Giant Kenyan
brewer pursuing alternatives to penetrate Ethiopian market
After seeing its expansion strategy into the Horn of Africa frustrated
by the Ethiopian government, brewing giant East Africa Breweries Limited
(EABL) says it is considering other options on how to penetrate the
regional market, the Kenyan Business Daily Said.
The company's CEO Gerald Mahinda told a breakfast meeting of CEOs
last week in Nairobi that the company was still keen on gaining a
foothold in the Ethiopian market and that the setback would not deter
its plans to sell its brands.
Mr Mahinda, however, did not name options being considered by the
company.
On its expansion strategy out of East Africa, Mr Mahinda said plans
to buy a government-owned brewery in Ethiopia failed after the government
changed its mind. He said EABL was pursuing other alternatives to
penetrate the Ethiopian market. (The Reporter)
Insurgents attack Mogadishu base
Somali insurgents launched a rocket attack on a military base
in the capital, Mogadishu, late on Tuesday.
Eyewitnesses told the BBC two civilians were killed in the hour-long
battle.
A military spokesman said about 20 insurgents armed with rocket-propelled
grenades and heavy machine guns were fought off with anti-aircraft
guns.
Last week the Somali Islamists and opposition formed a new alliance
to remove Ethiopian troops helping the transitional government from
Somalia.
Residents said more than 50 insurgents were involved in the attack,
which involved the first serious fighting in Mogadishu since the
opposition alliance was formed.
Ethiopian as well as Somali government troops fought off the attack.
Meanwhile, Shabelle Radio which came under attack from government
soldiers on Tuesday, remained off the air following a renewed threat.
Shabelle director, Jafar Kukay, said: "The same troops who
attacked us, threatened that they would use greater force if they
hear us on air and that really forced us to shut down the station".
Government troops had previously raided Shabelle Radio and detained
18 journalists after a grenade was thrown. (BBC)
British Embassy Introduces New Visa Application
Forms
The British Embassy has announced that with effect from 28 October
2007, all visa applicants applying for a visa/entry clearance to
the United Kingdom should apply using the new application forms.
Mark Sedwill, the Director of UKvisas said "We at UKvisas want
to encourage tourists, students and key workers to apply for visas
to go to the UK. We have redesigned our visa application forms to
make them as straight forward and as simple as possible. This will
help us to maintain and enhance our position as the destination
of choice for our high value legitimate travelers in what is an
increasingly competitive global market."
These forms will be available from British Embassy, Visa Section
and from the UK visas' website: www.ukvisas.gov.uk.
There is a dedicated application form for each type of traveler.
In total there are eight standard application forms and three forms
for Diplomats. The visa section will continue to accept the old
forms until 9 November 2007. (Press Release)
There is no humanitarian crisis in Somali
State: UN humanitarian assessment mission
The United Nations humanitarian assessment mission, which conducted
a humanitarian assessment in Somali State between 30 Aug 2007 and
5 Sep 2007, ascertained that there is no humanitarian crisis in
the region, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
In its report submitted to the Ethiopian government after its visit
in Jijjiga, Dhegehabur, Kebridehar, Gode, Shekosh, Deinan, and ten
smaller villages of the state the mission confirmed that there is
no humanitarian crisis in the region.
However, the report cautioned that the nutritional status will rapidly
worsen within two or three months if food assistance is not provided
through general distribution and proper malnutrition response activities.
With regard to border trade and commercial activities, the Ethiopian
government reaffirmed is commitment to the UN humanitarian assessment
mission toward ensuring normal transactions including livestock
trade in the future, it said. (ENA)
5,000 beggars to return home on weekend
Participation of the community is essential to eradicate beggary
which affects human dignity and damages the image of the country,
the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs said.
Head of the national coordinating committee established to engage
beggars in development works, State Minister Zenebu Taddese said
on her part that activities are underway to voluntarily return able-bodied
beggars to their localities in different states where they own houses
and properties.
The ministry, in collaboration with the NGO Elshaday Relief and
Development Association, has returned 22,000 beggars to Tigray State
in the first round and 5,000 beggars would be returned to their
localities in Amhara State this coming weekend as part of the effort
to relocate 18,000 people who came from same state.
She urged governmental and non-governmental organizations, civic
societies and religious leaders to support the effort to return
the remaining 13,000 beggars.
According to studies conducted two years ago, there are 93,000 people
engaged in beggary in Addis Ababa, the State Minister pointed out,
adding that of those only 4,000 are from Addis Ababa.
Among the beggars in the metropolis,78.6 percent have assets but
left home misled by false information, Zenebu indicated. (WIC)
Ethiopia receives $12.4 million from the
Spain MDG Fund
The Embassy of Spain and the United Nations Country Team (UNCT)
in Ethiopia announced that $12.4 million has been allocated to Ethiopia
from the Spain MDG Achievement Fund in the thematic areas of 'Gender
Equality and Women's Empowerment' and 'Environment and Climate Change'.
In addition to the 'Gender' and 'Environment' areas, the Spain MDG
Fund is accessible through three other thematic areas: Economic
Governance; Youth Employment and Migration; Cultural Diversity and
Development. The indicative budget allocations for Ethiopia in the
'Gender' and 'Environment' windows are $8.4 million and $4 million
respectively. Release of funds will be contingent on the elaboration
of high quality Joint Programmes that ensure greater consultation
with government counterparts.
The MDG Fund was established in the first quarter of 2007 with the
aim of supporting innovative actions with the potential of wide
replication and high impact in select countries and sectors. (Press
Release)
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