CBE signs 208 million USD loan agreement with Export Import Bank of China

A loan agreement amounting to 208 million USD was signed here on Monday between the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) and the Export Import Bank of China.
President of CBE, Abie Sano and President of China Export Import Bank, Li. Ruogu signed the agreement.
During the agreement signing ceremony it was disclosed that the loan will be used to finance the expansion of Mugher Cement Enterprise and the construction of Fincha-Amerti-Neshe multi-purpose projects that include hydro-power generation and irrigation.
The two projects necessitate 276 million USD, out of which China Export Import Bank will finance 208 USD and the remaining 68 million USD will be covered by the Ethiopian government.
President of CBE, Abie Sano said the signing of the agreement would help speed up the construction of the projects that would have a vital importance to the country.
President of China Export Import Bank, Li. Ruogu also said that the cooperation between the two countries will be further strengthened in the future. (ENA)

Government of Ethiopia takes ownership of Sebeta Health Quarantine Facility

On Sunday, September 23rd, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) inaugurated a health quarantine facility in Sebeta, officially handing over ownership to His Excellency Dr. Abera Deressa, State Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MoARD).
The facility will strengthen animal disease investigation and control capacity of the National Animal Disease Investigation Center of MoARD. The Center will use the newly built facility to test, observe and certify that imported animals are free of diseases before they enter Ethiopia's livestock market. The quarantine facility, valued at over US$100,000, also has a small hay section, storage for medicine and medical equipment, toilet facilities, and washing and changing room for workers.
The facility, built to house up to 350 sheep or goats, has been keeping 225 Dorpher Sheep and Boar Goats imported from the Republic of South Africa for the last three months. The new breeds have completed their quarantine check up at the center and will soon be released. The quarantine facility, as well as the importation of new breed of sheep and goats, is part of the Ethiopia Sheep and Goat Productivity Improvement Program, a U.S. $5.5 million dollar program which began in late 2005. (US Embassy press release)

Al Qaeda suspects arrested in cross-border operation

Some six men believed to be members of al Qaeda were arrested during a cross-border operation in the breakaway republic of Somaliland, according to Reuters.
The news agency said Chairman of Somaliland's central region of Togdheer, Abdi Hussein Dere, told reporters that Ethiopian forces arrested six Somalis in four vehicles. "The cars were on their way to Mogadishu," Dere told a news conference. "After their arrest, I think informers told Ethiopian troops that the arrested men belonged to al Qaeda," he added. (WIC)

Ethiopia envisages attaining 100 percent clean water service coverage by 2012

The Ministry of Water Resource said it is undertaking various activities in order to attain 100 percent clean water service coverage across the nation by the Year 2012.
Speaking at a relevant workshop organized here in Addis Ababa, potable water and sanitation program coordinator with the ministry Abebe Gutema said over 1.9 billion Birr is needed to attain the stated goal.
According to the plan, 21,289 new clean water service facilities would be constructed in different parts of the nation in the coming years, he said.
The fund for the success of the stated plan is expected to be secured from donors, World Bank, the public and other income sources, he said, the clean water service coverage of the nation stands at 47.3 percent at present.
The official on the occasion commends the activities of Water Aid Ethiopia, a non-governmental organization, and pledged continued necessary technical assistance to the organization. (ENA)
Ethiopia says may call off Eritrea border pact
Eritrea Insists Ethiopia Implements Border Ruling
Ethiopia said on Tuesday it may terminate the pact ending its border war with Eritrea, accusing its smaller neighbor of breaching the deal on several fronts including coordinating "terrorist activity".
Ethiopian Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin in a letter to his Eritrean counterpart said Addis Ababa would be forced "to consider its peaceful and legal options under international law" if Eritrea continued.
Those options include terminating the pact or suspending part or all of it, Mesfin wrote. (The Daily Monitor)

Trolley bus factory on track with 100 mln USD in Debre Markos

An electric Trolley Bus manufacturing factory is to be established with 100 million USD capital in Debre Markos town.
Manager and owner of Afro-Asia Technical Trading Enterprise, Engineer Getachew Eshetu, said installation of necessary infrastructure facilities have been carried out to fix the factory.
The planting of the factory is expected to be completed and go operational in the current year.
Besides its contribution in further developing the town and the environs, the factory that would employ Russian technology is believed to create 5,000 jobs.
According to a study conducted by the manufacturers, Addis Ababa needs 1,200 trolley busses to give service for the ever-increasing residents of the city by reaching at least one station in every 15 minutes.
The company plans to manufacture 500 trolley buses per year and is also undertaking studies to provide for other African countries. Uganda, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania and Nigeria are the countries that the company is planning to undertake studies to introduce its products. (ENA)

Russian investor to launch car assembly factory with over 100 mln USD

A Russian investor announced that he would launch a car assembly and spare parts factory in Debremarkos town, Amhara State, with over 100 million US dollars.
Owner of Motorika Niva and Lada spare parts factory, Coplico Balantin, said that he has been undertaking a study to build a spare parts factory in Africa.
The factory, besides producing Lada and Niva brands of cars, would make available vehicles to be used as ambulances at reasonable price on request, according to Balantin.
Upon going operational next December,the factory would supply its produces to local and foreign markets, it was indicated. The factory would create over 250 jobs to compatriots. (WIC)