Hawassa Administration licenses investment projects worth 1.6 bln birr

Hawassa Town Administration has given investment licenses to 336 projects worth over 1.6 billion birr in the concluded budget year, Town Trade and Industry Department disclosed. The investment licenses are given because the investor’s requests to engage in development activities in areas designated for investment in the Town are accepted, said Investment Work Process Coordinator with the Department, Markos Tule.
The 336 projects licensed for investment activities include urban agriculture, real estate, recreation, hotels, industry, construction and other investment sectors, according to the Coordinator. When the projects begin operation, they would create permanent and casual job opportunities for about 21,000 people, he said. This is double fold compared to the same period last year. The investment flow has increased because of the extensive promotional activities on the investment alternatives in the State in connection with the new Millennium, according to the Coordinator.
Moreover, regular problem solving discussions with investors and unreserved efforts towards the same end have contributed to this result, he added. He said the town administration is implementing a pilot business process reengineering that would enable it to strengthen the investment flow and bring about better development in the town. To this end, he called upon the Municipality and other sector departments to work in collaboration to ensure efficient investment services. (Walta)

Authority confiscates contraband worth 3mln birr

The Ethiopian Revenue and Customs Authority disclosed it has confiscated various items of contraband worth over three million birr at the Bole International Airport. The contraband items were confiscated in three rounds of checks carried out since mid July.
The confiscated contraband items include cell phones,computer accessories, ipod, spare parts of vehicles, silver jewelries, wrist watches and other similar items, he indicated. Should The contraband items enter the market, the government would lose over 1.2 million birr which it would secure from taxes and duties, and in addition it could have very serious effect on legal business people. The perpetrators include some diplomatic corps who misused their privileges not to be searched. Some diplomats and prominent figures use their privileges as a cover to collaborate with criminals. He added that if the Authority has sufficient ground for suspicion, it would undertake checks and act upon it. (Walta)

Center sees potential of bamboo to back nation’s economy

Forest Research Center said Ethiopia can hugely benefit from its rich bamboo resources which currently constitutes 25 percent of the country’s whole forest cover. The country can generate up to 15 billion birr per year from the sector. A researcher at the center, Yegaredu Mulatu said two bamboo species are found in Ethiopia which cover one million hectares of land. The center is evaluating imported bamboo varieties for their suitability to grow in Ethiopia. She said Ethiopia’s ecological and soil types are largely suitable for bamboo development. The resource has been left largely untapped. From the current resource, the country could get 12 million tons of bamboo. If the country utilized three million tons in a year, it could generate 9.5 billion birr in annual revenue. The sector can back Ethiopia’s poverty reduction efforts through creating jobs and many other ways. (ENA)

188 mln birr potable water projects almost complete

Most of the 49 potable water projects underway with more than 188 million birr in East Shoa Zone of Oromia State were finalized, the zonal water resource office indicated. Of the projects launched in 11 woredas two years ago, 12 deep water wells were finalized, Office Head Tibebu Terefe said. Some 48 water distribution sites have gone operational as the first phase of the Gimbichu Fentale potable water project was completed, the head indicated. The construction of about 13 deep water wells is well in progress, he said, adding that the projects would make 109 people beneficiaries of potable water services upon going operational by the end of this budget year. In addition, 21 detailed water studies were finalized, the head said, adding that the projects would raise the water coverage of the zone to 80 per cent from the existing 73 per cent. The state government and various NGOs financed the projects, it was learnt. (Walta)

Zone earns 612 mln birr from coffee supplied to central market

Some 612 million birr has been earned from coffee supplied to central market from Jimma Zone in the just concluded budget year, according to zone Agriculture and Rural Development Office. Office Deputy Head, Nesru Abachebssa, said that the stated sum was secured from the 34,000 tonnes of coffee supplied to central market from 15 coffee growing woredas of the zone. According to the head, 10,000 tonnes of the coffee supplied to the central market is washed and the remaining 24,000 tonnes is unwashed coffee. The revenue secured in the reported period is a double of that of last year. Jimma Zone, which contributed the good flavored coffee Arabica to the world has been attracting foreign investors engaged in the supply of coffee, the Deputy Head indicated. He said the coffee testing and laboratory center under construction in Jimma town would enable coffee growers earn fair price from their produce. In a related development, 40 million high yielding and disease resistant coffee seedlings have been transplanted on 12,000 hectares of land in 15 woredas of the zone. More than 118, hectares of land including the aforementioned one has been covered with coffee plants in the zone, it was learnt. (Walta)

Agency to create 18,000 jobs this budget year

Small and Micro Enterprises Expansion Agency of the Diredawa City Administration disclosed it is working to create job opportunities for 18,000 unemployed citizens this budget year. Preparations are finalized to train 18,000 unemployed youth members in various business skills in the current budget year and organize them in different associations so that they can engage in various small and micro business activities. Accordingly, a 25 million birr loan has been facilitated for the purchasing of machinery for 20 associations to be organized in bricks production area, he said, adding that the capacity building of already existing associations will also be given due attention. Various activities are being undertaken to support the traditional weaving with modern technologies. The government’s plan to eradicate unemployment and poverty will be realized only when the general public, particularly the youth, are determined to extricate themselves from poverty through hard work. The agency has planned to undertake integrated activities to change the wrong attitude towards work. More than 11,000 citizens organized in 134 associations have started work in the just concluded budget year, it was learnt. (Walta)

SNNP state transplanting over 312mln seedlings

Consolidated seedling transplantation has been underway in SNNP State to raise the current 17 percent forest coverage of the state by two percent annually, the state agriculture and rural development bureau said. The bureau is exerting efforts to prevent the growing deforestation. Forest protection and care committees were established in each of the kebeles so as to prevent deforestation in various areas of the state. Over 150 million seedlings were prepared by farmers this year alone following the implementation of a guideline that enables farmers to participate in nurturing seedlings. Pertinent bodies that would undertake follow up activities and provide care for the seedlings were established at all levels, adding that over 119 million seedlings have so far been transplanted. Some 93 million of the seedlings were indigenous, adding that this would help rehabilitate the plant resource of the country. Executing consolidated forest protection, care and development activities would help alleviate the food security problems of dry areas by reducing desertification and natural resource depletion. (Walta)