Share company apportions 7 million Birr loan

The East Wollega Zone branch office of the Oromia Credit and Saving Sh. Company said it has apportioned seven million Birr to low income families through loan. Office manager, Tsegaye Mosissa told ENA that the loan was given to over 5,600 residents of woredas and towns of the zone during the first half of the current Ethiopian budget year. The loan was given to micro and small trade activities, animal fattening, and for the purchase of agricultural inputs, he said. The office has also provided close to a million Birr for over 350 organized youth through loan in the reported period, he added. (ENA)

Micro, small-scale enterprises secure over 5mln birr loan in Arsi Zone

More than five million birr loan has reportedly been disbursed among 315 associations organized under micro and small-scale enterprises in Arsi Zone of Oromia State. Zonal Trade, Industry and Transport Office Head Habib Kasim told WIC that the loan provided for the associations engaged in agriculture, small-scale enterprises, construction and other sectors during the past seven months has benefited 3,313 youth. Of the 315 associations 21 have earned 2.7 million birr profit by building 496 condominium houses, he said.
In related development, micro and small-scale enterprises that successful tackled poverty and raised household income will be awarded at state level in Adama town on March 19, 2008, the state trade, industry and transport bureau disclosed. The top 100 associations of the 459 associations awarded at zone level as models will be awarded on the occasion, it added. (Walta)

More than 7.4 million Birr hotel inaugurated

A three-star hotel called Anbesa International constructed in Fiche town of Oromia State with an outlay of more than 7.4 million Birr was inaugurated on Sunday.The hotel has 46 standardized bed rooms, a hall, a restaurant and other service delivery rooms, hotel owner, Tamirat Geleta said. The hotel constructed on nearly 4,000 square meters of land has created permanent job opportunities to 46 people. He said he would construct children and elderly center at a cost of six million Birr.(ENA)

Commission licenses 5 billion Birr investment projects

Investment Commission of Oromia State issued license to 509 investors with an aggregate capital of nearly five billion birr during the first half of the current Ethiopian budget year, which started July 2008.Commissioner Alemu Sime told ENA on Monday that over 300 of the investors would engage in agriculture and industry sectors while the remaining in hotel and tourism, health, real estate and education sectors, among others.
The investors have already received nearly 600,000 hectares of land to launch the investment projects, he said. The projects are expected to create more than 50,000 jobs when they fully go operational. According to the commissioner, some 5000 investors have engaged in various development projects in the state with an aggregate capital of over 70 billion birr since 1992. Half of the projects have already gone operational while the remaining are under construction. (ENA)

Ethiopian Honors Employees for their Long Years of Service

Ethiopian awards employees with 40, 35, 30, and 25 years of dedicated service and employees who attained their treatment from the company during the period January 01, 2007 to December 31, 2007. It is a long tradition of Ethiopian Airlines to organize service recognition ceremony to celebrate employees dedicated service in the airline. This year 188 celebrants will receive service recognition awards. Among the recipients some are from Ethiopian Area offices like Frankfurt, Rome, Paris, Lagos, Cairo, Nairobi, Dare Es Salaam and Bujumbura.
Ethiopian Airlines achieved many milestones with the dedication of its entire staff including today's celebrants who rendered unreserved services for many years to the national carrier. Today's celebration marks the importance of trained, experienced and dedicated human resources for Ethiopian operating in the highly competitive aviation industry. Ethiopian extends best wishes and good luck to those who are leaving the airline on retirement and look forward to receiving their continued support wherever they are. (Press Release)

PSOM program very successful in Ethiopia

The Program for Cooperation with Emerging Market (PSOM) is a worldwide program from the Dutch government. The program stimulates sustainable development in emerging markets. The idea is to generate employment and income and transfer know how by boosting the local private sector. The PSOM has been remarkably successful in Ethiopia. In 2007 worldwide 93 projects were approved of which 10 (ten) projects in Ethiopia. Herewith Ethiopia ranked highest on the worldwide list of new projects. In total 29 projects have been started, in the following sectors, floriculture, horticulture, oilseeds sector, car manufacturing, solar energy, animal feed, eco tourism, cosmetics, honey production, organic coffee, seed potato's and injera production.
The PSOM is an unique program, it stimulates the setting up of a joint venture between an Ethiopian and a Dutch company. The investments have to be new and therefore innovative to Ethiopia. PSOM is executed by the EVD, the Netherlands, on behalf of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Development Cooperation. Procedures can be found on www .evd.nl/psom.
In order to assist Ethiopian companies in finding a Dutch partner company, EVD will soon start the Matchmaking Facility. For further information please contact the Royal Netherlands Embassy at 0113-711100. (Press Release)

Addis Ababa Bole first African Airport to support 100% Bar Coded Boarding Passes

Addis Ababa Bole International Airport is to become the first airport in Africa to operate bar coded boarding passes (BCBP) for all international and domestic flights, two years ahead of the lATA deadline of 2010.
Eyob Estifanos, General Manager, Ethiopian Airports Enterprise, said that the change would simplify the check-in and boarding process for the 2.2 million passengers who use Addis Ababa Bole each year and who will soon benefit from self-service kiosks. "Ethiopia has a tradition of excellence in the air transport industry and now Addis Ababa Bole is leading the continent in the full implementation of bar-coded boarding passes which will enable fast and convenient check-in and boarding. We are also partnering with SITA to upgrade our check-in platform and introduce state-of-the-art bag management systems," he said. (Press Release)

bmi extends its seat sale

bmi Britain's second largest airline to fly from London Heathrow to 44 destinations world wide has announced the extension of its massive seat sale. Tickets for economy seats available on flights from Addis Ababa to London-Heathrow will now be on sale for an extended period until the 14th of March. bmi is giving its customers even more time to fulfil their dreams and fly to Europe's most happening capital with an incredible 21 percent discount for only 605 dollars.
According to the press release sent to Capital bmi has also extended the validity period of the seat sale. You can now fly any time up until the 30th of June 2008, from Addis Ababa to London Heathrow. (Press Release)