania, Mozambique, Zanzibar, Namibia and Eritrea have achieved appreciable success in reducing the number of malaria cases and data from Zambia show a near 30% reduction in deaths from malaria in children under 5 years.
In Ethiopia a total of eighteen million insecticide-treated nets have been distributed in malarius regions bringing two treated nets to each household over the last 18 months. The recent UNICEF report showed that between 2000 and 2005, Ethiopia reduced deaths from malaria in young children by 20%.
Malaria poses one of the greatest threats to human life in the developing world. Of the estimated 1 million malaria deaths worldwide, 90% occur in Africa, killing mostly young children at a rate of 3, 000 every day. Malaria costs Africa US$12 billion every year in lost productivity.
Currently, in countries with a very heavy malaria burden, the disease can account for as much as 40% of public health expenditure, 50% of inpatient admissions and up to 60% of outpatient visits. Ant malarial medicines are a critical component in the fight against malaria, alongside other preventative interventions such as insecticide treated mosquito nets and indoor spraying with insecticide.
The 13th Roll Back Malaria Partnership Board follows closely on the heels of the Gates Malaria Forum in Seattle last month where a daring challenge was made to build on recent successes and aim for eventual eradication of the disease.
Partners participating the RBM Board include: Ethiopia, Cambodia, Mali, Uganda, Zambia, Cameroon, Nigeria, UNICEF, UNDP, World Bank, WHO, France, Netherlands, United States of America, Earth Institute, Medicines for Malaria Venture, Southern NGOs -Nigeria and Zambia, Northern NGOs -John Hopkins Global Program on Malaria, Malaria consortium, Glaxo Smith Kline, Novartis, Exxonmobil Corporation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, United Nations Foundation, The Global Fund. Special guests attending the RBM Board Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director
In related news, following the launch of the All Party Parliamentary Malaria Group’s new report on case for a new facility mechanism for affordable malaria treatment in London last week, Malaria Consortium calls for the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) Board members to endorse the launch of this new mechanism which aims to increase access to life saving artemisinin-based combination therapies by reducing the cost of the drugs to patients who need them.
The RBM Board meeting took place in Addis Ababa on the 28th and 29th of November and include discussions on the next steps towards the creation of an Affordable Medicines Facility malaria (AMFm) which has the potential to make effective but expensive anti-malarial drugs cheaper for patients.
Dr Tedros Adhanom, Minister for Health for Ethiopia said: “As a Minister of Health for my country and as the Chairman of the RBM Board, I welcome this report which provides a comprehensive case for an AMFm as a new tool for increased access to antimalarials and which could save up to 300,000 lives per year. The AMFm alone is not the solution to all drug access problems but it is an option which cannot be ignored. We call all RBM board members to seriously consider this new mechanism and all fenders to pledge their support. “

Dashen named Bank of the year

By our staff reporter

The Banker of London has selected Dashen Bank to be awarded, for the sixth time, as “Bank of the year for Ethiopia” for 2007.
According to the press release, Dashen Bank was selected because of its achievements demonstrated in domestic and international banking operations during the fiscal year of 2007.
The award is focused not only on performance but also on innovation , technology and strategy.
Ato Asfaw Alemu, Dashen’s Manager of Corporate Planning and Development, has attended the award ceremony conducted on 28 November, 2007 in London.
The Banker’s award is from, a leading industry magazine and part of the Financial Times Group. The award given annually to a bank that demonstrates extraordinary growth and performance in terms of tier-one capital, assets and return on equity. The winning bank is required to demonstrate how the use of technology is helping it advance its market position and show how the bank’s structure and strategies equip it for future developments in the market.

Ethio-Con international exhibition being held

By Muluken Yewondwossen

Ethio-Con International Exhibition opened on Thursday November 29, 2007 at Addis Ababa Exhibition Center and it is to remain open until December 5, 2007.
The exhibition is organized by the Construction Contractors Association of Ethiopia and Century Promotions.”This specialized exhibition has a big value to exchange experiences, to introduce new construction inputs and machine technologies,” engineer Emlalu Worede, CCAE president, said in his speech at the opening ceremony.
A similar exhibition was held for two years previously. This year, it is prepared in relation to the millennium festival.
23 Construction input producers and their agents from abroad and 79 construction material producers, distributors, consultants, engineers and architects from Ethiopia are participating in the exhibition. “There are more participating companies than last year.” Ato Phanuel Getahun, Association manager, told Capital.
In related news, the CCAE has facilitated a half-day symposium for contractors who have not joined the association with the objective of increasing its membership. There are more than 2000 licensed contractors but the members of the CCAE are only 200. Last year standard one contractors left the association and established their own association.
“Our construction standard is low compared to other countries and the Minister is working to solve this problem.” Ato Anbesa Wondim Mamo, Constructions Department Capacity Building Director at the Ministry of Capacity Building, told participants at the opening ceremony.

GTZ SUN to enter last phase of scale up

By Kirubel Tadesse

An Ethio-German cooperation program for sustainable utilization of natural resources, GTZ SUN, is entering the last phase of scaling up its intervention in Amhara and Oromiya with a budget of 2.5 million Euros. The funds are obtained from the Netherlands Ministry of Development cooperation (DGIS) as a component of the "Energizing Development Partnership" it has launched with German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Samson Tolessa, Manager of the GTZ-SUN Energy project, disclosed.
Samson Tolessa explained that the project has chosen a commercial approach to disseminate stoves, which is putting finished products into the markets, as opposed to heavy subsidy or charity based interventions and added, "Our motto is… rather take the money from the poor than their dignity."
Speaking at the handover ceremony of a GTZ award to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MoARD), Dr. Ander Bahm, Director of SUN Program, said that the mutual endeavor to promote the improved stoves has gained international recognition. GTZ SUN has been awarded with an international results award of the partnership for clean indoor air (PCIA). The award was handed over to GTZ SUN Energy on March 2007 at the third Biennial PCIA Forum in Bangalore, India. PCIA has honored the SUN-program's commercial strategies for increasing the use of clean and efficient cook stoves that improve people's health, livelihood and quality of life by reducing air pollution.
"Mirt and the new improved model Best stoves reduce carbon mono oxide smoke and particle minerals pollution, which are harmful to one's health, by 90% on average," explains Dereje Bekele, consultant at GTZ SUN, on how the stoves contribute to reduce in door pollution.
GTZ-SUN shared the award with MoARD at an event held on Monday, November 26, 2007. Amare Worku, Head of Forests, Land Use and Soils Development and Conservation Department of MoARD said that clearing forest areas for different purposes, particularly use of biomass as fuel, are major factors exacerbating land degradation. Amare added "In our sustainable land management program, in which the GTZ SUN program is one of the key stakeholders, the issue of improving the cooking conditions of our rural population is being addressed by introducing improved and efficient stoves," and concluded by thanking GTZ for organizing the event and sharing the award.
GTZ-SUN is operating in 215 towns in Amhara, Oromiya and Tigray regions with about 341 small scale private stove production enterprises that produce and market improved biomass stoves, particularly the 'Mirt Injera' stove. The project is the continuation of a household energy intervention that began in 1998 with a total budget of 3.3 million Euro allocated by the BMZ German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development.

Make slavery history: Ban ki Moon

By Andualem Sisay

UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, has called on all member states to redouble their efforts to abolish slavery from the world.
“On this International Day for the Abolition of Slavery let us reaffirm the inherent dignity of all men, women and children,” said the Secretary General in his message marking the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, December 2, 2007…let us redouble our efforts to build societies in which slavery truly is a term for the history books.”
Currently, millions of human beings continue to live as contemporary slaves, victims of abominable practices like human trafficking, forced labor and sexual exploitation, according to Ban Ki Moon.
“It is up to each and every one of us to raise our voices against crimes that deprive countless victims of their liberty, dignity and human rights. We have to work together to realize the equal rights promised to all by the United Nations Charter. And we must collectively give meaning to the words of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that ‘no one shall be held in slavery or servitude’,” he said.
“Countless children are forced to become soldiers, work in sweat shops or are sold by desperate families. Women are brutalized and traded like commodities. Entire households and villages labor under debt bondage.”
The fact that these atrocities take place in today’s world should fill us all with shame. The realization that, in many instances, such practices are sanctioned, supported or ignored by those with the power and the responsibility to end them should lead us to outrage. But, above all else, the needs of the enslaved must inspire us to action, according to the Secretary General.
In his message he stressed that no individual, no community, and no country can remain silent in the face of this evil. Slavery is a problem for all regions and for all governments. It must be confronted nationally, regionally and globally.
“We should also seek to understand why and how slavery is so common in so “civilized” an age. We have to recognize that endemic poverty, social exclusion and widespread discrimination allow this practice to fester. Slavery’s practitioners thrive on the desperate, the dispossessed and the disadvantaged,” he said.
This year, the Human Rights Council has established a new Special Procedures mandate and appointed a Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery. Ban Ki Moon believes that this mandate will play a leading role in confronting slavery in close collaboration with UN Member States, civil society partners, and victims’ groups.

UN Humanitarian chief visits Ethiopia

By Addis Mulugeta

UN Emergency Relief Coordinator and Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, John Holmes, visited Ethiopia on November 26, 2007.
Sir, Holmes met with senior government officials in Addis Ababa, including Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, Deputy Prime Minister Addisu Legesse, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Seyoum Mesfin. He also met the representatives of the United Nations mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE), states of the African Union and the United Nations.
The Under-Secretary General also traveled to Jijiga and Kebridehar woredas in Somali region where the United Nations had recently established a field report and met with regional and local officials including the local population and noted the cooperative actions by government, UN and humanitarian partners to address critical humanitarian needs in the region.
In his discussions with Ethiopian officials, he shared his observations about the humanitarian situation in Somali region and expressed concerns of the aid community on the ground. He also discussed ways in which the United Nations could support the government in its efforts to provide relief to affected populations, especially in Somali region. He said, “There are grounds for concern regarding the potential for a very serious humanitarian crisis. But we must ensure we avert a humanitarian crisis in the region and take all the necessary actions, working alongside the government.”
“My wish is to work closely with the government, both at Federal and Regional levels, to make sure no major humanitarian crisis occurs in the Somali region.” He added that in the meantime, the UN has established two offices in the region recently to try and increase the NGO presence on the ground and claimed that there has been some success in that regard.”

HR 2003 violates Ethiopian constitution: Meles

By Andualem Sisay

HR 2003, the bill in the US Senate on Ethiopia formulated to with advancing human rights and democracy in the country, violates the Ethiopian Federal Constitution, said Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.
“As it is clearly indicated in our constitution, only this House has the mandate to ratify laws regarding Ethiopia,” said Meles, briefing Members of Parliament at the House of Peoples’ Representatives on Tuesday November 27, 2007. “HR 2003 is a mistake in terms of principle and for the two countries’ relationship.”
According to the Prime Minister, if the intention of HR 2003 is really to strengthen democracy in Ethiopia by replicating America’s experience of the past 200 years, the United States itself should have had implemented its recommendations in HR 2003.
While US democracy has never had an electoral board at all and elections have been carried out by the ruling party, asking Ethiopia through HR 2003 to include members of opposition parties on the Ethiopian Electoral Board shows that HR 2003 has no intention of using its suggestions to itself, according to Meles.
“Ethiopia is a nation of poor human beings not poor dogs,” said Meles, explaining the ‘wrong’ assumption of the two individuals at the US Congress who instigated HR 2003. It is wrong and totally unacceptable if these individuals considered Ethiopia ‘as a nation that accepts anything from the US (HR 2003) along with its wheat’.
After the Prime Minister strongly expressed his belief that HR 2003 will not be approved by the Senate and the President of the United States, he said: “This will not have a big impact on Ethiopia’s effort to fight poverty and continue its rapid economic growth”.
Recalling the fact that Ethiopia’s 11.8% economic growth of two years ago, when most donors cut two thirds of budgetary support to Ethiopia after the May 2005 elections, Meles indicated that the impact of HR 2003, if at all approved, will not stop the country from registering similar or higher percentage growth this year.
Commenting on the recently released Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) leaders who are currently pushing the United States to approve HR 2003, Meles said: “It is a shameful act that one could not expect from anyone elected by the people.”
“I, for the first time for a few moments, felt ashamed when I heard that these people requested another nation’s congress to pass a law on their own country; while the public empowered them with its vote to pass laws for them in this House,” said Meles.
Their act ‘reveals their ignorance’ of Ethiopia’s sovereignty and is the result of what Meles calls, ‘zero-sum politics’ of the released CUD leaders.
Speaking on the future of the CUD leaders in Ethiopian politics, Meles indicated that his government will still give them time, ‘until the 11th hour and 59th minute’, to allow them play constructive roles in the democratization process of Ethiopia.

Ethiopia launches U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative

By Muluken Yewondwossen

Ethiopia became a focus country for the historic 1.2 bln USD, five-year U.S. effort to fight malaria across Africa. United States Ambassador Donald Yamamoto joined Dr. Kebede Worku, State Minister of Health, and retired Rear Admiral Tim Ziemer, U.S. Malaria Coordinator, to launch the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), a joint effort to fight the disease, at a ceremony held on November 30, 2007 at the US embassy.
PMI will significantly increase resources to Ethiopia, providing the most advanced and effective prevention and treatment interventions available. This year’s funding of 20 mln USD will be spent primarily in the Oromiya Region, which suffers most from the country’s malaria burden.
“This is a tremendous opportunity to save lives and reduce disease by building upon successful malaria treatment and control activities already underway in Ethiopia,” said Ambassador Yamamoto. “The United States is committed to the Government of Ethiopia and its people to achieve its development goals of reducing poverty and fighting disease.”
The PMI is an interagency initiative led by USAID, with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as key partners. The goal of the PMI is to assist national malaria control programs to cut malaria-related deaths by 50 percent in the 15 focus countries in Africa by supporting a comprehensive malaria control effort led by national malaria control programs.
This goal will be achieved by reaching 85 percent of the most vulnerable groups - children under five years of age and pregnant women - with proven and effective prevention and treatment measures. This includes residual indoor spraying of households with insecticides; the distribution of long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets to families; intermittent, presumptive treatment of pregnant women with antimalarials; and the roll-out of new, lifesaving, artemesinin-combination therapy to treat patients with malaria.
Ethiopia, Liberia, Kenya, Zambia, Mali, Madagascar, Benin and Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda, Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda and Senegal are PMI focus countries.
“Malaria is preventable and treatable, yet it is a major killer throughout Africa,” said Rear Admiral R. Timothy Ziemer (U.S. Navy, retired), U.S. Malaria Coordinator. “President and Mrs. Bush should be credited for this historic effort that will save millions of lives.”
Malaria is the largest cause of disease morbidity and mortality in Ethiopia, with more than 2 million clinical cases and 70,000 deaths per year. Almost 75 percent of the landmass is malarious with 68 percent of the population at risk of contracting malaria. “One million last year alone died on the African continent because of malaria. Moreover, in the overwhelming majority of cases, the victims are less than 5 years old; their lives suddenly ended by nothing more than a mosquito bite. The toll of malaria is even more tragic because the disease itself is highly treatable and preventable and the world must take action,” President George W. Bush said, June 30, 2005.

No security problem for Somali census

By Muluken Yewondwossen

The Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia (CSAoE) has stated that there is no security problem in the Somali region for census takers from other regions.
Samia Zecaria, director of CSAoE, said, “9500 counters and controllers are participating in the Somali census. 7,500 counters and 306 controller teachers were selected from Harari, Diredawa, Addis Ababa and SNNP regions.”
“All counters and controllers have reached the region and they are starting work on December 1, 2007,” she added.
According to Samia, the Central Statistical Agency has been transporting counters with 120 buses to their centers. The region is vast and there is inadequate infrastructure.
“Currently the Somali region is receiving food aid from the DPPA in five zones but the counting is continuing until December 10 so that we can cover all areas in these ten days.” Samia said.
The ten-day population and housing census includes Afar regional state where 1700 counters and controllers are participating with all counters selected from the region.
Samia Zecaria added that community leaders and high officials who live in these two regions should cooperate with counters when they reach their areas.
The Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia has been coordinating the population and housing census of the other regions and will be announcing the results for the two regional states in April 2008.

‘End violence against women ’

By Addis Mulugeta

The celebration of the 16 days campaign against Gender based violence began on November 25, 2007.
The Ethiopian Women’s Association has organized a campaign on protecting violence against women human rights and it has demanded accountability from states including a commitment to act against all forms of violence against women. Organized by the Ethiopian Women Associations Coalition under the joint assistance of Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association, Oxfam America, Oxfam GB, Christian Relief Development Association, Save the Children USA, Action Aid Ethiopia, African Union, Commission for Africa and the African Development Bank, members of the 16 days campaign pledged to work closely to reduce and eliminate violence on women.
The violence against women campaign is organized giving an emphasis on some of the problems that women face such as rape, sexual harassment, beating, female genital mutilation and underage marriage. These problems are spotted to have led to women inferiority socially, politically, and economically and lead them to poverty prone to infections, illiteracy and expose their life to death.
During the campaign, solutions were reflected to eliminate violence against women. The organizers called up on governmental and non-governmental organizations, the media and the people to work hand in hand to alleviate the probelm. Especially the government should amend laws and establish active and effective new laws concentrating on violence against women.

‘We must do more!’

By Addis Mulugeta

World AIDS Day has been celebrated for the twentieth time in Ethiopia organized by the AU Commission Department of Social Affairs and Communication and Information Division in collaboration with UNAIDS on November 30, 2007 at the AU conference center.
“Leadership” has been chosen by the world AIDS campaign as the theme for World AIDS Day 2007 and 2008, running for two years, and the theme continues to be promoted with the slogan “Stop AIDS, Keep the Promise”.
Members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of international organizations, students, and officials of the AU Commission attended the occasion. A number of issues have been discussed during the event related to Africa’s heavy burden of HIV/AIDS, both in economic and social development terms. The world AIDS campaign connects and strengthens AIDS campaigns from around the world. Through a collaboration approach, the campaign brings together diverse voices with the goal of holding world leaders and governments to account for their promises on AIDS.
Adu Biep.Gawanas, AU Commissioner for Social Affairs said during the occasion that the AU is joining the international community in commemorating World AIDS Day not only by organizing this program but also by conducting advocacy work. He explained that choosing the youth as the primary target of this commemoration is motivated by the urgent need to address their higher vulnerability to the pandemic, especially young women and girls as well as the opportunity that they represent to induce behavioral changes in our society. The chosen song of this year is “we are the drums for an AIDS free generation”.
He noted that heads of the states should commit themselves to place the fight against HIV/ AIDS at the fore front of development and to ensure that leadership role is exercised by every one in his/ her area of responsibility.
Dr. Luis G. Sambo, WHO regional Director for Africa, said that leaders recognize that HIV prevention programs in most countries of the African region remain fragmented, uncoordinated and poorly funded. They realize that many programs are being implemented with out clear focus based on sound knowledge of the local epidemic or the factor driving the epidemic. Dr. Luis also said that access to treatment and care increased significantly in the last four years in the region, from an average of 1 per cent to 30 per cent in 2007.
Ban ki-Moon made his first public World AIDS Day as UN Secretary General in New York on November 28. He said on the occasion, “Overcoming stigma remains one of our biggest challenges. It is still the single biggest barrier to public action on AIDS. It is one of the reasons why the epidemic continues to wreak its devastation around the world.”
“It is our crucial mission to ensure that every one can access HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. These include migrants, sex workers, injected drug users, a person who works in government, banks, legal officials, schools and international organizations.
“We have the means to prevent young adults from becoming infected, to treat those who are infected, and to provide care and support.”

Ethio Romania relations going on to higher levels

By Muluken Yewondwossen

Ethio-Romanian relations have been steadily improving and in this vein the foreign Minister of Romania is to arrive, Romanian Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union, Gabriel Branzaru disclosed at a press conference he gave to journalists at the embassy here in Addis Ababa in connection with the 89th Romania National Day.
Ambassador Branzaru stressed that the old Ethio-Romania ties are gaining momentum. According to the ambassador, the foreign ministers of Ethiopia and Romania met in New York last September and agreed to develop bilateral relationships to a higher level.
Ambassador Branzaru said, “Diplomatic relations between the two nations started 50 years ago and the anniversary would be celebrated soon.”
The ambassador recalled that the two nations will sign a Memorandum of Understanding on investment protection and to avoid double taxation. Five of the top military observer officers in the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) are Romanian officers.
The Ambassador said Romania, since it became a member of the European Union in 2004, has registered significant socio-economic success as it has become one of the fastest growing European countries with 7.7 per cent growth in 2006.
The Romanian National day will be celebrated on December 1st, 2007.

Ethio Poultry Expo held

By Addis Mulugeta

The first Ethiopian Poultry Expo opened at the Addis Ababa Exhibition Center organized by a Sudanese national on Saturday, November 23, 2007. More than 20 companies have participated in this Expo from Ethiopia as well as other countries. The event has been held for three consecutive days until November 25, 2007.
Hossaman Mestofa, the organizer of the Expo, said the opening of the poultry expo is one of the pillars of increasing the income of farmers and of introducing new technologies to poultry companies in Africa in general. While it increases investment both internationally and locally in this sector, exhibitions on poultry are important to provide training for local industry, exploit resources to increase farmers and families’ welfare and draw the attention of farmers to the potentials of this sector.
Nonetheless, most Ethiopian poultry operators did not participate in the international poultry expo which is the first for Ethiopia.

Condoleezza Rice due here this week

International humanitarian, peace maker arrives Thursday

Starbucks agrees to pay premium price for Ethiopian coffees

ETC finalizing preparations to launch 3G mobile service Nokia Amharic phones available on market

265 private Indian companies operating with 465 million USD capital

Cotecna: poised for Ethiopia market

Nib Insurance profits increase 135 % By-election brings two individuals to board

Meles says situation in Somalia definitely improving

Joaquim Chissano wins Mo Ibrahim Prize

King of the road unveiled

Somali region recieves relief aid

Fine wine time

Rotary, Gates Foundation commits US$ 200 million on polio campaign

Global malaria community plans intensified battle against disease

Dashen named Bank of the year

Ethio-Con international exhibition being held

GTZ SUN to enter last phase of scale up

Make slavery history: Ban ki Moon

UN Humanitarian chief visits Ethiopia

MORE

HR 2003 violates Ethiopian constitution: Meles

Ethiopia launches U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative

MORE

No security problem for Somali census

‘End violence against women ’

MORE

‘We must do more!’

Ethio Romania relations going on to higher levels

Ethio Poultry Expo held

Condoleezza Rice due here this week

International humanitarian, peace maker arrives Thursday

Starbucks agrees to pay premium price for Ethiopian coffees

ETC finalizing preparations to launch 3G mobile service Nokia Amharic phones available on market

265 private Indian companies operating with 465 million USD capital

Cotecna: poised for Ethiopia market

Nib Insurance profits increase 135 % By-election brings two individuals to board

Meles says situation in Somalia definitely improving

Joaquim Chissano wins Mo Ibrahim Prize

King of the road unveiled

Somali region recieves relief aid

Fine wine time

Rotary, Gates Foundation commits US$ 200 million on polio campaign

Global malaria community plans intensified battle against disease

Dashen named Bank of the year

Ethio-Con international exhibition being held

GTZ SUN to enter last phase of scale up

Make slavery history: Ban ki Moon

UN Humanitarian chief visits Ethiopia

HR 2003 violates Ethiopian constitution: Meles

Ethiopia launches U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative

No security problem for Somali census

‘End violence against women ’

‘We must do more!’

Ethio Romania relations going on to higher levels

Ethio Poultry Expo held

ETC finalizing preparations to launch 3G mobile service
Nokia Amharic phones available on market

ETC finalizing preparations to launch 3G mobile service
Nokia Amharic phones available on market