Public Private Partnership to improve quality in technical training

The Addis Ababa Tegbareid and General Wingate TVET colleges have signed an agreement with A.M.C.E., the Automotive Manufacturing Company of Ethiopia SH.CO., for the execution of highly qualitative technical apprenticeships organized by the company for the best diploma students of both colleges.
The Italian ambassador, raffaele de lutio, the vice president of IVECO group, Mr. Enzo Gioacin, the General Manager of A.M.C.E., Mr. Marco Torta, the Deans of General Wingate and A.A. Tegbareid TVET colleges, respectively Ato Solomon Hagos Hailu and Ato Tesfaye Yeshanew Goro, as well as the head of Addis Ababa Education Bureau, Ato Hagos Hailu and the representatives of the ESDP Planning & Policy Analysis Department of the Ministry of Education were present on last Friday December 7th 2007.
The main scope of this initiative is to motivate and give a better chance to the best performing TVET students assuring the effective apprenticeships inside the market leader companies for the different occupations. (Press release)

Ethiopia, Sudan inaugurate highway

Ethiopia and Sudan yesterday inaugurated a highway constructed with 30 million USD to link the countries and promote trade and economic exchange in the region, Sudan Tribune reported.
Sudanese president Omer al-Bashir and Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi inaugurated at Doka town the Gadarif-Doka-Gallabat-Matama highway. They also inaugurated Galabat electricity project.
The construction of the 156kms road was executed by an Egyptian constructor with 30 million USD, 90 percent of which was from a grant provided by the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD) and 10 percent by the Sudanese Government, it was learnt.
Since 2004 Ethiopia and Sudan have built a major highway connecting Ethiopia's northern town of Matama with Port Sudan through Sudan's Gedarif town, according to the source. (WIC)

Japan assist three Ethiopian projects

On the 4th of December 2007, a grant agreement of 121.36 million birr was signed between the Governments of Japan and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. This agreement was signed by H.E. Mr. Kinichi Komano, Ambassador of Japan to Ethiopia and H.E. Ato Mekonnen Manyazewal, state minister of finance and economic development. This ceremony took place at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MoFED) and was signed concerning the three projects: water supply in tigray region, procurement of fertilizers for underprivileged farmers and small scale agriculturalists in Ethiopia and primary school construction in oromia region.
H.E. Mr. Kinichi Komano, Ambassador of Japan said that the money that they have funded is actually doing well for the people of Ethiopia. And all of the projects that have been supported by this fund have already started to show some noticeable progress and are promising.
The Ambassador finally expressed his trust the aid would be implemented within its time frame contributing to improving "human security" for the people, especially women and children, and to realizing a society in which people can live better lives adding to the betterment efforts of Ethiopia. (Press release)

Indian Ambassador hopes soon release of 122m USD loan for Ethiopia

Indian Ambassador to Ethiopia, Gurijit Singh said 122 million USD loan agreed upon between the Export Import Bank of India and Ethiopia to support sugar industry in Ethiopia would be released after approved by the country's parliament in the near future.
Ambassador Singh said his country would provide 640 million USD loan to Ethiopia during the coming five years.
The ambassador said the loan his country provides to Ethiopia is the largest of loans so far given to other foreign countries.
Ambassador Singh said the loan would enable to speed up development activities in Ethiopia.
India has plans to increase by two fold the annual capacity building training opportunities to Ethiopia, which stand at 25 entries at present. It would also increase annual number of scholarships to 50 from 20. (ENA)

Prevalence of measles on decline in Ethiopia: Ministry

Prevalence of measles is declining in Ethiopia owing to the series of anti measles immunization activities carried out in the country over the past seven years, the Ministry of Health said.
Family healthcare department head with the ministry, Dr. Ayele Debebe told ENA on Thursday measles mortality rate has been on decline during the reported time.
Children who did not receive inoculation services within nine years of age are subject to high risk of measles infections.
The country envisages abolishing child mortality due to measles, he said, on-going efforts would be enhanced to eradicate measles once and for all.
World Health Organization (WHO) recently announced mortality rate in Africa due to measles fell by 91 percent during 2000-2006. The success in Africa helped generate a strong decline in global measles deaths, which fell 68 percent worldwide. (ENA)