Bamboo has a potential to generate 12 bln Birr annually

The Eastern Africa Bamboo Project has reportedly undertaken various tasks to generate foreign currency for the country by developing the bamboo resource, the project disclosed. Over 12 billion Birr can be generated every year if the country’s bamboo resource is properly utilized. A number of tasks are being carried out to put to use the huge bamboo resource in Ethiopia and to get access to local and international markets for bamboo products. The project is mainly executed by the federal micro and small scale enterprise development agency found under Trade and Industry Ministry as well as the Agriculture and Rural Development. Sample Products with a view to enhancing the project’s capacity, a pilot bamboo training center is also established by importing machineries from China. The Ethiopian government established the training center last year with the assistance of “Common Fund for Commodities (CFC)” and the UNIDO.
If the one million hectares of the country’s bamboo resource is properly utilized, some 12 billion Birr can be generated annually. Trainings were provided for 33 Ethiopian and 10 Kenyan trainees by veteran professionals from Latin America and Asia here in Addis. Bamboo products of the trainees are also being demonstrated at an exhibition. (Walta)

Ministry, Samaria Carpets Plc sign mining agreement

The Ministry of Mines and Energy has signed agreement with Samaria Carpets Plc. On Friday which allows the later to mine potassium chloride and magnesium chloride at large scale in Danakil Depression, Afar State. Minister of Mines and Energy, Alemayehu Tegenu, and Company’s General Manager Moshe Goren signed the agreement. The agreement gives the company the right to mine potassium chloride and magnesium chloride on 112,609 sq. mt for the coming twenty years. The activities of the company with over 549.7 million Birr capital is believed to create 52 jobs, the ministry told ENA on Friday. Some 67 privately owned exploration and mining companies having 118 licenses are operating all over the country in the mining sector. (ENA)

14.5mln USD secured from textile, garment exports

The Ministry of Trade and Industry announced that an income of 14.5 million dollars was earned in the concluded budget year from the export of textile and garments. The income is gained by exporting 3,000, 351 tons of textile and garment to various parts of the world. Although the amount exported is less than that of the same period of last year, it exceeds in terms of income. Italy stood first by importing textile and garment worth 3.6 million dollars. The destinations for the textile and garment exported are the U.S.A, Europe, Asia, and Africa. (Walta)

ERCS to celebrate International First Aid Day

The International First Aid Day Will be celebrated on 13 Sept. 2008 throughout the world, the Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS) announced. The Society said the day will be celebrated on 13 Sep 2008 in Addis Ababa City with various events in ten branch offices of the society at the presence 600 volunteers and 150 members. Celebrating the day will enable the society to raise awareness of the public on the significance of first aid to protect and save human lives.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies introduced World First Aid Day in 2000, More than 100 Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies around the world organize events and ceremonies on the second Saturday of September every year in a bid to raise public awareness on the mission of the society. (ENA)

Japanese trade, investment delegation to visit Ethiopia

A Japanese delegation led by Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Nobuhide Minorikawa, will visit Ethiopia from September 14th to 16th, 2008 as head of joint mission to promote trade and investment in East Africa, including Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. The Mission comprises members from government officials, government affiliated organizations and business leaders of various sectors, the release said, adding that it will meet Ethiopian government and business leaders as well as visit sites in order to exchange ideas and understand the situation regarding the potential for trade and investment. The Mission will make a courtesy call on the President and hold meetings with State Minister of Trade and Industry, Finance and Economic Development, Mines and Energy as well as Agriculture and Rural Development. It will also visit commodity exchange market and floricultural firm. (Walta)

CORHA to provide reproductive health, VCT services in 15 higher institutions

Consortium of Reproductive Health Associations (CORHA), a Non-Governmental Organization, has finalized preparations to provide reproductive health and voluntary HIV/AIDS counseling and testing services in 15 governmental universities and colleges in collaboration with partners this academic year, the Consortium disclosed. In collaboration with humanitarian organizations, has been providing training for health professional working in 11 universities as well as reproductive health and HIV/AIDS counseling and testing services to students last academic year. CORHA envisages expanding it services to additional 4 universities this Ethiopian year. Jimma, Gondar, Bahir Dar and Addis Ababa universities are the new recipient universities of the service this academic year. The service being provided in the higher learning institutions would help make available the necessary reproductive health information to students by strengthening the facility in clinics and anti HIV/AIDS and reproductive health clubs in the institutions. Preparations have also been made to work in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Education as well as universities so to make the activities to be undertake in the higher learning institutions successful. (ENA)