Parking fees to increase
By Tewodros Kebkab
Officials of the Addis Ababa Transport Authority (AATA), and association representatives of private companies contracted by the City council in December 2000, are currently under discussion on a parking tariff adjustment that will be effective shortly, sources disclosed.
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MP proposes to set up Ministry for Nile River
By Kirubel Tadesse
Ethiopian Member of Parliament, Gebru Gebremariam, proposed an establishment of a ministry, entirely devoted to the Nile River and to protect Ethiopia’s interest, denied for several decades through agreements Ethiopia didn’t take part in.
The United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF) MP, Gebru, explained that for too long Ethiopia was left out of the list of countries that enjoy the resource unilaterally. He stressed that the present status on Ethiopia’s resource share should be known clearly as the nation suffers from water and hydropower shortage despite its huge resource reserve.
ETC’s generator lack disrupts telephone service
By Tedla Yeneakal
The current power shortage faced by the country is partially disrupting telephone services, after the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCo) announced power shedding schedules of 12 hours, twice a week, in different parts of the country. The Optical Network Units (ONU) installed by the Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation (ETC) require electricity 24 hours consecutively
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First batch of ordered Chinese trucks arrive
By Muluken Yewondossen
From one thousand trucks that are expected to be imported to the country by the Ministry of Works and Urban Development (MWUD), fifty have arrived today and have been parked at the Bank Institute area in Akaki.
These dump trucks are imported by the Chinese company, CGC Over Seas Construction Ethiopia Limited.
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Inflation rate hits 29.6%
By Groum Abate
Ethiopia’s annual inflation rate increased to 29.6 percent in March, the highest in over a decade, as rising food costs continued to push up consumer prices, Bloomberg says, quoting the Central Statistical Agency.
Inflation expanded from 22.9 percent in February, the Addis Ababa-based Central Statistical Agency said in a report. The inflation was recorded at 19.4 percent in January. Food prices climbed 39.4 percent on an annual basis, from 30.2 percent in February, and 28 percent in January according to the report.
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Ministry to develop new policy on primary education
By Tedla Yeneakal
The Ministry of Education is set to develop a new policy on primary education, targeted at ‘Early Child Development’ after it has accepted research findings carried out by the United Nations Children’s’ Fund (UNICEF).
Dr. Kerida McDonald, Chief of Communications of UNICEF told Capital that the findings included factors such as the high drop out rate of children in early child schooling, proper structure of the academic provisions, entering school at different age groups and certain development standards required at this stage.
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Mugher expansion to ease cement shortage
By Groum Abate
About half of the expansion project of Mugher Cement Enterprise launched with an investment of 1.4 billion birr, has reportedly been completed.
The project is expected to play a significant contribution towards improving the severe shortage of cement that has hit the country repeatedly.
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OFDM boycotts today’s elections
By Kirubel Tadesse
The Oromo Federalist Democratic Party (OFDM) has boycotted today’s Local and Bi- Elections claiming that it went into last Sundays’ elections blindfolded and has no reason to hope today’s will be any different.
Unlike the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF), which pulled out from both the April 13 and April 20 elections, OFDM took part on April 13.
ERA sign agreement worth 508.5 mln Br
By Muluken Yewondwossen
The Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA) and Berhe Hagose Construction have signed a contract agreement for two road construction projects valued at 508.5 million birr. The April 17, 2008 agreement is for the upgrading of the Tongo – Gidame road.
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UDJ to call general assembly in thirty days
By Kirubel Tadesse
After collecting signatures needed to form the national party, the former Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party majority who is forming a new party, Unity for Democracy and Justice (UDJ), is to call a general assembly to endorse the party program and regulations.
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Illegal international trade threatens human, plant welfare
By Addis Mulugeta
In East African countries, including Ethiopia and Djibouti, plants and animals are endangered because of the environmental pollution that illegal international trade causes. This was stated at a sub regional work shop that aimed to increase the capacity of Customs officials to combat illegal international trade was held between bordering countries Ethiopia and Djibouti for three days starting from April 16, 2008.
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Education Initiative to last beyond 2010
By Kirubel Tadesse
The Presidential African Education Initiative (AEI) is likely to last beyond 2010, hints Sarah Moten (PhD), Chief of USAID Education Bureau.
According to Dr. Moten, AEI, started in 1999, was taken up with more budget and commitment by President W. Bush starting from 2002 and is expected to continue, probably with more extensions, when the next president takes oath of the office after this fall.
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AU women’s committee meets in Tunis this week
By Abiy Demilew
Established in July 2003 following a decision by the Executive Council of the African Union to transform the African Women Committee on Peace and Development into the AUWC, the African Union Women’s Committee (AUWC) will hold its third meeting this week, 24-25 April 2008, in Tunis, Tunisia.
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Bomb blasts at NOC
stations kill three
By Tedla Yeneakal
Bomb explosions at two National Oil Company (NOC) gas stations that occurred at the same time (around 6:30PM) this week Monday, April 14, 2008 killed three people and wounded more than a dozen, Addis Ababa Police confirmed to Capital. The NOC stations located on Haile Gebereselassie Road, in the area popularly known as Lemhotel and one station in the area known as Gerji near the Imperial Hotel, were the scene of blasts that were heard several kilometers away. The government blamed rebels backed by Eritrea and accused the deed as an attempt at trying to disrupt the elections as it came after the first round of local, regional and federal elections. Victims at both stations were residents who were queuing to buy fuel.
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Construction technology to sustain housing
By Addis Mulugeta
An Exhibition-cum-Seminar on Innovative Building Materials and Construction Technologies for Sustainable Housing (BMPTC) took place from April 15-16, 2008 at Ethiopian Conference Center, Addis Ababa organized by the Embassy of India in collaboration with the Ministry of Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation, Government of India and the Ministry of Works and Urban Development, Government of Ethiopia. The Exhibition showcased the commercial viability of manufacturing technologies of composite building material and machinery developed in India for production of building materials components for housing with the use of agro industrial waste and natural fibers.
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Conference discusses innovation,
cluster competitiveness
By MulukenYewondwossen
The first Pan African Conference on innovation and cluster competitiveness was held for three days from April 14, 2008 at the UN ECA.
This forum sought to mark the beginning of learning, ideas and experience sharing on competitiveness in Africa - between African countries and their global partners.
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Ethiopia’s Commodity Exchange unveils
By Groum Abate
Ethiopia has opened a commodity exchange this week. The exchange will trade in six commodities: coffee, sesame, haricot beans, teff, wheat and maize.
The Ethiopia Commodity Exchange (ECX), as it is officially known, will provide a marketplace where buyers and sellers can come together to trade and be assured of quality, delivery and payment. The exchange includes a trading floor in Addis Ababa, six warehouse delivery locations, and 20 electronic price tickers in major market towns. ECX was launched by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi at a ceremony in April.
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Fire destroys Yod Abyssinia restaurant
By Groum Abate
A fire broke out in the Yod Abyssinia restaurant, on Mickey Leyland Road, in front of the European Union Headquarters, on April 17, 2008 causing major damage to property but no injuries.
The blaze engulfed the cottage of Yod Abyssinia causing a near complete loss.
According to eyewitnesses, the fire started in the afternoon around 4 pm after an electric pole fell on the front entrance of the restaurant, which is mainly made up of dry grasses and twigs.
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Creative Africa kicks off in Accra
African artists coloring the nation
By Abiy Demilew
Creative Africa, an initiative of UNCTAD, kicks off in Accra, Ghana, as of today coinciding with the Ministerial Conference of UNCTAD III launching in the nation this week, 20-25 April 2008.
The one week event has brought legendary and contemporary African artists together, including musicians, painters and fashion designers.
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Elections end today
By Tedla Yeneakal
The first round of local councils elections to many of the seats in parliament won by the opposition but never taken up, ends today, Sunday, April 20 2008, with the first round conducted last week. The elections cover about 4 million positions with the ruling party Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Party (EPRDF) presenting 32,000 candidates in Addis Ababa, of which more than 50 percent of its candidates are not members of the party.
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Singer Teddy jailed
By Groum Abate
The young and highly talented vocalist, songwriter and producer, Tewodros Kassahun, alias Teddy Afro, who was accused of a hit- run in November 2006, and later released on bail, has now been sent to jail until Monday April 21, 2008 to battle for his bail.
The Federal First Instance Court, on November 2006 had released Teddy Afro on 50,000 birr bail.
Teddy Afro’s alleged crime is of killing a person while speeding, near the Sheraton Hotel, and then driving away in his BMW late in the evening of Thursday, November 2, 2006.
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Fasika Expo opens
its doors
By MulukenYewondwossen
Fasika Expo Trade Fair, where more than 100 micro and small-scale enterprises, 125 producers, importers and service providers are participating, was officially opened to the public on April 16, 2008 at the Exhibition Center.
The exhibition that Century Promotion Service has organized will stay open for eleven days. Fifty companies from Syria, Italy, Sudan and Pakistan, including new enterprises, business agents and importers will take part on the exhibition.
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Guesthouses for 11.5 mln br
By Groum Abate
An elegant guest house is to be constructed in the heart of the city with an investment of 11.5 million birr.
Located at Meskel Square, which is within walking distance of the UNECA, UN Conference hall, governmental offices and the Presidential Palace, lies on a 1,000 sq meters.
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Yahsat reveals complete satellite coverage of Africa
By Tagu Zergaw
Al Yah Satellite Communications Company PrJsc (Yahsat), plans to build two satellites – one in 2010 and second in 2011 allowing it to provide complete interconnectivity on C Band to Africa from the Middle East and Europe.
Yahsat the United Arab Emirate’s first nationally-owned satellite operator will be present at SATCOM 2008 for the first time and it is also the a platinum sponsor of the event. Yahsat will showcase its satellite capabilities and coverage areas for potential business partners seeking the complete range of satellite services.
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iFest kicks off
By Groum Abate
The 37th annual Houston International Festival kicks off this weekend and is expected to stay open until April 27.
The festival will feature continuous music, dance and cultural performances on ten stages.
Headliners include Buddy Guy, the Neville Brothers, the Wailers, Taj Mahal, the National Dance Theater of Ethiopia, Habib Koite, the Garifuna Collective and many more.
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First batch of ordered Chinese trucks arrive
By Muluken Yewondossen
From one thousand trucks that are expected to be imported to the country by the Ministry of Works and Urban Development (MWUD), fifty have arrived today and have been parked at the Bank Institute area in Akaki.
These dump trucks are imported by the Chinese company, CGC Over Seas Construction Ethiopia Limited.
The trucks will be distributed for medium standard local construction companies who are participating in the housing development program that the city is undertaking and of regional housing development offices. The construction companies and regional offices should pay a down payment of thirty percent to the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) and the remaining balance will be paid as per their agreement with the Bank.
"This is one part of the capacity building program that MWUD has planned for medium and low level local contractors," said officials from the Ministry.
Sources told Capital that the Chinese made trucks have 290 horse power (hp) and have a capacity of loading up to sixteen m3. Each truck costs close to five hundred thousand ETB.
According to sources, the trucks will work on the housing development programs and the buyers should get the agreement of the ministry before they buy the trucks.
The trucks reached Djibouti Port one week ago and have been expected to arrive at the capital of Ethiopia on Friday April 18, 2008.
The MWUD signed the agreement with the same Chinese company to import freight trucks which will be distributed for small scale construction companies who have been taking part on the housing development program since February 2008.
Inflation rate hits 29.6%
By Groum Abate
Ethiopia’s annual inflation rate increased to 29.6 percent in March, the highest in over a decade, as rising food costs continued to push up consumer prices, Bloomberg says, quoting the Central Statistical Agency.
Inflation expanded from 22.9 percent in February, the Addis Ababa-based Central Statistical Agency said in a report. The inflation was recorded at 19.4 percent in January. Food prices climbed 39.4 percent on an annual basis, from 30.2 percent in February, and 28 percent in January according to the report.
The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) introduced a new directive on the amount of money banks are required to hold in reserve and on the ratio of liquidity requirement.
Taking the root causes of inflation into consideration, the NBE said it is making efforts towards pressing down the inflation rate to less than 10 percent by reducing the amount of money circulating in the market and by taking additional monetary policy measures.
NBE recently raised the required reserve ratio for commercial banks by half a percentage point as of March 21, to 15 percent.
This increase, the second this year, comes a month after the ratio was raised by half a percentage point from 5 to 10 percent.
The monetary policy measure has taken the lending capacity of the banks and the amount of money that should be circulated in the economy into consideration, NBE said.
Similarly, the liquidity requirement ratio the banks are required to put in reserve has increased to 25 percent from 10 percent.
The adjustment, part of a stringent monetary policy, is to draw back excess liquidity at banks and curb the overly-fast credit growth.
Excess liquidity is a major challenge for the government as it could result in bubbles and economic overheating.
The increase in monetary circulation, the inflation that occurred in the international market, the rise in the income of people in rural areas as well as the elevated price of construction materials, are some of the causes of the high rate inflation the study conducted by the NBE has identified.
The hike of the reserve requirement will have limited impact on the loans extension at big state-owned commercial banks, but have far bigger impact on that of mid- and small-sized banks in the country, a bank expert commented.
Ministry to develop new policy on primary education
By Tedla Yeneakal
The Ministry of Education is set to develop a new policy on primary education, targeted at ‘Early Child Development’ after it has accepted research findings carried out by the United Nations Children’s’ Fund (UNICEF).
Dr. Kerida McDonald, Chief of Communications of UNICEF told Capital that the findings included factors such as the high drop out rate of children in early child schooling, proper structure of the academic provisions, entering school at different age groups and certain development standards required at this stage.
“Multi sector effort is required for the proper structure of early schooling, as there is no specified policy for children in primary school years,” Dr. Kerida said. “Adopting the policy is essential as it is critical for the children in the earliest years of their lives, both to their immediate well-being and to their future.
According to the official website of UNICEF, every year, tens of millions of infants around the world begin an extraordinary sprint – from defenseless newborns to becoming proactive young children ready for school. Countless numbers of them are stopped in their tracks – deprived, in one way or another, of the love, care, nurturing, health, nutrition and protection that they need to survive, grow and develop. Nearly 10 million children die before their fifth birthday each year and over 200 million children are not developing to their full potential – solely because they and their caregivers lack the basic conditions needed for young children to survive and thrive.
Research indicates that the more language, through songs, stories, books and rhymes, that young children are exposed to in their first years of life, the more prepared children will be for entry to school. More importantly, since the basic aim of communication is to change behavior, such “child-friendly” methods have more appeal and impact than conventional channels.
“If you received the best start in your earliest years of life, you are more likely to have grown healthily, developed language and learning capacities, gone to school and led a productive, rewarding life,” states a UNICEF research. “Every child must be ensured the best start in life – their future, and indeed the future of their communities, nations and the whole world depends on it.”
“The policy is at a prime stage and can not fully reveal the details of the formulation,” Dr. Kerida added.
Mugher expansion to ease cement shortage
By Groum Abate
About half of the expansion project of Mugher Cement Enterprise launched with an investment of 1.4 billion birr, has reportedly been completed.
The project is expected to play a significant contribution towards improving the severe shortage of cement that has hit the country repeatedly.
Mugher Cement Enterprise has been producing 3,000 tons of cement daily and would have the capacity to produce over 7,500 tons daily upon the completion of the expansion project next year, which will enable it to annually produce 1.4 million tons and create over 300 permanent jobs.
A sever cement shortage has hit the country and forced a halt to small scale construction in the city, after the government banned those who allegedly import cement with black market foreign currency.
Amazingly, the price of cement is stable without any change during the last couple of weeks.
Mugher Cement Enterprise, the biggest player out of the five cement factories in the country, could only meet five percent of the total demand.
According to a survey done by Mugher during the last Ethiopian fiscal year, the country’s demand for cement is 17.8 million tones annually, whereas the country’s total production is only limited to 1.9 million tones per annum.
Mugher cement factory accounts for the lion’s share of the cement market in Ethiopia with a production capacity of 900,000tn along with Dire Dawa cement factory with 72,000tn production per annum, Messebo cement factory with a capacity of producing 700,000tn annually and the new entrant, Abyssinia Cement a subsidiary of Abyssinia Steel.
Derba Midroc, sister company of Midroc Ethiopia; Ethio Cement; Jema Plc; and East Africa are also in the pipeline to start construction of cement factories. Other companies have also either started construction of factories or were granted land for cement factories, including Star Business Group, Nyala Metals, DH Geda, and National Cement Factory among others.
Furthermore, Nigeria’s leading industrial conglomerate, Dangote Group, who controls about two-thirds of the Nigerian cement market, signed contracts worth 1.2 billion dollars in February with China’s Sinoma International to built cement plants in Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Tanzania, Senegal and Zambia.
OFDM boycotts today’s elections
By Kirubel Tadesse
The Oromo Federalist Democratic Party (OFDM) has boycotted today’s Local and Bi- Elections claiming that it went into last Sundays’ elections blindfolded and has no reason to hope today’s will be any different.
Unlike the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF), which pulled out from both the April 13 and April 20 elections, OFDM took part on April 13. “The first round of local and bi-elections on April 13 were fraught with serious procedural and legal flaws. OFDM observers were callously mistreated,” read the statement OFDM released on Wednesday, April 16, 2008. The statement explained its observers were not only mistreated but also told to leave some polling stations and the total number of public observers was less than that required by law. “The voter turnout on April 13 was very low. In several polling stations, where 1000 people had been registered, only some 400 voters turned out to vote,” adds the statement,” Our observers noticed that only individuals initiated by the EPRDF turned out to vote.”
Parking fees to increase
By Tewodros Kebkab
Officials of the Addis Ababa Transport Authority (AATA), and association representatives of private companies contracted by the City council in December 2000, are currently under discussion on a parking tariff adjustment that will be effective shortly, sources disclosed.
One of the private company owners anonymously told Capital that the increment is required because it is now imposed on them to pay Value Added Tax (VAT) and many of their employees are currently leaving the job after complaining about low wages.
“They have an average salary of 160 birr a month even though they work in shifts for half a day everyday.
Currently for parking a vehicle for an hour on any street run by these companies costs vehicles 1 birr; however the payment system differs accordingly.
“We are trying to increase the wages of these employees and we need to adjust the new prices in order to meet these costs,” the private company owner added.
Dereje Hailu, a car owner in Addis Ababa, complains that he spends 300 birr a month to park in front of his office for the whole day every day.
“If fees increase, it will make driving in the capital more expensive with the inflated price of fuel,” Dereje said. “Even the services we are getting now are not adequate as the parking companies must clean the roads in addition to the parking services they provide.”
The first company to sign a 15 year contract with the Addis Ababa City Council was Addis Parking, which started a pilot scheme in December 2000 for the main shopping area, Piassa, starting with 20 parking meters from Sweden, and 90 parking attendants.
At the initial stage the scheme faced opposition but not from drivers, who have, by and large, welcomed the opportunity to park without the usual frustrations, but from traders in the area.
“We are losing customers all the time as people prefer to go to other shopping areas rather than pay the parking fees here,” the business persons had complained then.
“It’s really driving our customers away and our businesses are suffering. As a result it is becoming a costly business for shopkeepers who open for at least 10 hours a day. They could have allocated an area where we could park free of charge or at least at a discount.”
MP proposes to set up Ministry for Nile River
By Kirubel Tadesse
Ethiopian Member of Parliament, Gebru Gebremariam, proposed an establishment of a ministry, entirely devoted to the Nile River and to protect Ethiopia’s interest, denied for several decades through agreements Ethiopia didn’t take part in.
The United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF) MP, Gebru, explained that for too long Ethiopia was left out of the list of countries that enjoy the resource unilaterally. He stressed that the present status on Ethiopia’s resource share should be known clearly as the nation suffers from water and hydropower shortage despite its huge resource reserve. “Egyptians are much more concerned, “stated Gebru, “they set up commissions, boards and many other institutions. There isn’t anything they won’t do to efficiently exploit the Nile so why don’t we follow suit and set up a Ministry of the Nile?”
Minister of Water Resources, Asfaw Dingamo, presenting his Ministry’s last nine months performance report to the House of Peoples’ Representatives, declared that rather than political will, it is the economic setback which is keeping the nation from utilizing the resources of the Nile, to which Ethiopia contributes more than 86% but uses less than 1%. Minister Asfaw explained that two major strategies are undertaken by the government of which one is building projects to utilize the Nile’s reserves as much as the nation’s economic capacity allows. He explained that five dams are under construction around the Nile and others also on rivers which feed to the Nile. “What we can regard as a challenge is obtaining financing from the World Bank, “explains Asfaw, “ we have been negotiating for more than ten years to secure finance but the negotiation is still too complex to settle. The will of Egypt and others to sit and have discussions with Ethiopia and other countries shows how concerned and threatened they are over the issue.”
According to the Minister, throwing war threats and the like are talk of the past as all the concerned countries are sitting around the table which is by itself a victory for the upper Nile counties like Ethiopia. “All of us are in agreement in all articles which guide the negotiations except one, protested by Sudan and Egypt,” states Asfaw, “the sub article which concerns water security states that countries not to significantly affect the water security of any other country in a Nile Basin district. This is endorsed by seven countries including Ethiopia. “
Egypt and Sudan wish the sub article to be amended and read as. ‘not to adversely affect the current security and the current uses and rights of the countries, which is, according to Minister Asfaw, intended to keep the status quo. “There is no such thing as current use or current right, “explained Asfaw, “it is for a new structure we are negotiating and working for.”
The negotiation are currently in deadlock because of this article Egypt and Sudan wish to bend in their favor; previous ministerial meetings had suggested that development projects to be started as per agreed articles by establishing a commission after referring the disputed article for Heads of States to come up with possible political solution.
ETC’s generator lack disrupts telephone service
By Tedla Yeneakal
The current power shortage faced by the country is partially disrupting telephone services, after the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCo) announced power shedding schedules of 12 hours, twice a week, in different parts of the country. The Optical Network Units (ONU) installed by the Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation (ETC) require electricity 24 hours consecutively
According to a press release from ETC, the optical fiber network distributor boxes installed in different parts of Addis Ababa are not fully functional during the days when power is disrupted. This in effect has disabled telephone services in some parts of the city.
Earlier this month, EEPCo announced that the corporation currently faces a power shortage of over 40 percent in the capital city; out of the total 200 Mega Watts (MW) electric power needed the corporation is short of 80MW. The corporation said that the shortage will continue for the next couple of months before it is fully resolved.
“Even though the network cable distributor boxes have batteries that are fitted as backups, they can only function for a certain period of time,” the release stated. “ETC has been installing mobile generators in some of the sites but due to the large number of cable distributors in place, the phone disruption will continue for some time during days when power is unavailable.”
EEPCo has been trying to cope with the problem by installing over 45 diesel generators that cost over 100 million birr a month to run. The corporation is waiting for the rainy season to fill dams and the disparity has occurred between demand and supply of electric power as the demand grows 10 percent every year. It urged the public to use various electric generating devices apart from the corporation’s power.
ETC on its part has revealed its inability to provide generators for all network cable distributor boxes and has stated in a statement that until the electric shortage crisis is solved they will encounter telephone disruptions.
“Since the electricity shortage occurred at national level, it has requested its customers to bear with its malfunctioning telecom services,” the press release from ETC further stated. Mihiret Debebe, General Manager of EEPCo, recently told journalists that the expansion of investment, the ever increasing number of new industries as well as the activities in various parts of the country, accompanied by the low level of rain during the main rainy season have aggravated the power shortage.
ERA sign agreement worth 508.5 mln Br
By Muluken Yewondwossen
The Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA) and Berhe Hagose Construction have signed a contract agreement for two road construction projects valued at 508.5 million birr. The April 17, 2008 agreement is for the upgrading of the Tongo – Gidame road.
The 70 km up grading of the gravel road to an asphalt road includes the Tongo – Begi – Mugi and the new 90 km gravel road from Mugi – Gidame.
When the upgrading and the new projects are completed they will connect Gambela, Benshangul and Oromia regional states. The agreement includes construction work of medium bridges, culverts and sewerage systems.
Three local consulting companies, United Consulting Engineers, Highway and consultants and Hamda Engineering are hired to consult on the second project. A bid is on process to hire consultants for the first project.
The agreement was signed by Ziad Woldegebriel of ERA and Mogese Fere, manager of Berhe Hagose Construction. According to the agreement the first project will be completed within two years, and the other will be finalized after three years.
At the signing ceremony Ziad stated that, this is among the projects of the five year plan to develop roads Somali, Afar, Benshangul and Gambela regions.
In a related development, ERA and Terra Construction Company have signed a contract agreement for the 65km gravel road from Yalo, Chercher and Mehoni, 179 million birr on April 17, 2008.
UDJ to call general assembly in thirty days
By Kirubel Tadesse
After collecting signatures needed to form the national party, the former Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party majority who is forming a new party, Unity for Democracy and Justice (UDJ), is to call a general assembly to endorse the party program and regulations.
According to Birtukan Medeksa, Vice Chair of the former CUDP, the general assembly, expected to take place in one month’s time, will elect party leaders as per the new party structures. The new party structure is fundamentally the same according to Mohammed Ali (MP), who is coordinating the committee setup to prepare the party’s program, regulations and other documents. Both Justice Birtukan and MP Mohammed admit that the party election would be the last official breakup of the former CUDP Chairman Hailu Shaul with UDJ. They also underline that there is still a time and chance for Hailu to join the new association.
Mohammed explains to Capital that the political programme of UDJ has benchmarked best practices a of number of countries like South Africa, England, and U.SA. The committee which includes United Nation’s former prosecutor, Dr. Yakob Hailemariam, presented the programmes for discussion on Saturday, April 19, 2008. Members of the former CUDP supreme council, executive committee and those elected in the House of Peoples’ Representatives and Addis Ababa City Council are expected to have their say on the programmes. The final endorsement will be the general assembly’s.
Mohammed also explains that during the general assembly, the election of leaders will be entirely based on the votes unlike the previous one by the former CUDP, which had already allocated seats for members from the four parties; the United Ethiopian Democratic Party-MEDHIN, the All Ethiopian Unity Party, Rainbow Ethiopia Movement for Democracy and Social Justice and the Ethiopian Democratic League, which were forming the Coalition until United Ethiopian Democratic Party- MEDHIN withdraw and its then Secretary Lidetu Ayalew (MP) decided not put a stamp on the merger document.
“ Even if Electoral Board doesn’t approve it, we now consider ourselves as one party members, “ states Mohammed, “ there is no seat allocated or reserved for any group.” The Committee which presented its draft party programme includes Dr. Shimeles Tekelsadik, Kefele Tigneh, Fetene Teshome, Zeleke Alemu, Dibaba Amenisisa and others.
According to Capital’s source, UDJ won’t find it difficult to have a satisfactory endorsement on the programmes and it is the future election which is expected to cause tough debate. According to the source, it was due to the first election of the former CUDP, the departure of Lidetu came true, and it can still challenge the new union as some groups would feel left out if don’t feel adequately represented in the leadership. Few weeks back there were reports that UDJ had secretly elected Birtukan to Chair and Temesgen Zewdie (MP), a Whip of the largest parliamentarians group, for Vice Chair. The election was strongly denied by UDJ and there were no leadership changes witnessed.
Illegal international trade threatens human, plant welfare
By Addis Mulugeta
In East African countries, including Ethiopia and Djibouti, plants and animals are endangered because of the environmental pollution that illegal international trade causes. This was stated at a sub regional work shop that aimed to increase the capacity of Customs officials to combat illegal international trade was held between bordering countries Ethiopia and Djibouti for three days starting from April 16, 2008.
On the workshop, Dr. Strike Mkandla, representative of the African Union (AU) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) for Africa and Ethiopia stated that illegal international trade in addition to the losse of revenue it causes to government, directly threatens human health and the environment. This illegal trade undermines the Multilateral Environment Agreements (MEA) and evades the rules and procedures agreed on international treaties. “For trans-boundary movements of items customs,” he said, “officers are at the front line on the process of fighting against illegal trade.”
The green custom concept that was developed by several partners and an integrated introductory training encompassing several MEAs will be delivered to customs officers. One of the initiatives of the green customs is to train customs officers that aims to facilitate the officers with monitoring of illegal trade in environmentally-sensitive commodities, thus helping customs officers achieve a new dimension of their tasks.
Tewoldeberhan Gebre Egziabher (Dr) Director-general of the Federal Environment Protection Authority, said that both Ethiopia and Djibouti are benefiting from the booming customs, but the environmental pollution caused by illegal trade trafficking is affecting both countries.
“We have to help each other to protect ourselves knowing that Djibouti’s problem is also Ethiopia’s and vice versa. What are the things that can be dangerous? The custom officials may not know them all, so the respective experts in both Djibouti and Ethiopia should know them. And they should at least tell the customs officials what they know and thus help minimize harm,” said Doctor Tewoldeberhan.
According to proclamation number 60/1997 the Ethiopian Customs Authority has the objectives or collecting duties and taxes, implementing laws and international conventions to controlling and prevention the importation and exportation of prohibited goods. In this regard, this workshop is expected to help upgrade the capacity of customs officials in discharging their duties and responsibilities.
Education Initiative to last beyond 2010
By Kirubel Tadesse
The Presidential African Education Initiative (AEI) is likely to last beyond 2010, hints Sarah Moten (PhD), Chief of USAID Education Bureau.
According to Dr. Moten, AEI, started in 1999, was taken up with more budget and commitment by President W. Bush starting from 2002 and is expected to continue, probably with more extensions, when the next president takes oath of the office after this fall.
Taking to Capital while she was in Addis Ababa for a workshop entitled ‘Education in Changing World : From Vision to Action’, which took place from April 13 to 18, 2008, Dr. Moten stated that U.S Agency for International Development (USAID) has been committed in helping African and Ethiopian education capacity so that education reaches to all children across the continent. This USAID Africa Regional Education Workshop gathered some two hundred educators and policy makers from twenty Sub- Saharan African countries who were set to create a collective agenda for future education programs in the continent.
During the week, USAID donated one and half million English language textbooks to Ethiopia. According to Dr. Moten, the donation of 6th , 7th , and 8th grade English text books and teachers’ guides, was specially prepared upon the request of Ethiopian government involving experts from Alabama A&M University and the Ethiopian Ministry of Education.
USAID explains that one of the activities under AEI works alongside minority serving colleges and universities in America to develop and provide fifteen million textbooks and other learning tools for children throughout Africa.
To address challenges of girls, who account for over half of the thirty three million children in Africa that do not attend schools, the Ambassador’s Girls Scholarship Program (AGSP), provides 550 000 scholarships to school children, which starts to include boys in Sub-Saharan Africa.
AGSP in Ethiopia focuses on Upper Primary and secondary school students. It, together with eight local partners, has given one thousand thirty five scholarships to thirty six schools this year alone. AGSP so far has awarded 3841 scholarships in its focus areas; Addis Ababa, Afar, Amhara, Beneshangul Gumuz, Harari, Oromiya, Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Region, Somali and Tigray. All of the scholarship recipients receive school fees, a uniform, shoes, school materials, books, and toiletries. AGSP also provides housing and feeding when students have to go distances. The annual cost of the program in Ethiopia is 320, 000 USD.
AU women’s committee meets in Tunis this week
By Abiy Demilew
Established in July 2003 following a decision by the Executive Council of the African Union to transform the African Women Committee on Peace and Development into the AUWC, the African Union Women’s Committee (AUWC) will hold its third meeting this week, 24-25 April 2008, in Tunis, Tunisia.
According to a statement Capital received, this year, the Committee will meet from 24 to 25 April 2008 with the kind invitation of one of its Members, Honorable Mrs Saida Agrebi of Tunisia. The Women, Gender and Development Directorate (WGDD) is convening the conclave.At this its third meeting, the AUWC targets to focus on the role and responsibilities of the Committee, allocate different tasks to members of the Committee, strengthen its relationship with the Women, Gender and Development Directorate of the AUC, review its work program in order to determine achievements and how much needs to be done in the future, discuss and make recommendations on the report of the Chairperson’s Report on the SDGEA and to discuss and make recommendations on the Report of the Member States’ Synthesis on the SDGEA, according the statement.
The meeting will review the AU Chairperson’s Progress Report and the Synthesis of Reports by Member States in the implementation of the SDGEA; there will be a stock-taking on the achievements, challenges, constraints of the AUWC; a discussion on expectations of both the AU and AUWC; the review of the Work Plan adopted by the Committee at its Second meeting; among others.
According to the AU’s statement, the first meeting of the AUWC was for its inauguration. At its second meeting, apart from considering an agenda, the AUWC received training on gender, so that the members would have a common understanding of the concept and application of gender issues within the context of the African Union.
The AUWC is composed of 20 African women appointed by the Chairperson of the Commission, a Member of the AUWC have competence in gender equality and women’s empowerment issues derived from an experience in policy-making, academia or activism. Members of the AUWC are of high moral standing and of proven integrity.
Bomb blasts at NOC
stations kill three
By Tedla Yeneakal
Bomb explosions at two National Oil Company (NOC) gas stations that occurred at the same time (around 6:30PM) this week Monday, April 14, 2008 killed three people and wounded more than a dozen, Addis Ababa Police confirmed to Capital. The NOC stations located on Haile Gebereselassie Road, in the area popularly known as Lemhotel and one station in the area known as Gerji near the Imperial Hotel, were the scene of blasts that were heard several kilometers away. The government blamed rebels backed by Eritrea and accused the deed as an attempt at trying to disrupt the elections as it came after the first round of local, regional and federal elections. Victims at both stations were residents who were queuing to buy fuel.
An ONLF spokesman told Reuters that the allegations were baseless.
“The ONLF has got nothing to do with this at all,” spokesman Abdirahman Mahdi said by telephone from London. The government has often blamed rebels backed by Asmara for attacks in the past. Eritrea routinely rejects the charges.
A Capital reporter observed some suspects being arrested by police the night of the blast but attempts to find how many are detained failed to materialize.
Construction technology to sustain housing
By Addis Mulugeta
An Exhibition-cum-Seminar on Innovative Building Materials and Construction Technologies for Sustainable Housing (BMPTC) took place from April 15-16, 2008 at Ethiopian Conference Center, Addis Ababa organized by the Embassy of India in collaboration with the Ministry of Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation, Government of India and the Ministry of Works and Urban Development, Government of Ethiopia. The Exhibition showcased the commercial viability of manufacturing technologies of composite building material and machinery developed in India for production of building materials components for housing with the use of agro industrial waste and natural fibers.
One of the major objectives of BMPTC is to enable an integrated system of technology transfer from lab to land for improving availability and cost effectiveness of building materials technologies based on agro-industrial wastes and local raw material resources.
Dr. R.K.Vats, Joint Secretary and Financial Advisor Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation government of India, stated that special focus is needed on the development and use of emerging low-cost building materials and technologies. The innovative technologies developed have been found to be more energy efficient and environment friendly compared to their traditional counterparts which were both material and energy intensive. In addition there are materials like bamboo which could be exploited for it full potential as alternative material, for sustainable livelihood. This technological transformation should keep the major challenges of employment generations, poverty alleviation, environmental protection and energy conservation through the route of promoting investment and transfer of technology through South-South Cooperation.
Dr. H..S.Anand Secretary Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation in India, said that the exhibition and the seminar on innovative building materials and construction technologies for sustainable housing in Africa is a reflection of the growing sensitivity for sharing experience, expertise, and technologies between India and Ethiopia.
He added that through this Exhibition -cum -seminar “We bring to your country the Indian experience and technologies, which have helped in strengthen and modernizing our productive base in the manufacturing sector of appropriate and environment friendly building materials for evolving costs effective housing solutions”.
H.E Arkebe Iqubai, State Minister of Works and Urban Development, stated that this innovative and technological transformation is crucial and will help to transfer innovative technologies in housing at a time where the longstanding diplomatic and economic relationships between Ethiopia and India have become stronger than ever.
Conference discusses innovation,
cluster competitiveness
By MulukenYewondwossen
The first Pan African Conference on innovation and cluster competitiveness was held for three days from April 14, 2008 at the UN ECA.
This forum sought to mark the beginning of learning, ideas and experience sharing on competitiveness in Africa - between African countries and their global partners.
Teshome Kebede, a Cluster Competitiveness pioneer in Ethiopia, said that in Africa, one of the obstacles for improving competitiveness is that the stakeholders in the value chains do not cooperate to grow together. They are all fighting to get a bigger piece of a small cake, instead of working together and enlarge the market. This leads to a waste resources and weaken their competitiveness in the market place.
“Working together is the core of clustering, cluster development can lead to innovation and enhance competitiveness for all involved,” he added.
Pan African Competitiveness Forum (PACF) has been launched as a new continent-wide competence and action center on innovation and cluster based competitiveness initiatives in Africa. PACF will support stakeholders from business, knowledge institutions and government to respond more effectively to the unique challenges and opportunities that Africa is facing in the global competition.
According to the released document on the conference, PACF is a continent-wide competence and action centre for innovation and cluster based competitiveness approaches to national and regional economic development in Africa.
The overall objective of PACF is to enable stakeholders involved in innovation and cluster based competitiveness initiatives to respond more effectively to the unique challenges and opportunities that Africa is facing in global competition.
The 3-day conference is focused on: the innovation and cluster based competitiveness: Its role in poverty reduction and sustainable economic growth and development, global best practices for promotion of value addition in production and competitiveness through innovation and cluster based competitiveness initiatives, meeting challenges and seizing opportunities: Good practice and achievements in Africa, the roles of business, academia and government in developing, facilitating and sustaining innovation and cluster based competitiveness initiatives. Does the triple helix work differently in developing countries? Examples of where the triple helix is working in Africa, and on the question of how can PACF support local, regional and national competitiveness initiatives.
With the help of this Forum, a strategic plan and work programme for 2009-11 has developed, emphasizing the need to ensure PACF’s collaborative sustainability – and how PACF can become a facility for reinforcing industrialization, innovation, value addition in production and competitiveness in Africa.
A cluster consists of companies that develops and produces products or services within a certain field of competence in a region. The system of actors, that in different ways support these companies, forms an innovation system. These can be anything from subcontractors and service firms, to local authorities, educational and training organizations, financial institutions and venture capitalists.
Cluster development initiatives are an important new direction in economic policy, building on earlier efforts in macroeconomic stabilization, privatization, market opening, and reducing the costs of doing business.
The conference was organized by the African Union (AU), the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), and The Competitiveness Institute (TCI).
Ethiopia’s Commodity Exchange unveils
By Groum Abate
Ethiopia has opened a commodity exchange this week. The exchange will trade in six commodities: coffee, sesame, haricot beans, teff, wheat and maize.
The Ethiopia Commodity Exchange (ECX), as it is officially known, will provide a marketplace where buyers and sellers can come together to trade and be assured of quality, delivery and payment. The exchange includes a trading floor in Addis Ababa, six warehouse delivery locations, and 20 electronic price tickers in major market towns. ECX was launched by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi at a ceremony in April.
Agricultural markets in Ethiopia have long been plagued by high transaction costs and excessive risk. With only one third of output reaching the market, commodity buyers and sellers tend to trade only with those they know, to avoid the possibility of being cheated or default. Small-scale farmers, who produce 95 percent of Ethiopia’s output, come to market with little information. Often, their local market is the only market they know, leaving them at the mercy of the local merchants, unable to negotiate better prices. If farmers in a particular region are especially productive, the local market is glutted and their prices drop precipitously.
Prime Minister Zenawi said that he expects that the exchange will “revolutionalize the country’s backward and inefficient marketing system.”
ECX is designed to provide a reliable system for handling, grading, and storing agricultural products. Traders will be able to match offers and bids for commodity transactions, with a risk-free payment and goods delivery system to settle transactions. The exchange will create a transparent trading environment through:
§ aggressive market data dissemination to all market actors,
§ clearly defined rules of trading, warehousing, payments, delivery and business conduct, and
§an internal dispute settlement mechanism.
Ethiopian economist, Eleni Zaude Gabre-Madhin has been a driving force behind the development of the exchange. As a researcher for the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), she studied agricultural markets in her native country for several years. She was struck by the fact that Ethiopia can have a bumper harvest one year and severe shortages the next, or surpluses in one region and famine in another.
In a survey of grain traders in 2002, Gabre-Madhin found that the infrastructure and services required for grain markets to function effectively was lacking. Traders frequently did not have access to credit, market information, transport, contract enforcement and other vital resources.
In 2004, Gabre-Madhin relocated to Addis Ababa to lead an IFPRI program to support the government of Ethiopia in its efforts to improve market and agricultural policies. She also coordinated an advisory body that developed the plans for the exchange.
“We have been consulting with producers and traders to solve the chronic problems faced by the market. We have conducted research to set up a commodity exchange market that will bring a grass-roots level change in the marketing system,” said Addisu Legesse, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, who supported efforts to launch the exchange.
As the third most populous country in Africa, Ethiopia represents a significant and growing market. Ethiopia’s production of maize places it as the second largest producer of that crop in Africa. The country’s total cereal production has reached 14 million tons, recently surpassing South Africa, home to the only other viable commodity exchange in Africa.
“When farmers can sell their crops on the open market and get a fair price, they will have much more incentive to be productive, and Ethiopia will be much less prone to food crises,” said Gabre-Madhin, who will serve as CEO of the new exchange. “ECX will allow farmers and traders to link to the global economy, propelling Ethiopian agriculture forward to a whole new level.”
Fire destroys Yod Abyssinia restaurant
By Groum Abate
A fire broke out in the Yod Abyssinia restaurant, on Mickey Leyland Road, in front of the European Union Headquarters, on April 17, 2008 causing major damage to property but no injuries.
The blaze engulfed the cottage of Yod Abyssinia causing a near complete loss.
According to eyewitnesses, the fire started in the afternoon around 4 pm after an electric pole fell on the front entrance of the restaurant, which is mainly made up of dry grasses and twigs.
Even though the fire was fanned by high winds, fire fighters managed to control the blaze from spreading to nearby properties.
Customers in a nearby hotel had to be evacuated from the building, witnesses said.
Waitresses were seen nearby watching helplessly as the fire destroyed their workplace completely.
Yod Abyssinia opened to business four years ago and employs over 75 people.
Creative Africa kicks off in Accra
African artists coloring the nation
By Abiy Demilew
Creative Africa, an initiative of UNCTAD, kicks off in Accra, Ghana, as of today coinciding with the Ministerial Conference of UNCTAD III launching in the nation this week, 20-25 April 2008.
The one week event has brought legendary and contemporary African artists together, including musicians, painters and fashion designers.
Marc Nekaitar, General Manager of a.m.i, chief organizer of the event, told Capital from Accra that, Creative Africa is based on close partnership between UNCTAD, African artists, the Government of Ghana and Agoralumiere International, a non-profit organization that aims to promote Pan-African creative economies through cultural diversity.
“Creative Africa will bring a series of cultural events to UNCTAD XII in Accra. We hope that the initiative will mark a starting point for further promotion and development of Africa’s creative sector on the world stage,” Marc said.
“This is an initiative of the UNCTAD secretariat to bring greater pragmatism to the policy debate. It will showcase the diversity of Africa’s abundant creative talent as well as the vigour of its creative industries,” he added.
According Nekaitar, Creative Africa, initiated by UNCTAD, is an official platform based on a clear African ownership principle to mobilize the African and international institutions and the private sector to support the African stakeholders efforts to develop their creative industries.
“Creative Africa will coordinate under the African Union and UNCTAD’s leadership, the various initiatives and stakeholders on the African continent in order to provide the African creators and artists with a coherent range of existing practical projects with concrete solutions and to address their identified needs in a sustainable perspective,” he affirms.
In an exclusive from Accra, Mark underscored that; Creative Africa will serve as an African platform with an enabling environment for Africa’s creative industries to springboard into the global market.
“Creative Africa aims at transforming the African creative industries to the level of business, production, skills, markets and sustainable exports and contributing to the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.”
From the African stakeholders point of view, Creative Africa at UNCTAD XII is conceived to serve as a Pan-African platform to improve policy coherence, according the organisers in Accra.
“It is also an opportunity to build on the coordination of the various initiatives in Africa and to capitalize the impact of international cooperation in this important area of the African creative industries and in line with the African development agenda,” added Marc Nekaitar.
“In this perspective, Agoralumiere in partnership with UNCTAD has been mandated by the Secretary General to ensure the African ownership of the Initiative,” he said. “In this respect, Agoralumiere has developed Creative Africa, giving the key leadership role to the African Union in the international policy debate.”
According to Nekaitar, with African ownership in mind, Agoralumiere designed with its partners the free dialogues at UNCTAD XII and in line with the African Union Nairobi Plan of Action for Cultural Africa Industries in Africa and taking into account UNESCO’s Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.
The one week event will hold discussions on protecting and promoting the diversity of cultural expression in Africa, from fashion to African communities and the Millennium Development Goals, according the program sent to Capital.
“We have designed open discussions on the opportunities for poor communities, African designers and SMEs in the global market of Ethical Fashion and on how to overcome prevailing obstacles to enter the value chains,” Marc underlined; “The Creative Africa Event, showcases African leading artists in concert, well known African designers in a fashion show and the diversity of African dance expressions.”
“The event also will hold The Creative Africa Contemporary Art Exhibition with ten artists from ten different countries,” Nekaitar concluded.
Elections end today
By Tedla Yeneakal
The first round of local councils elections to many of the seats in parliament won by the opposition but never taken up, ends today, Sunday, April 20 2008, with the first round conducted last week. The elections cover about 4 million positions with the ruling party Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Party (EPRDF) presenting 32,000 candidates in Addis Ababa, of which more than 50 percent of its candidates are not members of the party.
The ruling party has presented 32,000 candidates in Addis Ababa to contest in the election. EPRDF officials announced that more than 50% of its Addis Ababa candidates are not members of the party.
Head of the National Electoral Board Office of Ethiopia, Tesfaye Mengesha, commenting on last week’s election, said he estimates about 90 percent of the registered voters turned out.
Opposition leaders however say there was a very low turn out and people have lost interest. After the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF) opposition boycotted the elections, another opposition party, the Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement (OFDP), followed suit deciding not to participate in today’s elections, accusing the ruling party of intimidating its supporters.
Singer Teddy jailed
By Groum Abate
The young and highly talented vocalist, songwriter and producer, Tewodros Kassahun, alias Teddy Afro, who was accused of a hit- run in November 2006, and later released on bail, has now been sent to jail until Monday April 21, 2008 to battle for his bail.
The Federal First Instance Court, on November 2006 had released Teddy Afro on 50,000 birr bail.
Teddy Afro’s alleged crime is of killing a person while speeding, near the Sheraton Hotel, and then driving away in his BMW late in the evening of Thursday, November 2, 2006.
The Federal High Court Eighth Criminal Bench on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 ordered for Teddy Afro to be jailed.
If found guilty, Teddy would face up to 15 years in jail.
“It is very sad that some members of the media reported as if they are certain that I committed a crime,” Teddy was quoted as saying when he appeared before court then and added, “I might consider taking legal action for defamation.”
On Friday, November 3, 2006 Teddy pleaded not guilty to the allegations in court. The court was re-adjourned to give police time for further investigation.
After being in custody for about 24 hours, Teddy was released on 50,000 birr bail.
Teddy Afro conquered the hearts of the youth of Ethiopia in his very first album, Abugida.
In fact, his second album was recorded first but it was very badly done, upsetting Teddy since the recording company sat on it for years and put in the market after his Abugida’s success. Yasteseryal; his third album, set a huge leap forward for the talented singer.
Some of the songs in his Yasteseryal album, which preaches of unity, political reconciliations and love between Ethiopian and Eritrean brothers and sisters were banned from radio and ETV.
In his message printed and distributed on his album cover, Teddy Afro said that even if to be sincere seems a foolish idea, it is the last option Ethiopia has to get out of the problems it is facing.
Despite the fact that his ‘Gize Lekulu’, aims at celebrating the Ethiopian millennium and the release of the prisoners with a national spirit of unity being a hit, Teddy Afro once again was not in the list of artists at Millennium Hall, as he missed last year’s New Year celebration at Sheraton Addis. Even if he was not at Millennium hall, he does entertain many thousands at National Stadium for free.
Fasika Expo opens
its doors
By MulukenYewondwossen
Fasika Expo Trade Fair, where more than 100 micro and small-scale enterprises, 125 producers, importers and service providers are participating, was officially opened to the public on April 16, 2008 at the Exhibition Center.
The exhibition that Century Promotion Service has organized will stay open for eleven days. Fifty companies from Syria, Italy, Sudan and Pakistan, including new enterprises, business agents and importers will take part on the exhibition.
Brihanu Woldetensai, cabinet member of the Addis Ababa City Care taker Administration on the speech he made at the opening ceremony stated that this year’s event is unique in that it is taking place during the millennium’s Ethiopian Easter.
“Century Promotion has encouraged and made it possible that the City’s micro and small scale enterprises take part in the exhibition without enrollment fees,” he said.
Century has left more than 165 thousand birr the Enterprises should have paid for displaying their produces at the exhibition.
According to Zewge Jemaneh Century Promotion Service Manager, 275 producers and service producers are taking part on the exhibition.
Century Promotions has organized December 2007’s exhibition in which 250 micro and small scale enterprises, farmers unions, producers and importers took part. The farmer unions were from the Amhara region and from South Nations Nationalities Peoples Regional State (SNNPRS).In addition to local participants, like this year’s exhibition, fifty foreign companies displayed their products.
Guesthouses for 11.5 mln br
By Groum Abate
An elegant guest house is to be constructed in the heart of the city with an investment of 11.5 million birr.
Located at Meskel Square, which is within walking distance of the UNECA, UN Conference hall, governmental offices and the Presidential Palace, lies on a 1,000 sq meters.
Makda Yifru and Woubshet Teferra own the guest house that is going to be finalized in the next one and half years.
Woubshet told Capital that his investment has acquired a Local Development Plan (LDP) from the city government required for construction located on main roads of the city.
Designed by Bisrategabriel Ayele, construction work on the guesthouse will be done by Nurelegne Desta General Contractor in the coming two months.
According to the owner, the G+5 structure will consist of various rooms, is clean and cozy and at reasonable prices.
He further said that they planned an expansion to adjacent areas to give the guesthouse an international look.
The rooms are equipped with Satellite TV, fridge, cooking plate and other modern and state-of-the-art equipment.
The guesthouse will also be equipped with free high speed Wi-Fi internet access, a bar and restaurant and will accept Visa and Mastercard for all of its services.
A restaurant downstairs, large lounge area with pool table, and a movie screen and live football matches will add to the guesthouse’s international standard.
Yahsat reveals complete satellite coverage of Africa
By Tagu Zergaw
Al Yah Satellite Communications Company PrJsc (Yahsat), plans to build two satellites – one in 2010 and second in 2011 allowing it to provide complete interconnectivity on C Band to Africa from the Middle East and Europe.
Yahsat the United Arab Emirate’s first nationally-owned satellite operator will be present at SATCOM 2008 for the first time and it is also the a platinum sponsor of the event. Yahsat will showcase its satellite capabilities and coverage areas for potential business partners seeking the complete range of satellite services.
Yahsat is the first to provide hybrid satellite services in the Middle East and Africa, which has seen increasing demand for such services. A variety of factors are fuelling this demand, such as new regulation policies, the tremendous growth of media and satellite broadcasting, the ever-growing hunger for bandwidth, telecom expansion and new satellite driven internet services.
“Yahsat was developed out of the realisation that there is a growing need for satellite services to both the Middle East and Africa. Our company will offer full coverage to Africa using C band with possibility of connectivity to Europe and Middle East. With greater connectivity comes economic prosperity and Yahsat is looking to drive this through the provision of cost effective services to Africa,” said Jassem Mohamed Al Zaabi, CEO of Yahsat.
Yahsat provides organizations the opportunity to take advantage of flexibility and custom-designed satellite services to cover the entire African region which has seen considerable growth and demand for satellite communications services.
Potential customers include the Government sector as well as a range of commercial clients, such as banking and financial institutions, broadcasters, manufacturers, mobile telecommunications networks, satellite service providers, Internet service providers and Non Governmental Organizations (NGO).
Satellite communications also play a crucial role when unfortunate events such as natural disasters take place. Especially people living in remote and isolated areas are the most vulnerable and disaster-prone and these are the most difficult to reach in a disaster. Satellite services will make it easier for NGOs to communicate with the affected area and the local authorities, ultimately helping to save time and lives.
Incorporated in January 2007 and supported by a 1.7 billion USD investment from parent company Mubadala, the strategic investment and development vehicle of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, Yahsat will develop, procure, own and operate hybrid satellite systems based on market requirements and future applications. Yahsat will provide innovative solutions for Government and commercial communications in the Middle East, Africa, Europe and South-West Asia.
Yahsat earlier signed an agreement with Arianespace to launch the Yahsat 1A satellite in the second half of 2010. The satellite is currently being manufactured by the consortium of EADS Astrium and Thales Alenia Space. Another agreement was also signed with International Launch Services (ILS) to launch the Yahsat 1B satellite in first half of 2011.
iFest kicks off
By Groum Abate
The 37th annual Houston International Festival kicks off this weekend and is expected to stay open until April 27.
The festival will feature continuous music, dance and cultural performances on ten stages.
Headliners include Buddy Guy, the Neville Brothers, the Wailers, Taj Mahal, the National Dance Theater of Ethiopia, Habib Koite, the Garifuna Collective and many more.
The area is being transformed into an African oasis for two weeks. Designers are putting finishing touches on a lot of the artwork, including a replica of the Aswa Gate of Harrar.
Ethio-American Trade & Investment Council organized the festival in part of an image building festival in Houston, Texas, which is an outdoor events celebration.
This annual Houston International Festival [iFest] stretches across 16 acres of Houston downtown parks and streets.
According to the press release sent by Ethio-American Trade & Investment Council, projected attendance is estimated to be around 425,000 visits annually and over 7.9 million dollars is generated in trade advertising and publicity. The Festival’s demographics include high-ranking government dignitaries, business leaders and general public from Texas and surrounding States.
The council with the support of Ethiopian Minister of Culture and Tourism, of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the Embassy of Ethiopia in Washington, D.C., Ethiopian Airlines, Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce and the Houston International Festival, organized “Ethiopian New Millennium Tourism, Culture and Trade Image Building festival”, schedule to take place on April 19th, 20th, 26th and 27th, 2008.
This year’s iFest 2008 “out of Africa Spotlighting Ethiopia” will showcase dazzling variety of Ethiopian’s arts and crafts, traditional textile and garment, Ethiopian fresh cut flower, Ethiopia as the birth place of Coffee and Ethiopian designers fashion shows. It will include also a creation of a living Museum featuring cultural dance performance of Ethiopian National Theater throughout the festival site. The festival is also properly structured and designs to create opportunity to Ethiopian participants to introduce their products and closely work to be competitive in the US market.
The Ethio-American Trade & Investment Council [EATIC] is a non-profit, non-partisan, organization dedicated to strengthening and facilitating trade and investment between Ethiopia and United States of America. For the past fifteen years, EATIC has played an active role in getting the word out to many American business communities to view the Ethiopian investment and tourism opportunity first hand. |