School being expanded with 24.7 mln Birr

The Benishangul-Gumuz education bureau said it is undertaking expansion and upgrading work of the Geligel Beles Girls' Boarding School located in Pawe Woreda at a cost of over 24.7 million Birr.
The construction was launched with the budget secured from the regional government. The construction includes classrooms, dormitories, teachers' residential units, library and stores. The school will be able to accommodate 700 students up on the completion of the construction. (ENA)

150 mln Birr investment projects launched

Most of the investment projects licensed with a combined capital of 150 million Birr have already been launched in Arba-minch town.
Speaking at a consultative forum held in Arba-minch town on Wednesday to discuss development and good governance, Municipality Manager Yosef Odaa said the projects are in the areas of industry, hotel and tourism, among others. The projects have already created over 2,000 jobs. (ENA)

Bale Zone constructs 13.3 mln Birr health facilities

Some 24 health facilities were constructed in Bale Zone of Oromia State at a cost of over 13.3 million Birr in the just-ended Ethiopian budget year, the zonal health department said.
12 of the health facilities are health stations and the remaining are health posts. The construction budget for the health facilities was secured from the regional government and the woreda administrations. Dr. Gadissa said activities have already been launched to construct 16 health stations with the budget secured from the regional government and woreda administrations. (ENA)

Oromia executes over 553 mln birr dev't works in budget year

Development works that lay foundation for the sustainability of economic growth were carried out with over 553 million birr in Oromia State this budget year, according to the State Chief Administrator. State Chief Aba-dula Gemeda said, at the 9th regular conference of the state council,thatencouraging development endeavors that benefit the majority of the public have been readied. Some 80 percent of the 289kms rural roads constructed went operational, he said, adding that 5,206kms rural roads were also maintained.
Besides, 1,775 of the 2,058 new health posts launched in the budget year in rural parts of the state have gone operational, the state chief indicated. Moreover, out of the 242 health centers under construction, 95 health posts have gone operational and 50 percent of the construction works of the remaining health centers have also been carried out, the state chief said, adding that the construction of 20 hospitals including Nekempte hospital, are underway in towns and woredas. Over 7.6 million bed nets have also been distributed in malaria-prone zones and rural kebeles in an effort to preempt malaria pandemic; he pointed out, further noting that no malaria epidemic has as a result broken out in the state. Over one million people undertook voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) service following the efforts exerted to prevent the prevalence of HIV/AIDS. (Walta)

Mother, son found dead

A mother and her 6 years old son were found dead after being suffocated with carbon dioxide emission from charcoal, the Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Service disclosed.
A friend of the deceased woman knocked the door and did not get a response from the inside. Later, when the door was broken by the police, the dead body of the mother was found on the ground. Her son was found alive but died soon after reaching a hospital. Charcoal is used widely as energy for home cooking in Ethiopia. (ENA)

Center earns over 50 mln Birr from coffee export

The Dire Dawa Coffee Quality Check up and Standard Control Center said it has secured 50.5 million Birr from the export of coffee.
The stated sum was obtained from 14.263 tons of coffee exported via Dire Dawa during the just-ended Ethiopian budget year. The stated amount of coffee has been shipped by 15 exporting companies to Djibouti, America Europe and Asia. The sum exceeds that of last year export revenue by 9.5 million Birr. He attributed the success to the high demand for the Ethiopian coffee and price increment globally. (ENA)

New book on women leadership launched

The Ethiopian media women association (EMWA) and Stichting Ethiopian Millennium /Sem/, a Dutch organization, in collaboration with National Organization for women /NOW/ launched a new book that focuses on the roles and positions of Ethiopian women leaders.
The launching was held on July 15, 2008 at Parnaroma Hotel. Speeches were delivered on the occasion by prominent Ethiopian and Dutch personalities. There was also critique on the book.
The book, "Candace," was initiated with the view of recording the history and contributions of women from 1900 onwards. It provides an account of achievements and challenges of Ethiopian women in various fields through portraits of 20 individuals who have made and are making significant contributions to their communities and Ethiopian society at large. It also provides background information of Ethiopian womanhood in history describing the role of women in various episodes from Zemene Mesafint to Emperor Haile Selassie I to Mengistu Haile Mariam regime until the current time. "Candace" is written by Alem Desta, an Ethiopian living in the Netherlands, with contributions by EMWA. (Press release)

North West customs secures 486.4 mln Birr from export

North West Custom Coordination Office of Ethiopian Custom Authority said over 486.4 million Birr has been secured from various exported items via Mankush and Metema export outlets.
The stated sum was obtained from exported items to Sudan and other neighboring countries by 310 businesspersons. The exported items include Lupin, haricot bean, ginger, fish, sesame, honey, timber, cattle, and other food items. The ever increasing economic ties with Sudan and other countries is said to be creating enabling environment for exporters. (ENA)

East Gojam collects 59.1 mln birr

East Gojjam Zone of Amhara State has reportedly collected close to 60 million birr revenue in the just-concluded budget year. Zone Revenue Branch Office Head Derese Demis said over 59.1million birr revenue was collected from direct and indirect taxes as well as other sources.
The revenue collected in the stated period exceeded that of same period last year by over 16 million birr, according to the head. He attributed the increase to the growth of awareness of tax payers and the due attention given by the administration. The zone envisages collecting over 68.6 million birr this budget year, it was indicated. (Walta)