Ministry finalizes studies that augment WTO foreign trade document

Ethiopia has finalized studies that augment the foreign trade document presented by the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Ministry of Trade and Industry disclosed.

WTO Affairs Department Head with the Ministry, Habtamu Taddese, told WIC that the study deals with agriculture, industry, service delivery, tourism, construction, and power supply and distribution.

Accordingly, he said the country has finalized the its foreign trade document and submitted it to the office of the WTO a month ago. The document distributed to 150 member states has been translated into English, French and Latin.

He added that the office has sent the document to the relevant committee and requested member states to forward their suggestions and questions until the end of this month.

The Head stated that minor documents which help resolve questions that may be raised during trade exchanges and support the country's foreign trade document were also forwarded. (WIC, Addis Ababa , February 23, 2007)

16mln birr polypropylene bag factory operational in Awassa

G-Agri Pack, a polypropylene bag factory, constructed in Awassa town with over 16 million birr has gone operational.

Factory Manager Getahun Asfaw told WIC recently that the factory will supply various standardized plastic products, including polypropylene bags, to local and foreign markets.

The factory, which began production last week, will daily produce up to 4,000 polypropylene bags of various sizes, he said.

Currently 350 people are working in the factory on casual and permanent basis, the manager said, adding that the number will rise to over 1,000 permanent workers when the factory starts producing related plastic products after a year.

Though 30 percent of the raw materials for the factory are at present obtained locally, efforts will be made to entirely use local raw materials in the future, Getahun said.

Entrepreneurs with a registered capital of 1.2 billion birr have been undertaking various constructions in the industrial zones designated in the locality of Awassa town due to the special focus provided by the government for private sectors in the last three years, Awassa Town Municipality General Manager, Arega Tsegaye, said on his part that. G-Agri Pack factory is part of this. (WIC, Awassa, February 23, 2007)

Semera stadium under construction with 18mln birr

The modern stadium and gymnasium under construction in Semera town of Afar State with 18 million birr is reportedly nearing completion.

Sports Department Head with Afar State Youth and Sports Bureau, Negash Betemariam, told WIC that the stadium and gymnasium launched two years ago would go operational by the coming June as 80 percent of the construction is already completed.

He further said the stadium will have a capacity to accommodate more than 20,000 spectators and has offices, dressing rooms and cafeteria.

The stadium will have significant contribution in hosting national sports competitions, improving sports in the state and organizing modern and traditional sports competitions, Negash noted . (WIC, Dessie, February 23, 2007)

Authority collects over 224mln birr revenue in Amhara State

The Amhara State Inland Revenue Authority has reportedly collected over 224.7 million birr revenue in the past seven moths.

Authority Manager Seide Jemaw told WIC recently that the stated sum has been secured from direct and indirect tax as well as various service charges.

The revenue collected in the reported period exceeded that of same period last year by 22.79 million birr, he said.

The West Gojjam, Bahirdar and North Shoa zones have performed beyond the set targets following tax reduction in line with the tax reform, the manager added.

He attributed the growth to the establishment of the authority as an autonomous institution.

Seide further attributed the increase to the assistance and monitoring works it has undertaken to professionals and executives of the authority going to fields.

Currently, most of the zonal and woreda offices have made their tax collection system computerized, thus delivering efficient services, he indicated.

The authority envisions collecting 405 million birr this budget year ,it was pointed out. (WIC, Bahirdar, February 23, 2007)

Supreme Court upholds death sentence on convicted terrorists

The Federal Supreme Court approved here on Thursday the death sentences passed by the Federal High Court on five convicted terrorists and a 25-year prison term on one other.

The Criminal Bench of the Court endorsed the death sentence on Mohammed Mahmoud Farah, Mohammed Hassan Mahmoud, Ibrahim Hussein Nalaye, Mohammed Almi Liben and Mohammed Ibrahim, who were convicted of committing terrorist attacks at various time and places in Addis and Dire Dawa cities in 1988 EC.

The Bench said it found no reason to change or make lenient the sentences passed by the High Court in March 1994 EC and April 1994 EC on the convicts for they deserve the sentences. (WIC, Addis Ababa , February 23, 2007)

JICA sinking 18 water wells with over 1.2mln birr in Tanqua Abergele Woreda

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has begun constructing 18 potable water wells in Tanqua Abergele Woreda of Central Tigray Zone with an outlay of over 1.2 million birr.

Woreda Mines and Energy Office Head, Siraj Mohammed,said that the agency has started sinking medium wells in seven kebeles of the woreda.

The woreda administration would give training to committees, he said, adding that the public would cover 10 % of the expenditure of the work in labor and cash. (WIC Addis Ababa , February 22, 2007)