Capital

Ethiopia ranked 169 in HDI
Sub-Saharan nations to lose out on $26 bln due to climate change

By Groum Abate

Explosion at CBE Merkato Branch

By Tedla Yeneakal

NBE gold scandal brewing

By Groum Abate

Ethiopian textile and apparel industries set for stimulation

By Kirubel Tadesse

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British firm submits Awash study to deputy PM

By Tedla Yeneakal

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7 years on… Tilahun et al still not served verdict

By Groum Abate

Commission files charges against Tesfaye Birru

By Tedla Yeneakal

AU Celebrating Africa Enviroment Day

By Abiy Demilew

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First Int’l conference on medical education organized

By Tedla Yeneakal

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Harar revitalization forum kicks off
Labeled world heritage town

By Abiy Demilew

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Leather sector on the rise

By Muluken Yewondwossen

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“What is at stake is the future of Ethiopia!”
Dr. Yakob Hailemariam

By Kirubel Tadesse

Slow food to abridge farmers’ production-distribution chain

By Tedla Yeneakal

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African civil society organizations in global politics

By Addis Mulugeta

DACA chief appointed to head PHARMID

By Tedla Yeneakal

UNMEE moves to Asmara

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Country Trading plc to establish TV assembly

By Addis Mulugeta

Prices remain high despite high cereal production

By our staff reporter

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AAC celebrating Ethiopian Millennium

By our staff reporter

Chinese companies to construct Addis-Adama express way
Adama–Asela road project completed

By Muluken Yewondwossen

Moenco inaugurates showroom

By Addis Mulugeta

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Women exporters awarded

By Muluken Yewondwossen

Johnny Ragga in big Accra concert

By Abiy Demilew

Kenenisa stars in docu- controversy

By Abiy Demilew

AAU to host Addis Book Fair, 2008

By Abiy Demilew

Ethiopia ranked 169 in HDI
Sub-Saharan nations to lose out on $26 bln due to climate change

By Groum Abate

Ethiopia has been ranked 169th among 177 countries surveyed by the Human Development Index (HDI), according to the 2007/2008 Human Development Report (HDR) released by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
Iceland and Norway get first and second positions respectively as the most decent places to live in. Australia, Canada, Ireland, Sweden and Switzerland follow with the United States securing 12th place.
In the bottom 10 are sub-Saharan African countries. Sierra Leone is last, trailing Burkina Faso and Guinea-Bissau.
The HDI provides a composite measure of three dimensions of human development: a long and healthy life (measured by life expectancy), education (measured by adult literacy and enrollment at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels) and the standard of living (measured by purchasing power parity, (PPP, income).
According to the UNDP, the HDR continued to frame debates on some of the most pressing challenges facing humanity. It is an independent report commissioned by the UNDP itself. The HDI is a regular feature of HDR.
The countries occupying the top 20 spots are: Iceland, Norway, Australia, Canada, Ireland, Sweden, Switzerland, Japan, Netherlands, France, Finland, United States, Spain, Denmark, Austria, United Kingdom, Belgium, Luxembourg, New Zealand and Italy.
Rounding out the bottom 10 are in descending order Congo, Ethiopia, Chad, Central African Republic, Mozambique, Mali, Niger, Guinea-Bissau, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone.
The report is translated into more than a dozen languages and launched in over 100 countries annually.
Since the HDR was first published in 1990, the HDI rankings provided a way at looking beyond GDP towards a broader definition of well-being.
The report also warned of the damaging impacts of climate change, saying that the world has less than a decade to change course. It also called for urgency, human solidarity and collective interest in the fight against climate change.
The HDR entitled Fighting climate change: Human solidarity in a divided world, set out a pathway for climate change negotiations in Bali, Indonesia and stresses that a narrow 10-year window of opportunity remains to be put it into practice.
If that window is missed, temperature rises of above two degrees Celsius could see an extra 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa go hungry, new and more frequent epidemics of mosquito-born diseases like Rift Valley Fever and malaria and agricultural losses of up to 26 billion dollars by 2060 in the region, a figure higher than total bilateral aid received by sub-Saharan Africa in 2005.
The heavy carbon footprint of developed countries threatens to stamp out and then reverse advances in health, education and poverty reduction in sub-Saharan Africa unless critical steps are taken to cut emissions and invest in “climate-proofing” the livelihoods of the poor, according to the 2007/2008 Human Development Report (HDR) on climate change.
Fighting climate change notes that if each poor person on the planet had the same energy-rich lifestyle as an American or Canadian, nine planets would be needed to safely cope with the pollution. In fact, the US state of Texas, with 23 million residents, emits more CO2 than all of the 720 million residents of sub-Saharan Africa put together, says the report.
Faced with these stark differences, the authors note that critical global emission cuts should not undermine efforts to get basic energy services to the poor. The world’s richest countries have a historic responsibility to take the lead in balancing the carbon budget by cutting emissions by at least 80 percent by 2050, says the Report, in addition to supporting a new $86 billion annual global investment in substantial international adaptation efforts to protect the world’s poor.
Fighting climate change also stresses that unless dramatic changes happen both at the national and international levels, climate change will stall and then reverse efforts to reach the Millennium Development Goals in Africa. Existing aid investments will be put at risk because of climate-related events and an increasing portion of development money will be diverted to tackling climate disasters rather than long-term development.
The report further notes that in Ethiopia and Kenya, two of the world’s most drought-prone countries, children aged five or less born during a drought are respectively 36 and 50 percent more likely to be malnourished than children not born during a drought. For Ethiopia, that meant two million additional malnourished children in 2005. In Niger, children aged two or less born in a drought year were 72 percent more likely to be stunted, according to the report.

Explosion at CBE Merkato Branch

By Tedla Yeneakal

A bomb has exploded inside the building of a Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) branch, commonly known as Abakoran located behind the Grand Anwar Mosque on Friday afternoon, at around 2:30PM, damaging some of the building’s windows.
Abe Sano, President of the state owned CBE, told Capital that it is too early to specifically comment on the extent of damage, although it was clear that there were no human casualties.
“I do not think it has anything to do with the bank, however I cannot further comment on what has happened,” Abe said.
A shop owner near where the explosion occured and who was present at the scene, said he heard a loud blast from inside the bank and saw broken windows and some damage to vehicles parked near the building.
On his part, Ayele Cherenet, Public Relations head of CBE, said that it is very difficult to give details about property damage or who could have been behind the incident.
No government official was available for comment until the time we went to press.
CBE is the largest bank in the country, with 197 branches throughout Ethiopia. It was established in 1942 and its total capital exceeds 4.2 billion birr.

NBE gold scandal brewing

By Groum Abate

The Federal High Court, First Criminal Bench, has given a 12 day period for pressing charges on businessmen suspected of involvement in the recent gold scandal that has hit the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE).
The court granted the investigation period for the Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission, at a hearing held on Friday February 29, 2008.
The suspects appeared before court on Thursday, February 28 where the commission appealed for an additional 14 days of investigation time. However the court only gave another 12 days for the commission to conclude its investigation and press charges.
In a related development, 16 employees of the Ethiopian Geological Survey have been arrested on Thursday, February 28 in connection to the brewing phony gold scandal.
The scandal was revealed about two months ago when NBE discovered that some of the gold bullion in its reserve vaults was steel gilded with gold. The first scandal was followed by another a week ago, which involves fake gold bars for which the bank had paid over 300 million birr.
In a random inspection gold bricks NBE purchased were discovered to be gold plated steel, prompting the arrest of employees of the central bank and the Ethiopian Geological Survey along with other businessmen as alleged accomplices.
36kg of gold bars, deposited 5 years ago by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development were also found to be gold plated steel.
In connection with this gold scam, the Federal Police have arrested many business people and government employees so far.
Four brothers were arrested at the end of January, for allegedly acting as accomplices to one of the suspects accused of swindling hundreds of millions of birr by supplying fake gold to the Bank.
Apprehended on January 16, 2008, the businessmen now under custody are Kaf Mohammed, owner of Sofam Fashion; Sultan Mohammed; Fuad Mohammed, owner of WOW Fashion; and Nuredin Mohammed, owner of Nur Building.
The police charged the suspects at the First Instance Court of the Arada Criminal Bench, accusing them of covering up for Mukemil Sheriff, who is a fugitive also indicted of cheating 65 million birr out of the Bank by supplying 13 bars of gold-plated steel.
Another brother, Mudesir Mohammed, was also arrested two months ago.
The Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission took over the case from the Federal Police on January 24,2008 stating that the case involves corruption.
The case of NBE suspects Mohammed Said, Alemayehu Kassahun, Chimdessa Hirpa and Fekadu Lulu has also been transferred to the Federal High Court. The cases of the experts from the Geological Survey, Sisay Engida, Belachew Berissa and Yasin Yimam have also been moved to the jurisdiction of the High Court.
Recently, 21 bars of gilded steel transferred from the Federal Police forensic exhibit office to the vaults of the National Bank of Ethiopia have been seized. In connection with the finding, the Federal Ethics and Anticorruption Commission arrested Afework Gaym (Chief Inspector), head of the exhibit office at the forensic investigation department.
The First Criminal Bench of the Federal High Court recently froze properties belonging to WOW International Garment Factory in the latest chapter of the gold scandal saga at NBE. The factory, which went operational a year ago, is among the holdings claimed to have been registered with Abdurshikur Mohammed Sofam, a businessman suspected of involvement in the scam.
This is not the first time the Court has frozen properties of businessmen in relation to NBE’s unflattering disgrace. On January 3, 2008, it had frozen properties of six individuals and one company, which were accused of being accomplices to the businessmen that are suspected of swindling 158 million birr from the central bank supplying gold plated steel.
In addition to the garment factory in Dukem town, 34Km southeast of Addis Abeba in the Oromia Regional State, two houses in Arada District, Kebele 04/05, House No. 1820 and Bole District that are registered under Abdurshikur’s name were seized.
Two houses located in Ledeta District, Kebele 12, House No. 964/5 and Kirkos District, Kebele 01/18, House No. 305 registered with Sultan’s name were also frozen. The latter is the building that houses Day and Night Fashion on Africa Avenue (Bole Road) facing Mega Building.
It was also reported that the office of the Prime Minister last week issued an order for the inspection of all deposited gold bars at the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE).

Ethiopian textile and apparel industries set for stimulation

By Kirubel Tadesse

Hearing an ambitious offer for partnership from Victor and Lily Bag Makers and Garment Trades plc, Ethiopian textile and apparel industries aspire to produce in full capacity to markets the former guarantees to find after putting in place compliance, code of conduct and quality assurance of a global standard.
In the introductory meeting the Ministry of Trade and Industry hosted on Thursday February 28, 2008, local industries disclosed their production drawbacks. Gizachew Negash, partner and Managing Director of the Ras Dashen Textile Factory explained that despite having capacity to produce his sixteen thousand polo shirts and T- shirts per day, it is only producing less than 4800 pieces (30 %) due to lack of adequate markets. In this meeting chaired by Minister Girma Birru, the remarks of other local industry’s representatives were similar that all are in urgent need of much bigger markets and currently operate at under 20% capacity and alike.
Victor Ozeri, who highly speaks of the’ flattering conditions’ in Ethiopia, thinks that there are no excuses of under capacity production, “the famine is over, the Derg is gone and the Italians are our friends. So what is our excuse?” Explaining about the company and it’s offers to the local industries, the senior member of Victor and Lily said that the company is a well experienced bag manufacture and garment trader with developed networks in Europe and the US to get local industries a right partner and help select product.
Comparing the 1980’s China to present day Ethiopia, Victor says he arrived in china from the United States, and found that “there were very few, underutilized factories operating at low capacity. There were no raw materials with unrestrained and unmotivated work force. There were few roads and bridges at that time, similar to what we have now in Ethiopia, and in less than two decades, I saw before my eyes the transformation of China from agricultural society to a powerhouse of manufacture for the entire world.” Victor added that the achievement was no miracle; just a work of few westerners willing to spend their time in a foreign country and few other bold citizens of China that were willing to learn a new way of doing things.
Victor and Lily Betru target to link the textile and apparel industries to American buyers. But working with the American buyers won’t be easy since it has very competitive environment with demanding expectations of retailers and manufactures. There is also a risk of penalty and charge back for failure to meet contact obligations but the company says that the benefit is too big not to take part in. It believes that the American volume in Ethiopia will generate tens of thousands of jobs and companies with compliance certification will enjoy continuous orders and transferable knowledge. Victor told the local industry representatives that with the intention of staying only for three months in China, he stayed for 10 years and helped to form a prosperous society.

British firm submits Awash study to deputy PM

By Tedla Yeneakal

The British consultancy firm Halcrow has finalized a study on the Awash River basin’s flood control watershed management on three sites, namely Ambara, Diredawa and Kesem, to the Early Disaster Warning Committee headed by Addisu Legesse, deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.
According to a presentation made this week on a two day workshop that commenced Tuesday, February 26, at the premises of the Ministry of Water Resources, Halcrow recommended options of flood prevention mechanisms that would cost within a range of 215 to 280 million birr, depending on the option taken.
The study that was presented at the workshop involves a prevention mechanism of planting trees, construction of a five-kilometer wall and anticipates to provide protection for over two decades if implemented appropriately.
The Ministry commissioned Halcrow to study the susceptibility of the Awash Basin for about 30 million birr, financed by a loan obtained from the African Development Bank.
In August 2006, the Awash region in particular the city of Dire Dawa, was hit by a major flood that left more than 300 people dead and incurred damage of more than 60 million birr.
The Awash basin’s total of 90,000 hectares irrigation area, are found on the Tendaho and Kesem irrigation projects. According to an official at the Water Ministry, the project would be launched in the near future when funding is obtained.
Halcrow is owned by the Halcrow Trust and employee shareholders. Based in the United Kingdom, it specialises in the provision of planning, design and management services for infrastructure development worldwide and works in transportation, water, maritime and property, undertaking commissions in over 70 countries, with an approximate turnover of 250 million pounds.

7 years on… Tilahun et al still not served verdict

By Groum Abate

Verdict scheduled to be passed on February 27, 2008, on former senior officials of the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) who are at present in custody, have been rescheduled by the Federal High Court to March 13, 2008.
The CBE officials include the former president, Tilahun Abay, who has been behind bars for alleged corruption, for the last seven years.
After 41 senior bankers were arrested for alleged corruption on May 29, 2001, 17 have been defending themselves from prison, while four, released on bail, were answering charges filed against them, from outside. Three others defendants died in custody with their cases pending and another five of the accused bankers got their verdicts, completed their terms and were freed. Two others, it is recalled died before their cases were lodged. The rest live abroad.
The Commission brought charges against 13 members of the business community accusing them of being accomplices of the bankers. In July 2005, the Court freed Star Business Group’s Worku Megra, Menwuyelet Atnafu, Abebaw Desta and Abebaw Gelaye. The Commission also dropped charges against their partner, Asnake Jembere.
Among the accused businesspeople, Yeshihareg Zewde of Yegeta Trading, and Abreham G. Kirstos of Abmar International, both accused of related corruption, have been battling their cases from outside after being released on bail.
The charges filed against Berhane Gidey of Abeba Gedey Trading; Sami Yusuf of Garad; Eskinder Yoseph of Meskel Flower; Temsgen Mehari from Nile International; and Tedla Yizengaw, were dropped by the Commission.
After this lengthy legal process, CBE former president, Tilahun Abay, along with his deputies, Alazar Dessie, Hailu Legesse, Habte Selassie Hagos, Mulugeta Gebre Medhin, and other former CBE officials, remain behind bars.
The officials were charged with advancing loans to the businessmen in violation of bank regulations. The businessmen were also apprehended for aiding in the acquisition of unlawful benefits.
The Federal High Court, First Criminal Bench, has been examining the case and evaluating testimonials brought by the defendants after it ruled in 2006 for Tilahun et al to defend themselves from the alleged grand corruption charge.
Though it was expected that the Court would pass a guilty or not guilty verdict this week, it was stated that the final verdict would be served on March 13, 2008 (Megabit 4).
According to the new penal code, if the CBE officials are found guilty, they will be sentenced to a maximum of 10 years imprisonment. Hence, they will be released even if they are served the maximum sentence, as they have already completed their terms considering the probation they would be given.

Commission files charges against Tesfaye Birru

By Tedla Yeneakal

The Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission’s prosecutor has filed charges against the former managing director of the Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation (ETC), Tesfaye Birru, along with other executives of the corporation on Tuesday, February 26, before the Federal High Court first criminal bench. The charges are related to a 1.54 billion birr loss incurred by the corporation.
The commission accuses the former manager and the others of intentionally giving the green light to the purchase of equipment that was not up to the standards set.
Tesfaye told Capital that the charges are totally absurd. “I do not want to comment now on the charges but will speak out, later into the trial period.” The court adjourned the hearing for March 10, to enable the defendants present their counter arguments.
According to the charges read out in court, various purchases conducted by the accused, and deals signed with foreign companies did not follow proper procedures and opened avenues for corrupt practices.
“Illegal purchases and questionable agreements with foreign companies without proper procedures caused the Ethiopian Telecommunication Corporation a 1.54 billion birr loss,” the charge stated.

AU Celebrating Africa Enviroment Day

By Abiy Demilew

The African Union celebrates Africa environment day tomorrow, 03, March 2008, Capital learned.
The union is celebrating Africa Environment Day after the Seventy-sixth Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) held in Durban, South Africa, in July 2002, adopted a decision proclaiming 3rd March of each year as 'Africa Environment Day'.
The decision calls upon Member States to observe this day with the public. Its objective is to create greater awareness at all levels in African societies on the need to preserve and protect our environment and natural resources for posterity and for sustainable development, according to the press release.
The AU statement declares, "March 3, 2008 will mark the sixth anniversary of the adoption of the said Decision."
Accordingly, the Commission of the African Union (AUC) calls upon all Member States of the Union and their cooperation partners to commemorate this day with the widest possible participation of their local Communities.
The statement mentions land degradation and desertification constitute key causes of hunger, deprivation, poverty and underdevelopment in Africa.
Furthermore, natural disasters resulting from climate variation and climate change have recently assumed unprecedented propositions in frequency and intensity."
The year 2007 and 2008 witnessed heavy flooding in West Africa and southern Africa respectively; resulting in untold livelihood loses, according to the AU.
In January 2007, the Summit of Heads of States and Government of the African Union, at its 8th Ordinary Session here in Addis adopted a Decision and Declaration on Climate Change and Development in Africa, calling on Member States, the public, the private sector and development partners to cooperate to establishing adaptation mechanism to minimize the negative impacts of climate variation and change on continents development efforts and gains.
The statement also added that the Commission of the African Union therefore urges all Member States to undertake activities geared towards creating awareness on ways and means to adapt to the phenomena of climate change at national, regional and continental levels.

First Int’l conference on medical education organized

By Tedla Yeneakal

The first International Continuing Education conference will take place April 11- 12 at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa Center (UNECA), focusing on the theme of ‘21st Century Medicine in Resource Constrained Settings.’
Akeza Teame, Medical Director of Saint Yared Hospital in Addis Ababa, (a privately owned Ethiopian healthcare financing and delivery system) told Capital that the aim of the conference is to offer continuing medical education to Ethiopian health professional, with a view of offering ongoing education after graduation so would keep up and maintain their expertise.
“Health professionals must regularly update their career. In this country, the government does not enforce a regulation on health professionals’ education, as it is done in other countries, to check whether they are at the right standard, on a regular basis so we want that process to begin,” Akeza said. “We are seeing significantly more money being channeled toward improving healthcare for the poor, but in order to sustain the effort, we must also move forward past issues of specific diseases, to address health care delivery throughout the entire nation.”
According to a press release from the organizers of the conference, Ethiopian physicians, clinicians and other healthcare professionals are invited to attend the convention free of charge.
“The conference will offer two tracks: a large Clinical Track, with topics ranging from surgical wound infection to neonate medical emergencies, and a smaller Health Systems Development Track that addresses challenges such as sustainability of quality of healthcare in resource constrained settings,” read the release.
Dr. Matthias Lademann, Chief Medical Officer at the United Nations Health Care Center in Addis, said on his part that the conference is designed to offer meaningful professional development to doctors in Ethiopia. “Brain-drain has been a problem in the past, but improving economic conditions are making it more attractive for physicians to remain in Ethiopia” he said.
The two-day event will be opened by the Health Minister, Dr. Tewodros Adhanom, and is expected to lay the foundation for a broader plan to establish a formal ‘Continuing Medical Education’ program in Ethiopia. “Such a plan will increase educational opportunities and insure that the nation retains well-trained and qualified healthcare professionals.”

Harar revitalization forum kicks off
Labeled world heritage town

By Abiy Demilew

Harar, one of the ancient historical towns in Ethiopia, which celebrated 1000 years of its founding in July and labeled The World's Heritage Town by UNESCO, launches the Harar Revitalization Forum on Tuesday 04, March 2008.
Organized by the Harari Regional State, the World Bank and the Authority for Research & Conservation of Cultural Heritage (ARCCH) Ethiopia, the revitalization forum will be held in Harar town for two days March 4-5, with a large number of local and international partipants.
Jara Hailemariam, Director General, Authority for Research & Conservation of Cultural Heritage, underlines, "The current state of Harar reminds us of the urgent steps that need to be taken by the public and private sectors, civil society, Diaspora and development organizations in a coordinated manner to facilitate a sustainable revitalization of the city."
On this special forum, Murad Abdulahi, President of the Harari Regional State, will outline his government's vision for Harar and the forum's role in developing the initiative towards the revitalization; according Jara Hailemariam.
Arif Mohammed, Mayor, Harar Municipality, will also present the current state of development of Harar, a symbolic town of Ethiopian ancient civilization.
The Harar Revitalization Forum specially themes on Cultural Heritage Preservation, Tourism Development, Infrastructure, Housing and Settlement, Governance and Economic model, according to the concept paper prepared by the organizers.
Harar, a walled city on a hilltop, is famous for its ancient buildings, its 13-foot wall, ancient mosques and serpentine alleyways as well as its unique handicrafts that include woven textiles, basketware, silverware and handsomely bound books.
Harar Jegol, the Fortified Historic Town, was inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site in 2006.
"Urban or architectural heritage does not exist by itself. It is the result of a process of (re)creation and promotion of heritage value. Those actions are undertaken by different groups of actors, motivated by specific stakes and in order to reach specific goals. What happens when they do not share stakes and goals?" asks Dr. Omnia Aboukorah, French Research Institute CEDEJ, Cairo, in a paper she presents on the forum.
The ancient town of Harar is called Jegol, literally meaning the walled town. Situated at 500 km east of the Ethiopian capital, Harar is the only ancient inhabited city of Ethiopia; similar to Axum, Lalibela and Gondar, which boast archaeological vestiges. Harar also incorporates a historically-preserved way of life and townscape that are largely intact today.
According to a recent population census (1994), the total population of Harari Region is indicated to be 131,000 whereas the residents of Harar town are estimated to be 76,798. Every year, the number of tourists visiting the city is increasing (averaging 4500) despite its lacking of modern amenities. Currently, many of the old houses inside Jegol that might be anchors around which culture could be preserved are now leased out as 'Kebele' (local authority) housing to the poor, and generally are in poor condition. The city also suffers from chronic water shortages and sanitation problems. Many of the roads and alleys also need upgrading.
As the world's largest industry, tourism is an important economic sector in developing countries contributing between 3-46% of GDP in all but six countries in Africa. Tourism is included in the poverty reduction strategies of most countries and in Ethiopia's PASDEP. However, as one of the significant potentials of Harar with a rich cultural heritage to attract tourism has been very insignificant for the people of Jegol and Harar as a whole, due to a lack of hotels, the aforementioned water and sanitation problems, poor preservation of cultural heritage as well as a lack of proper planning for the tourism sector. As a result, many of the much-needed investments and revenues for Harar have, so far, remained largely unattractive and unfeasible.
The forum outlines the rationale for having a public-private forum to develop a vision for the revitalization of Harar for a co-ordinated strategy and framework (of multiple stakeholder groups such as civil society, government, private sector, Diasporas and development partners) is to be developed for implementation.
A study tour for representatives of the Government of Harari Regional State took place in December 2007 visiting two world cities of similar heritage, namely Fez of Morocco and Stone Town of Zanzibar, from where lessons were learned and to enrich the vision and plan for Harar. The Harar Revitalization Forum will serve as a Public-Private development forum where potential stakeholders and contributors will brainstorm and address the major thematic priorities of the effort, including the issues both on urban development (such as water supply, physical development, housing upgrade and resettlement, and the fiscal sustainability of the destination) and city culture and tourism (such as thematic and cultural development of the city, expanding the handicraft sector, services, marketing and positioning). Key international experts will attend the conference as guest speakers to contribute to the process, Capital learned.
In a recently paid visit to the town, Capital witnessed some development activities taking place. But still, Harar lacks modern amenities such as hotels, restaurants, hospitals etc and suffers from a chronic water shortage. Each resident now gets five gallons of water per day. Harar also faces a challenge to meet the demands of the 4500 tourists who visit every year. The character of the Old Town desperately needs to be preserved, while at the same time the infrastructure and housing conditions need to be improved for the residents.
The Harar Revitalization Forum is expected to come-up with substantial outcomes from sharing of lessons learned from other similar cities. The President's team, as well as external specialists, will present options and proposals for development in each thematic area towards the stated vision including a Framework/Plan for the Harar Revitalization Initiative, Economic Model for the Revitalization, stakeholders' involvement in the Revitalization of Harar in assisting the involvement and linkage of the public and private sector and other development organizations such as UNESCO, Embassy of France, The Arab League, The Kuwait Fund, the Aga Khan Foundation, TICA, etc which might contribute to the rapid development of a sustainable tourism industry for Harar and revitalization as a whole, Capital learned.

Leather sector on the rise

By Muluken Yewondwossen

One hundred sixty six tanning, footwear and other leather goods producers obtained licences from the Ethiopian Investment Agency.
Currently six tanners, seven footwear and nine leather goods factories are under construction, with 144 companies receiving investment license from the Ethiopian Investment Agency. Twenty are tanners, seventeen footwear producers and eighty seven companies are engaged in other leather goods.
According to Abdissa Adugna, Secretary General of the Ethiopian Leather Industries Association, these new coming investors will create a good opportunity to improve activity in the sector. “Other local industries may get a chance to improve their industry with modern technology and skilled human resources,” he said.
According to Abdissa, development in this sector has increased national income and will create job opportunities for many citizens. Ethiopia generated close to 90 mln USD in foreign currency from leather and leather products in the last fiscal year, which is fourth after coffee, oil seeds and gold.
Currently, there are 60 factories: 22 tanners, 16 footwear and 24 leather goods producers.
Abdissa told Capital “Three weeks ago the House of Peoples’ Representatives passed a proclamation to charge export taxes of up to 150 percent on raw and semi processed hides and skins. This declaration will help to develop the leather industry and our association is encouraging this measure,” he concluded.
It is recalled that P.M Meles Zenawi had stated that Ethiopia would become a world center of the leather industry, at the All African Leather Fair, on January 24, 2008.
According to Girma Birru, Minister of Trade and Industry, the Ethiopian government has plans to produce 60 to 70 thousand pairs of shoes per day by 2010. Currently, Ethiopian shoe factories produce 24,000 pairs daily.
Ethiopia supplies 1.3 mln raw hides and 16 mln raw skins (goat and sheep) per annum. The livestock population of Ethiopia is estimated at 90 mln heads.

“What is at stake is the future of Ethiopia!”
Dr. Yakob Hailemariam

By Kirubel Tadesse

Dr. Yakob Hailemariam, a former UN prosecutor and one of the key figures of the former Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party (CUDP) during the May 2005 elections, stated that reconciliation between the Hailu Shaul and Birtukan Medkisa’s group is not only a likely option but a must ,considering the consequences if talks fail.
In an exclusive interview he gave Capital, Dr. Yakob said that he is hoping for reconciliation because what is at stake is the future of Ethiopia and there isn’t anything that shouldn’t come before the interest of the country and the people. Talking about the current state of the political process in Ethiopia, Dr. Yakob explained to Capital that twenty five million people, who voted for the former CUDP, have been disfranchised because of the decision of giving ‘CUD’ label to an individual who doesn’t represent the party.
Explaining about the international diplomatic community’s role in the May 2005 election, Dr. Yakob said that they did they best they could. “Perhaps they couldn’t do much, after all this is a sovereign country and in fact, at one point, the P.M had said ‘Uncle Sam can go to hell’” added Dr. Yakob,” I think they did their best but the government was adamant that it wouldn’t give on any of its positions or to any negotiation.”
Further explaining the role of the European Union and the American government, Dr. Yakob stated that he believes that the European Union did the best under the circumstances. “As it is to be recalled, after we were arrested, they demanded the unconditional release of the detainees which Amnesty International classified as political prisoners. They even applied some sticks,” said Dr. Yakob,” the Americans from the beginning made it very clear that the legal process should be expedited and that the trial should be undertaken quickly, knowing the kind of the courts we had.”
Further pointing out the American role,” The Americans of course, are out to protect their own interest and definitely this preceded our right to being released. They didn’t demand our unconditional release like the Europeans,” stated Dr. Yakob,” One of the pillars of the foreign policy of the American government is protection of human rights and they didn’t meet that obligation. They sacrificed the protection of human rights in Ethiopia to their interest in fighting terrorism. So the Americans were, right from the very beginning looking out for their interest at our expenses. Even it was no obligation with out compromising their interest; they could have made some dents in the protection of human rights and in the release of political prisoners. I don’t think Americans have been faithful to their creed when it comes to Ethiopia. “
Ambassador Vicki Huddleston, the US Ambassador to Ethiopia during the May 2005 election, told Capital that at the time she felt that the US and the European Community had done everything possible to bring the two sides together.
“Suspicion and public posturing overcame the negotiations with the return of Hailu Shawel,” stated the former acting Ambassador,” In retrospect both sides needed more time, more patience, and above all a greater willingness to compromise.” Ambassador Vicki added that her objective was to support the Government of Ethiopia in finding a way forward that would allow the Opposition to have a voice in governance and prepare the way for both more political space and economic growth.

Slow food to abridge farmers’ production-distribution chain

By Tedla Yeneakal

The president of Slow Food (a non-profit, eco-gastronomic association based in Italy), Carlo Pertini visits Ethiopia this week, March 3-7, with the aim of building links to shorten the farmer-to-consumer food production and distribution in Ethiopia.
According to a press release from Slow Food organization, a meeting with ‘Terra Madre’ network in Ethiopia will take place on Tuesday, March 4 at the Italian Cultural Institute of Addis Ababa.
‘Terra Madre’ is an event that brings together representatives of food communities that produce good, clean and fair food in a sustainable way.
“The Terra Madre 2006 Ethiopian delegation (8 food communities, 22 delegates), the representatives of the Three Slow Food Presidia in Ethiopia (Wenchi volcano honey, Wukro white honey and Wild coffee from Harenna Forest) and some delegates of Ethiopian university students, NGOs working on issues of sustainable agriculture and bio-diversity will also attend the meeting,” reads the press release.
Slow Food is particularly devoted to protecting food diversity and helping producers in developing countries. It is founded in 1989 to counteract fast food and fast life, the disappearance of local food traditions and peoples’ reduction in the food they eat, where it comes from, how it tastes and how our food choices affect the rest of the world.
The release added that the Fifth International Slow Food Congress in Puebla, Mexico, last November, resolved to prioritize welcoming developing countries into the Slow Food association and Terra Madre network. Work will focus on helping these countries improve and preserve their traditional foods and agricultural systems and protecting local diversity.
Currently, there are 86,000 members and offices in Italy, Germany, Switzerland, the USA, France, Japan and the United Kingdom, and supporters in 130 countries. There are more than 1,000 Slow Food local chapters, known as Convivia, active in 80 countries, including 410 in Italy.
Moreover, on Tuesday March 4, Mr. Petrini will host a small-scale version of Terra Madre (an international meeting among food communities), bringing together representatives from Ethiopia’s eight Terra Madre food communities, three Presidia (Slow Food projects to support small local producers, NGOs, ‘The Gardens of Ethiopia’ project, students, cooks and others.)
The President will also meet with Ethiopian scientists, professors and experts including Professor Tewoldeberhan G. Egziabhier.

African civil society organizations in global politics

By Addis Mulugeta

Democracy and the Social Question III, a series of lectures in the academic year 2007/8 continued on February 25, 2008 at the Ras Mekonnen Hall, AAU under the title “African Civil Society Organizations in Global Politics,” organized by the Goethe Institute in collaboration with Frederick Ebert Foundation and the Addis Ababa University. Capital is the media partner to the lecture series. Africa has its own challenge in reaching people's participation in the governance processes. This is sometimes underestimated when democratic procedure (as they are developed in western countries) is discussed in the African context, it was stated.
Presenting the lecture was Jalal Abdel-Latif, head of civil society section, UNECA, who explained his observation about what Civil Society Organizations and NGOs in Africa effectively accomplished and also in the globalization era, of how the NGOs have taken ascendancy at the expenses of the other associations, parties and trade unions. In the African setting however, NGOs rely in the vacuum of the think thank position, which is basically a deficit.
He explained that over the last three decades a number of NGO activists at the international level have grown exponentially. However, there has never been a critical analysis or scrutiny of the nature and feature of African alliance building in a global campaign.
Mr. Jalal also discussed how NGOs are organized, who organizes them and what they have accomplished. The African NGOs always look like constituency as a marginal player in the global politics, he said and added "If you looked all the campaigns debt, poverty, climate change etc, are heavily African focused". In the 1800s and 1900s there has been double effort to increase the representation of Africa civil society organizations on a global level through accreditation, consultation, shadow reporting, informal access to public policy as well as informal mechanism which last a short time
He presented but not argued what recent literatures say about NGOs; some say they are a citizen sector, others say agents of accountability, magic development bullet, and accessing global governance. There is no full agreement about NGOs but it is commonly agreed that they are part of a manifestation of the citizens' sector.
What is interesting about NGOs is the emergence of transnational network which targets a certain institutions or championing a cause or promoting failed agendas such as, the right of the poor, gender mainstreaming and climate change etc. Transnational coalition came as a bulwark of globalization he said. Between the 19th and early 20th centuries this advocacy network took prominence. The alliance has been established at various levels with various advocacy agendas with generous funding by donors. It is at this time that African NGOs began to organize themselves around specific agenda, and recognize the importance of building coalition with international NGOs.

DACA chief appointed to head PHARMID

By Tedla Yeneakal

The Drug Administration and Controlling Authority (DACA) General Manager, Haileselassie Bihon, has left office to head the former Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies Import & Whole Sale Enterprise (PHARMID), now structured as the Pharmaceutical Fund Supplies Enterprise, company sources disclosed.
PHARMID is a product of the restructuring of the former pharmaceutical and Medical Supplies Corporation also known as EPHARMECOR. It is the second time that it is re-structured after it was established as PHARMID in 1994, with a paid-up capital of 19.1 million Birr. The enterprise is basically an importer and distributor of basic pharmaceutical and medical supplies. It has also the added responsibility of stabilizing the market and prices and handles foreign procurement and coordination activities.
Yehhuilu Denekew has taken the post of former DACA head Haileselassie Bihon. The latter has been serving DACA for the past 14 years, since its establishment before being appointed to his current post.
When PHARMID was first re-structured, its share of the market was at 50-60% with an annual turnover of over ETB 250 million. The enterprise distributes basic pharmaceutical and medical supplies to health institutions, handled though its eight branches located in Bahir Dar, Jimma, Dire Dawa, Awassa, Mekelle Dessie, and two outlets, Gulele and Teklehaimanot, in Addis ababa.
The Drug Administration and Control Authority of Ethiopia is a federal agency established in September 2001 and mandated to promote and protect public and animal health by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and quality as well as the proper use of all drugs available in the country.
Various attempts to solicit comments from the former DACA head were unsuccessful.

UNMEE moves to Asmara

Most of the U.N. peacekeeping force on Eritrea’s border with Ethiopia has moved to the capital Asmara after Eritrea withdrew cooperation, the United Nations announced on Wednesday.
The move effectively ends, at least for the time being, the work of the 1,700 troops and military observers who for the past seven years have been seeking to prevent Eritrea and Ethiopia from resuming a border war they fought from 1998-2000.
The peacekeepers have been stationed in a 15.5-mile (25-km) buffer zone inside Eritrea. But Asmara turned against the mission criticizing U.N. inability to enforce rulings by an independent commission awarding chunks of Ethiopian-held territory, including the town of Badme, to Eritrea.
The United Nations ordered the force last week to start moving to Asmara, saying Eritrea had cut off fuel and food supplies and prevented it moving to the Ethiopian side of the border. Eritrea denied it had done so.
The bulk of the peacekeepers are from India, Jordan and Kenya.
The UN spokesperson said that eight U.N. vehicles that had been blocked by Eritrean troops from collecting equipment from the former border deployment zone had returned to Asmara empty handed
Remaining U.N. troops in the border area were packing up and transporting equipment and supplies, the spokesperson added.
The United Nations has not revealed its plans for the force, known as UNMEE, once it is fully assembled in Asmara. Eritrea’s actions have angered the Security Council, which on January 30 renewed UNMEE’s mandate for six months.
Ethiopia and Eritrea insist they will not resume the war that killed an estimated 70,000 people.
Ethiopia has called for talks on border demarcation and normalization of relations before it will pull back from areas assigned to Eritrea by the boundary commission.
But Eritrea’s U.N. Ambassador Araya Desta ruled out any talks with Addis Ababa until Ethiopia withdrew.
He also called on the Security Council to put pressure — including possible sanctions — on Ethiopia to withdraw. (UN Press Release)

Country Trading plc to establish TV assembly

By Addis Mulugeta

Country Trading plc has invested 30 mln ETB to build an electronic assembly line. This was announced on February 24, 2008 at the Gihon Hotel during an awards ceremony by Akira for retailers and customers.
Commercial Manager of Country Trading, Daniel Brehane, stated that they have obtained land near Hanamaraiam, Yeka sub-city, for assembling Akira televisions by importing semi knockdown products 90 per cent of the construction is already finished; it remains only to take out patent rights and import equipment. He said that they have plans to assemble 14’ and 21’ TVs initially.
Daniel also said that Country Trading plc also plans to export televisions, especially to East African countries.
.

Prices remain high despite high cereal production

By our staff reporter

Early prospects point to the possibility of a significant increase in world cereal production in 2008, but international prices of most cereals remain at record high levels and some are still on the increase, FAO announced last week.
The forecast increase in production follows expansion of winter grain plantings and good weather among major producers in Europe and in the United States, coupled with a generally satisfactory outlook elsewhere, according to FAO’s latest Crop Prospects and Food Situation report.
With dwindling stocks, continuing strong demand for cereals is keeping upward pressure on international prices, despite a record world harvest last season, the report said. International wheat prices in January 2008 were 83 percent up from a year earlier.
Although prices are high, total world trade in cereals is expected to peak in 2007/08, driven in great part by a sharp rise in demand for coarse grains, especially for feed use in the European Union, according the report.
Cereal imports for all Low-Income Food-Deficit countries in 2007/08 are forecast to decline by about 2 percent in volume, but as a result of soaring international cereal prices and freight rates, their cereal import bill is projected to rise by 35 percent for the second consecutive year. An even higher increase is anticipated for Africa. Prices of basic foods have also increased in many countries worldwide, affecting the vulnerable populations most, the report said.
In order to limit the impact of rising cereal prices on domestic food consumption, governments from both cereal importing and exporting countries have taken a range of policy measures, including lowering import tariffs, raising food subsidies, and banning or imposing duties on basic food exports.
“High food prices and market uncertainties have become major global concerns, and wide access to up-to-date information and analysis is becoming critical,” said Henri Josserand of FAO’s Global Information and Early Warning system. To address this need for information and facilitate analysis on current developments in world food markets, FAO today announced the launch of a new web portal bringing together relevant FAO studies and data on the world food situation.
In North Africa, early prospects for the 2008 winter cereal crops are mixed, but in Southern Africa the overall outlook is satisfactory, despite severe localized floods. In several countries of Eastern Africa, another bumper cereal crop was gathered in 2007, but poor secondary crops are expected in Kenya and Somalia, according to the report.
Heavy rains have also caused severe flooding in Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi. Farmers in affected areas are in urgent need of seeds and other inputs for replanting during what is left of the main cropping season, which runs from October to April, and to prepare for the next planting season.
FAO and its humanitarian partners yesterday launched an appeal for $87 million for emergency assistance to flood-affected populations in the four countries. Of this, over $9 million will support FAO’s agricultural relief activities aimed at improving food security in flood-hit regions.
In Bolivia, severe floods have adversely affected over 42 000 families, who are in need of emergency humanitarian assistance, with numbers on the increase. Large cropped areas have been partially or totally lost.
Exceptionally low temperatures in several central Asian countries, in particular China, Mongolia, Afghanistan and Tajikistan, have caused human casualties and resulted in crop and livestock losses.

AAC celebrating Ethiopian Millennium

By our staff reporter

A series of commemorative events has been organized by the Arab Ambassadors Council (AAC) of Addis Ababa in order to celebrate the new Ethiopian Millennium.
The events include a mass participation Children’s Drawing contest for 5-13 years olds scheduled for March 22,2008, a symposium and exhibition on Arab-Ethiopian relations, trade and investment set to be held from May 22-24, 2008, as well as a cultural evening at the National Theater on May 26, 2008.
A press release from the Permanent Mission to Ethiopia, the African Union and the UNECA, of the League of Arab States, added that the events will be attended by senior Ethiopian officials, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of international and regional organizations, invited guests and the general public.
It was also stated that the new Ethiopian Millennium celebration organized by the Arab Ambassadors Council was availed the cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ethiopian Millennium Festival National Council.
As part of the events, AAC members, diplomats and families are on a tour of historical and cultural attractions in Tigray and Amhara regions, from February 27 to March 2, 2008.

Chinese companies to construct Addis-Adama express way
Adama–Asela road project completed

By Muluken Yewondwossen

A Chinese company will construct the Addis-Nazareth expressway with out having to compete in a bid, Minister of Works and Urban Development Dr. Kassu Ilala, announced on Thursday amid speculations over who will be awarded the contract.
The minister made the remarks in a joint discussion with a high level delegation from China led by the Chinese minister of construction Wang Guangtao.
Kassu said the contract for the construction of the six-lane Express Way- the first of its kind, and the first toll road to be built- would automatically be granted to China with out having to compete in competitions.
“This project is a special offer to Chinese companies of choice to come with the necessary credit facilities and get the project without any international competition,” the minister said “I do sincerely believe that the project will be monumental to the Chinese government and people if Chinese companies participate as suggested,” minister Kassu added.
Meanwhile, the Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA) has inaugurated the Adama–Asela 79 km asphalt-upgrading project, built at a cost of oner than 188 million ETB, on February 28, 2008.
The project work began in August 2004 and has been completed on February 2008, 77 days before the end of the contract agreement. The contractor Sino Hydro (China) said that 67 Chinese and 1300 Ethiopian professionals participated in the project.
Adem Kemal, Asela City Government manager said, “This road has a huge economic advantage for the country and the area, because the road has connected the Bale and Arsi grain farmers with central Ethiopia.” He added that the road is minimizing transportation costs and time.
The road construction project was consulted by RITES an Indian consultant company. The project fund was covered by the Ethiopian government and IDA. On the inauguration ceremony, Arkebe Ekubai, State Minister of the Ministry of Works and urban Development, Minister Wang Guwangto, Construction Minister, of China were present
Adama- Asela is phase one of the Adama-Asela-Dodola and Shashemane-Goba upgrading projects. The second phase, Asela-Dodola (177 km) was started in July 2007 by the same Chine Company. For this project the Ethiopian government and IDA have secured 399 mln ETB in funding.
The last phase of the Shashemane-Goba 203 km asphalt up grading road is under construction in three sections with a cost of 585 mln ETB. This project will finalized by 2010. The first two sections are being constructed by Berhe Hagos and Alemayehu Ketema local construction companies. With the third is constructed by Chinese CGC Overseas.

Moenco inaugurates showroom

By Addis Mulugeta

The Motor and Engineering Company of Ethiopia Limited S.C has inaugurated a 412 m2 showroom and the new Toyota YARiS model on February 28, 2008.
General Manager of Moenco, Chris De Muynck stated during the occasion that this proves again Moenco’s relentless commitment to customer satisfaction with a new comfortable venue and a high quality new product from Toyota. He announced further that this year they will launch their new 20,000 sq mt shwroom & service center in Nazareth and heavy equipment operations will move to the new site after the construction is completed. He further said that their motto “ customer first leads the way for further investment in high quality facilities and service equipment with ever more emphasis on training of their human resources both in the technical and the commercial fields. He added that the inauguration of this new facility with a space to display 10 cars was accomplished with an investment of three million birr.
The price of the newly introduced YARiS car is around 300,000 birr and was said to be convenient for the Ethiopian middle class buyers. The new car has high engine and driving performance, exterior and interior design, utility and comfort including airbags for front and rear passengers, a minimum turning radius, wide and roomy interior and stylish appearance.
Worldwide, 36 countries are currently facing food crises, according to the report.

Women exporters awarded

By Muluken Yewondwossen

The Center for Africa Women Economic Empowerment (CAWEE) has awarded six outstanding women exporters in the handloom sub sector on Wednesday February 27, 2008, at the National Palace.
According to Nigest Hailu, CAWEE executive director and ACCESS focal person, the six handloom companies went through one-year product development and market promotion processes. The companies had also the opportunity to participate on the May 2007 Montreal Trade Show, in Canada, where they had the opportunity to exhibit their products and create contacts with potential buyers.
She said that this program made it possible for six handloom companies, owned and managed by women, to increase their capacity in the areas of product development, market promotion and production of marketing materials.
In the year long process of product development, market promotion, production of marketing materials and participation on an international trade show, significant achievements were registered.
Maya Ethiopia, Saba Harr, Membi’s Design, Nigist Ethiopia, GMM Garment and Trio Craft were awarded certificates and trophies.
CAWEE, an indigenous NGO established in 2004, is involved in providing various promotional services to women exporters.
CAWEE has provided technical assistance to women exporters operating in different sub-sectors since November 2005 when the organization became the focal point for implementing in Ethiopia, a program called ACCESS for African Business Women in International Trade.
“Ethiopia is one of eleven African countries participating in the initiative, Nigist told journalists. Over the past two years, ACCESS Ethiopia has provided services in three main areas: trainings in international trade, mentoring and provision of web-based trade information.” Adding that todate 144 individuals have been trained in international trade, out of which 115 were women and 29 men.
“In participating both at the Montreal International Trade Show and the Toronto Solo Exhibition, participants had the opportunity to meet with different potential buyers and had the opportunity to develop their skills. The companies went through a process of specializing their product lines, developed great confidence, and established business contacts,” Nigest said on her speech. A brand name called “Executively Ethiopian” was also developed on the trade mission.
She added that even though the main focus of the program was targeting mainly the Canadian market, the companies were able to create contacts and meet new buyers from other parts of the world.
The PACT Ethiopia program document was signed between the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MoTI) and the International Trade Center (ITC) Geneva, in March 2006, sponsored by the Canada Fund for Africa. The program was executed jointly by the International Trade Center, Geneva and Trade Facilitation Office Canada.
The PACT country’ program focused on trade promotion by enhancing market linkages for Ethiopian enterprises exporting handloom, textiles, garments and leather accessories into European and Canadian markets. The program further supported the establishment of a National Trade Portal.
The handloom component of the program focused in product development, market promotion and production of marketing materials. Out of 20 handloom companies, 12 were shortlisted and 6 were identified based on certain criteria set.

Johnny Ragga in big Accra concert

By Abiy Demilew

Johnny Ragga, the young and contemporary singer, mostly known for his reggae and ragga tunes, is taking part in a big concert in Accra, Ghana on Friday March 7, 2008.
The concert, labeled Bring the Noise, is reported to gain huge momentum by bringing a large number of musicians from all over the continent.
To be held in the Accra British Council hall, Bring the Noise is reported to be one of its five regional projects which is part of Africa 2007, a three-year regional programme in East, West and Southern Africa.
The event, scheduled for the La Trade Fair Centre, would bring together musicians, artistes and filmmakers from Africa and the UK.
This joint event is part of an Independence Week Celebration, organized by the Ghana Trade Fair Company in collaboration with M-biz Africa.
According to sources in Accra, artistes from eleven countries including Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and the UK will touch on issues of identity, culture and heritage in new pieces of work at Bring The Noise.
Digital artists such as Em’Kal (Cameroon), music video maker Abdulai Awudu (Ghana), animator Alfred Muchilwa (Kenya), graphic artist Akinwale Ekundaya (Nigeria) and film maker and photographer Fatoumata Kande (Senegal) will be joining forces with the musicians to create this unique experience.
The Friday concert is reported to be part of Ghanaian Independence week celebrations, which started on the 1st of March and runnig until 9th March, 2008.
Capital sources in Accra confirmed that the final events for the Independence Week celebration at the Accra Trade Fair are lined up as March 6: and Friday March 7: Bring The Noise Concert
The artists were given the time-frame of two weeks with which to write, create and practice their material under the guidance of Ghanaian music director Ivor Placca and VJ artist Kelly Budge of YourMum Visuals and the exercise will culminate in a live show at Shunt in London. The UK debut will be the first in a series of performances across sub-Saharan Africa between November 2007 and March 2008, Capital learned.
As well as bringing a new kind of visual experience to live performances for audiences in Africa, Bring The Noise also aims to establish new and exciting creative partnerships with musicians and artists across Africa and the UK.

Kenenisa stars in docu- controversy

By Abiy Demilew

One of the leading athletes of the world, and a multi-record holder, Kenenisa Bekele, has fallen into controversy over a documentary, 'Love…keeps me running,' revolving around the athlete's life.
Abiy Fekyebelu, managing director of Abiy International Film, screenplay writer and co-director of the documentary, told Capital that Kenenisa has stopped the film's premiere, which was scheduled to be screened at the launch of the Ethiopian millennium in September 2007.
According to Abiy, differences started to rise between him and the athlete after the finalization of the documentary a year ago as they couldn't come to common understanding and agreement on how to proceed with the issue of screening the documentary.
"I've only received ETB 150,000 from Kenenisa for production costs including actors' fees," says Abiy. "The film is now in the hands of the athlete for the last year, without any action and us failing to benefit from the work."
According Abiy, production took two years with around 100 actors and others involved including leading athlete Major Haile Gebresellasie, athlete Tariku Bekele, former athlete and currently coach Tolossa Kotu, singer Habtemichael Demisse, actor Yinebeb Tamiru.
Capital's repeated attempts to contact Kenenisa were unsuccessful. However, on February 27, Kenenisa told Amharic weekly The Reporter that the film 'encroaches on his current private life' and that he is dissatisfied with the production quality of the film.
Abiy disclosed to Capital, that the central theme of the movie circles around the athlete and his late wife, Alem Techale
and that everything was done in full agreement with Kenenisa.
"There was no point in Kenenisa's complaint about the quality standard of the film since the entire production was made by a team of professionals from the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation (LBC) at the Sheraton Hotel," says Abiy.
"After the finalization, we have both invited guests to critique the story and production quality, and we received appreciation for the quality of work we created," Abiy recalled.
"Love…keeps me running", a two hour work, is directed by Lebanese Elie Abi AAD, with Abiy involved as assistant director.
Asked about efforts to solve the dispute through negotiation, Abiy told Capital that he was forced to address the issue in the media after negotiations failed and the athlete resorted to 'verbally threatening me.'
In a letter sealed and signed by Kenenisa and headlined Kenenisa Bekele Trading, Kenenisa solicits the support and cooperation of all concerned bodies to Abiy International Films.
"I've made this movie only out of love and respect of the athlete, not for profit," says Abiy, "But still, I need my rights respected as per the agreement."
Various attempts made to contact Kenenissa remained unsuccessful all through the week.
Capital learned a negotiation effort has been started by unmentioned artists on Saturday, before Capital went for print.

AAU to host Addis Book Fair, 2008

By Abiy Demilew

The Addis Ababa University (AAU) is hosting a one week book fair, the Addis Book Fair 2008, in its premises between 10 - 17March 2008.
Organized by the AAU Press, the fair will offer more than 10.000 books of various categories and types for public exhibition and sale.
Professor Masresha Fetene, Director of the AAU Press told Capital that the goal of organizing the book fair is to play a role in promoting a reading culture in Ethiopia.
“This is one of the ways of promoting reading,” Masresha said, “When people have access to different types of books, then not only will they have chances but also choices of books to read and learn.”
According Masresha, the book fair involves local book printers, distributors and shops to display their books, besides the international displays.
“Local writers and authors are also invited to read pages out of their books for the audience,” says the professor, “including a discussion on book distribution and reading culture in Ethiopia.”
The fair is set up in a parking lot of AAU’s main campus premises to host both the academic community and the public at large, according to professor Masresha, in an exclusive with Capital.
“We used to host book different book exhibitions previously within the academy, now we are opening the chance to anyone who is interested in books at affordable prices;” Masresha disclosed Capital.
Addis Ababa University, the oldest institution of higher education in Ethiopia, is playing a significant role in a mission to enlarge the nation’s capacity in higher education. According to Andreas Eshete, President of AAU, Addis Ababa University is undertaking measures to foster swift growth in programs of graduate studies and research.
“Over the past two years, graduate admissions have increased 400%. New programs of graduate study in areas critical to democratic and social development have been introduced to enrich the more than one hundred existing graduate programs,” among them are The School of Journalism and Communication and The School of Social Work, according Andreas Eshete.
According to the president, the AAU is therefore now prepared to meet the growing needs for academic staff in other Ethiopian institutions of higher education while meeting rising demand for professional staff in the private and public sectors.

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Moenco inaugurates showroom

MORE Women exporters awarded

Johnny Ragga in big Accra concert

Kenenisa stars in docu- controversy

AAU to host Addis Book Fair, 2008

Ethiopia ranked 169 in HDI Sub-Saharan nations to lose out on $26 bln due to climate change

Explosion at CBE Merkato Branch

NBE gold scandal brewing

Ethiopian textile and apparel industries set for stimulation

British firm submits Awash study to deputy PM

7 years on… Tilahun et al still not served verdict

Commission files charges against Tesfaye Birru

AU Celebrating Africa Enviroment Day

First Int’l conference on medical education organized

Harar revitalization forum kicks off Labeled world heritage town

Leather sector on the rise

“What is at stake is the future of Ethiopia!” Dr. Yakob Hailemariam

Slow food to abridge farmers’ production-distribution chain

African civil society organizations in global politics

DACA chief appointed to head PHARMID

UNMEE moves to Asmara

Country Trading plc to establish TV assembly

Prices remain high despite high cereal production

AAC celebrating Ethiopian Millennium

Chinese companies to construct Addis-Adama express way Adama–Asela road project completed

Moenco inaugurates showroom

Women exporters awarded

Johnny Ragga in big Accra concert

Kenenisa stars in docu- controversy

AAU to host Addis Book Fair, 2008

Ethiopia ranked 169 in HDI
Sub-Saharan nations to lose out on $26 bln due to climate change

MORE
British firm submits Awash study to deputy PM

MORE
7 years on… Tilahun et al still not served verdict

MORE
First Int’l conference on medical education organized

MORE
Harar revitalization forum kicks off
Labeled world heritage town

MORE
Leather sector on the rise

MORE
“What is at stake is the future of Ethiopia!”
Dr. Yakob Hailemariam

MORE
African civil society organizations in global politics

MORE
Country Trading plc to establish TV assembly

MORE
AAC celebrating Ethiopian Millennium

Chinese companies to construct Addis-Adama express way
Adama–Asela road project completed

MORE
Women exporters awarded

Ethiopia ranked 169 in HDI
Sub-Saharan nations to lose out on $26 bln due to climate change

Harar revitalization forum kicks off
Labeled world heritage town

“What is at stake is the future of Ethiopia!”
Dr. Yakob Hailemariam

Chinese companies to construct Addis-Adama express way
Adama–Asela road project completed