President Girma receives credentials of newly-appointed ambassadors

( June 21, 2007, ENA) - President Girma Woldegiorgis received on Thursday the credentials of the newly appointed ambassadors of four different countries namely: the Croatia, Australia, Sri Lanka, and Zambia.
Presenting credential to the president, Croatian Ambassador Dralen Margeta said on the occasion Ethiopia and Croatia forged closer ties in the political sector.
Croatia is desirous to bolster trade and investment cooperation with Ethiopia, the ambassador said, adding he would exert utmost efforts to encourage Croatia investors to invest in Ethiopia particularly in petroleum exploration.
The Zambian Ambassador, Partrick N. Sinyinya also said Zambia is eager to strengthen bilateral cooperation with Ethiopia.

Highest quality coffees in the world come from Ethiopia: Starbucks chairman

(June 21, 2007, ENA) - Some of the highest quality coffees in the world come from Ethiopia, various media reported citing Starbucks chairman, Howard Schultz.
Ethiopia has won trademark rights for three of its specialty coffees in Canada, it has trademarked two specialty coffees in Japan and the European Union, and expects a third to be trademarked soon throughout Europe, Getachew said.
Ted Lingle, executive director of the Specialty Coffee Association of America, said the major problem facing Ethiopian farmers is that they receive such a low percentage of the export price.
The report said Ethiopia’s coffee sector including farmers cooperatives earn more from its valuable coffee brands, increase its negotiation leverage through control of the marks, and ultimately increase the price received for its best coffee.

Ethiopian ambassadors abroad present credentials

( June 21, 2007, ENA) - Newly appointed Ethiopian ambassadors to Iceland and Guinea Bissau recently presented credentials to the respective presidents of the two countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
Ambassador Dina Mufti, who is residing in Stockholm, Sweden, presented his credentials to Iceland President Olafur Ragnar Grimmson on 15 June 2007, a statement from the ministry told Ethiopian News Agency on Thursday.
President Vieira also said his country supports Ethiopia’s action in Somalia since the nation has a right of self-defense.
Factory to carry out 967 million Birr expansion project
(June 21, 2007, ENA) - Fincha Sugar Factory announced plan to carry out an expansion project with over 967 million Birr over the next three years.
Factory manager, Derge Gutema said during a factory visit by the Trade and Industry Affairs Standing Committee of the federal parliament Tuesday that that the factory is to carry out the project to bring about basic changes in its production capacity.
The project would enable the factory to raise its capacity to 2.7 million quintal from existing 930,000 quintal per annum, he said.

European Commission names envoy for Somalia

(June 21, 2007, ENA) - The European Commission on Monday announced the appointment of a special envoy to Somalia to help restore stability in the Horn of African nation, AFP reported from Nairobi.
Georges-Marc Andre, a former charge d’affaires in Gambia and the bloc’s chief delegate to Burundi, will “help establish a peaceful and secure environment in Somalia...,” it said in a statement. Andre, a Belgian, will be based in Nairobi.
Somalia, a nation of some 10 million people, has been wracked by war since 1991 that has defied numerous attempts to restore a functional central authority.

House endorses three bills, refers two more

(June 21, 2007, ENA) - The House of Peoples’ Representatives has endorsed three bills by majority votes and referred two more to pertinent standing committees for further scrutiny.
The bills endorsed during the 37th parliamentary regular session on Thursday provide: 1. for the ratification of bilateral investment promotion and protection agreement Ethiopia had signed with Belgium-Luxemburg; 2. for the ratification of a 100-million Dollars agreement signed with IDA and; 3. for the ratification of a 148.7 million SDR loan agreement signed recently with IDA for the implementation of the Third Road Sector Development Program (RSDP-III) support project.
In line with this bill, the Ministry of Information will be tasked with heading the publicly owned information and communication work, embracing the Ethiopian News Agency into its structure.
Finally, the House referred to the Legal and Administrative Affairs Standing Committee a bill providing for the establishment of the Office of the House of the Federation.