Administration executing over 5mln birr dev't works to cut youth unemployment

The Diredawa provisional administration said it has been executing various micro and small-scale development works that create employment opportunities to the youth by allocating 5.1 million birr. Deputy Mayor of Diredawa and Trade and Industry Coordination Bureau Head, Ahmed Buh, told WIC today that the activities are being carried out in nine kebeles of the administration.
Wood and metal works, construction, textile and garment, merchandise, vegetables and fruits development are among the activities underway, he added. Some 295 people have received training on wood and metal works, tailoring and weaving, the Deputy Mayor said, adding that 3,427 people, half of whom were women, secured jobs in the budget year.The provisional administration has also been supporting the youth by providing loan, supplying materials and establishing market places, he indicated. (Walta)

Woreda expanding social service facilities with 21 mln Birr

Various development works are underway with more than 21 million Birr budget in Moja na' Wedera Woreda of north Shoa zone, Woreda Administrator said. Ayenew Tegabe said that construction of 13 health stations, primary school and farmers' training center is being carried out with a view to alleviating shortage of social service facilities in the area. Moreover, drilling of 32 water wells and construction of 20 kilometers road that interlink kebeles in the Woreda is underway, he added.
Owing to the efforts made to introduce modern agriculture technology and utilization of fertilizers, the volume of agriculture products in the Woreda has grown by three fold and reached to 323,000 quintals this production year. In the education sector, the number of schools in the Woreda has reached to 32, while the number of students attending their education reached to 17,000. The administrator further said that 16 health service facilities constructed at various places are rendering service to the public. The newly constructed health service facilities have pushed health service coverage in the Woreda to 79 percent. Through the efforts made to enable residents of rural areas beneficiaries of safe water, provision of safe water in the Woreda has reached to 35 percent, according to the administrator. Seven of the rural kebeles in the Woreda are enjoying electric power service. (ENA)

Ministry constructing dry ports with 60mln birr

The construction of two dry ports has been underway with 60 million birr, according to the Ministry of Transport and Communications. Speaking at the recent federal and states transport and communications consultative conference here, Transport and Communications Minister Juneydi Sado said the dry ports are being built in Mojo and Semera towns.
The construction of the ports would enable to preserve and efficiently use import and export goods, he added. The dry ports under construction are up to standard and would help send and receive goods from Sudan, Kenya, Djibouti and Somalia in particular, the minister indicated. The first phase construction of the ports would be finalized this budget year and the second will follow in the next budget year, Juneydi disclosed. (Walta)

More than 42,000 people undergo VCT

More than 42,000 people received Voluntary Counseling and HIV/AIDS blood test (VCT) service over the past seven months in Jimma zone, zonal health office said. The VCT service was rendered at hospitals, health stations and mobile VCT centers, HIV /AIDS control team leader with the office, Tassew Berhanu said on Monday. Of those who received the service 668 were tested HIV/AIDS positive. The number of people who got the VCT service during the reported period exceeds that of same period last year by 37,000. The team leader ascribed the rise in the number of people who undergo VCT to the awareness raising efforts and community discussions carried out at all levels. (ENA)

Investors licensed with over 2.8bln birr capital go operational in East Shoa Zone

Entrepreneurs licensed in East Shoa Zone of Oromia State with more than 2.8 billion birr capital in the past five years have gone operational, according to the zonal investment office. Office Project Monitoring Expert Alemu Regasa told WIC that 24 of the 59 investors are engaged in industry, 13 in vegetables and fruit, 12 in horticultural development and seven in service delivery and other sectors in 11 woredas of the zone.
Out of the investors that were given over 1,683 hectares of land five are foreigners, he said, adding that the projects have created more than 24,000 jobs. Some 587 investors licensed with 6.2 billion birr capital have also been undertaking construction works, he stated. (Walta)

Unions to supply 120 million Birr worth fertilizers to farmers

Unions in South Ethiopia Peoples' State would supply 250, 000 quintals of fertilizers worth 120 million Birr to farmers, the state agricultural and rural development bureau said. Bureau head, Mulugeta Fetene told ENA on Tuesday that the unions import the stated amount of fertilizers , which is part of the required 670, 000 quintals of fertilizer for the coming harvest season. The head said a union in Silte Zone has so far supplied 41 million Birr worth fertilizers to market. Farmers have already purchased 20 million Birr worth fertilizers in cash. State Chief, Shiferaw Shigute on his part said preparations are finalized to provide sufficient amount of fertilizers on time. Some 2.2 million farmers are engaged in various agriculture extension programs in the current harvest season.(ENA)

EEPCo upgrading power with over 15.3mln birr to localities facing shortage in Amhara State

The Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation said it has been undertaking power boosting activities in parts of Amhara State facing power shortage with more than 15.3 million birr. EEPCo North West Region District Head Fente Misikir told WIC today that the works would enable to supply adequate power to Debretabor and Adet towns with acute electric power shortage in the budget year. The corporation is channeling electric power supply from Woreta and Bahirdar towns with huge power supply to towns with power shortages, he said, adding that 90 percent of the installation works have been finalized. Upon completion by the end of the budget year, the project would fully solve power disruption in those areas facing shortage, he indicated. The district is also extending lines to provide electric power for 74 woreda and rural towns without electricity in the budget year, it was learnt.(Walta)

Youth center built with 1.5 mln birr inaugurated in Nefas Silk Lafto Sub-city

A youth center built with 1.5 million birr in Nefas Silk Lafto Sub-city was inaugurated over the weekend. Speaking at the inaugural ceremony the sub-city youth, residents and women forums coalition chairman, Habtamu Ayalew, said the attention given by the government to realize youth packages has encouraged the youth to directly participate in the packages.He further said the youth should take a leading role in development activities as well as in building democracy, peace and good governance.
The youth center has a library, training and recreation room as well as service delivery rooms, it was learnt. Nefas Silk Lafto Sub-city Chief Executive, Abdulwahid Mohammed on his part said the government has been working hard to make the youth take part in building the country. The establishment of youth centers at kebele level is a manifestation of its efforts, he underscored. Sub-city leaders, residents and invited guests attended the inaugural ceremony. (Walta)