Menschen fur Menschen executing over 30.8 mln birr dev't projects in eastern Ethiopia

Menschen fur Menschen (MfM) said it has launched over 30.8 million birr development projects that help ensure food security in eastern Ethiopia this year. Babile Integrated Rural Development Project Deputy Manager with MfM, Shemelis Habtu, said that the development works would be executed in Babille, Fedis, Gursum, Haremaya and the environs of Harrar.
He said the projects launched last month focus on potable water, agriculture, education, health, family planning, women development, prevention of harmful traditional practices and HIV/AIDS. The construction of two primary and two secondary schools as well as sinking of seven deep and six medium water wells are also among the development works, it was indicated.
Besides, transplantation of various tree seedlings will be carried out to rehabilitate depleted and mountainous areas, and a project that enables to produce silk worm are underway in collaboration with Melkasa Agricultural Center, the Deputy Manager added. Activities that help alleviate the socio-economic problems of women and the public would also be carried out by providing training, credit and saving services, and executing various income generating activities. Upon completion of the projects by the end of the year, they would benefit more than 250,000 residents, it was learnt. (WIC)

SNNP State executing close to 196mln birr water projects in budget year

Close to 196 million birr potable water projects have been under execution in SNNP State this budget year, according to the state Water Resource Development Bureau. Bureau Public Relations Head Abdulkerim Nesru told WIC that the sinking of 902 deep, medium and manually operated wells and development of springs as well as maintenance works are being carried out in 101 woredas and 41 rural kebeles with acute drinking water shortage.
He said emergency expansion and upgrading of pipelines, installation of pumps and generators as well as 56kms pipeline have also been expedited in 10 towns with not more than 15,000 residents and six pastoral villages. The installation of over 2,000kms pipeline is also underway in the state capital and other towns while the development of 374 springs would be carried out in several woredas and rural towns of the state.
According to the head, out of the total fund required for the projects 144.3 million birr was secured from World Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), African Development Bank and UNICEF. The balance would be covered by the government, he added. On their completion by 2009, the water projects would benefit over 8.9 million inhabitants and raise the potable water coverage of the state from 58 percent to 65 percent, it was learnt. (WIC)
Town reconstructs social service facilities with 300 million Birr
Reconstruction of social service facilities was carried out at a cost of over 300 million Birr in Zalanbesa Town of Tigray State, which had been affected due to the invasion of the government of Eritrea (Shabea) nine years ago, town's municipality said. Municipality Manager, Abraha Gebrehawariat told ENA recently that the government, NGOs and the public have contributed a lot in the effort to reconstruct the facilities in the town.
Residential units, schools, shops, health institutions and other social service facilities have already gone operational, he said. The installation of electric and telephone lines, the construction of roads and safe drinking water projects were also carried out as part of the reconstruction activity. The manager calls on natives of the town and its environs to participate in investment activities in the town. (ENA)

Omo Micro Finance Institute provides 32 mln birr loan

The Arbaminch Branch of Omo Micro Finance Institute has reportedly provided 32 million birr loan for cross-sections of the society in 2007. Branch Manager Demisse Admasu told WIC that the loan was given to 33,000 people engaged in micro and small-scale businesses, agriculture and service delivery sectors in Gamo-Gofa and South Omo zones as well as Derashe, Konso and Basketo Special Woredas.
Close to 12 million birr of the loan was given to 3,000 youth organized in towns, he said, adding that they have so far deposited 15.6 million birr. The institute plans to expand the loan service to 295 kebeles this year and raise the number of sub-branches to over 10, he concluded. (WIC)

Ground breaking ceremony held for 1.5 billion Birr hotel

A ground breaking ceremony was held on Saturday for a 1.5 billion Birr five star hotel due to be constructed adjacent to the African Union Commission (AUC) headquarters in Addis Ababa. The current AU Chairperson, Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, Ethiopian Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi, the outgoing AU Commission Chairperson Prof. Alpha Omar Konare and Sheik Mohammed Hussein Al Amoudi laid the cornerstone.
The Ethiopian government earlier granted 120,000 square meters of land to the AU for the construction of buildings of various facilities and future expansion of the AUC. Some 25,000 square meters of this land is allocated for the construction of the top of the range 5 star hotel The hotel, whose construction is expected to be finalized by the year 2010, will cater for the ever-increasing conference clientele as well as for Heads of State and Government. (ENA)

Guna to export 17 mln USD sesame, ships 3.2 mln so far

Guna Trading House envisaged to export 13,000 tons of sesame valued at 17 million US dollars to global market this Ethiopian Fiscal Year, its General Manager said. In an interview with ENA, the GM, Mulualem Berhane said his company has already exported 3.2 million USD worth sesame in the last two months. Ethiopia is expected to get six million USD additional hard currency from the company's export compared to that of last year.
Mulualem said the volume particularly the amount of foreign currency being generated from the company's sesame export has been increasing since the last three years. The company sesame export volume rose to 10,000 tons in 1999 EC from 9,000 tons in 1998 EC while the amount export revenue increased from 9 million USD to 11 million USD same preiod, according to the GM. Mulualem attributed the success to mainly to the improvement in the quality of sesame and rise in the volume of export.
The construction of a 13-million Birr modern store in Humera (Tigray State) and purchase of a 5-million Birr sesame-cleaning machine have helped the company to improve the quality of sesame, the GM mentioned. Guna Trading Houses, whose share in the country's total sesame export revenue accounts for 11.3 per cent last year, is determined to raise the figure to 15 per cent this year, Mulualem said. He said his company used to export mainly whitish sesame from Humera which he said is high quality until last year. But it expands its market horizon to Metema, North Gonder Zone.
According to Mulualem, Afar and Benishengul states are also found to be suitable for growing sesame, which was considered to be produced in Humera, Metema and Wollega localities alone. (ENA)