Ethiopia is working to improve the provision of education to refugees sheltering in camps in the country through the Administration for Refugee and Returnees Affairs (ARRA). Through the activities carried out so far,  gross enrolment rate in primary education for refugees has reached 70.5 percent in 2017, according to ARRA. Currently, some 177,745 refugees are enrolled in primary, secondary, pre-school, and alternative education in refugee camps in various parts of the country. Ethiopia hosts more than 850,000 refugees mainly from Eritrea, Somalia and South Sudan in 27 camps.

The primary education enrolment rate has increased by 8.5 percent compared to the previous year.  Through the campaign conducted under the motto of “No school-age child shall be out of school”, the institution has managed to ensure some 20,573 new enrolments in 2017. Construction of schools and deployment of qualified teachers are also among the activities that ARRA is engaged.

Education in Emergency Team Leader at Save the Children, Abera Mekonen told ENA that efforts are being exerted to improve refugees’ access to education in collaboration with the government and other stakeholders. The support covers childhood care, early childhood education, primary education and alternative basic education. “Education is very important even in an emergency, it is a sign of stability, and school is a centre of safety and protection.”

In addition to enabling refugees to attend primary education; ARRA has also been working on secondary and tertiary school programs for refugees by providing scholarships.

The government has provided scholarships for refugees, mainly Eritreans, since 2010; however, the program was opened for refugees from South Sudan and Somalia since in 2012. Some 2,386 refugees have so far joined public universities through government scholarship program. In 2017 alone, some 514 refugees have joined public universities through the program.

Ethiopia is home to the world’s 5th largest refugee population, hosting more than 850,000 refugees.

The Ethiopian government said on 3 January that it has generated more than 334 million U.S. dollars from the export of coffee to the global market during the past five months.

The announcement by the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Development and Marketing Authority on Wednesday said that the east African country has secured the reported amount of revenue from the export of 92,136 tons of coffee to the global market.

Ethiopia is one of Africa’s largest producers of Arabica coffee, in which coffee production is dubbed as the backbone of the country’s agriculture-led economy.

The east African country had generated a record 866 million U.S. dollars from the export of coffee last Ethiopian fiscal year from the export of 221,000 tons of coffee to 56 countries worldwide.

Ethiopia’s coffee export earnings for the 2016/2017 fiscal year saw a 92 percent achievement of the initial target, which was set by the state-owned Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Development and Marketing Authority.

Germany, Saudi Arabia, the United States, Belgium, Sudan and South Korea were among the top importers of the Ethiopian coffee, accounting for close to 86 percent of the total coffee exported from Ethiopia last fiscal year.

 

 

 

Ethiopia is among the 17 economies which are projected to grow faster than China in Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) terms this year, according to projections in the Global Economy Watch published by international professional services firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC). The other countries include India, Ghana, and the Philippines. The PwC analysis added that eight of the ten fastest growing countries in 2018 could be in Africa.

According to PwC, China, the world’s largest economy in PPP terms, could grow by 6 to 7 percent in 2018, slower than previously, but in line with expectations. The global economy is set to grow by almost 4.0 percent this year in PPP terms, adding an extra 5 trillion USD to global output at current values. The main engines of the global economy — the United States, emerging Asia and the Eurozone — are expected to contribute almost 70 percent of economic growth in 2018, compared with their post-2000 average of around 60 percent.

The United Nations had in its world economic prospects report launched early last month stated that the world economy is expected to remain stable in 2018 and 2019, maintaining the growth rate of 3.0 percent in 2017.

http://www.malaysiandigest.com/business/715888-ethiopia-among-few-economies-seen-growing-faster-than-china-in-ppp-terms-in-2018-says-pwc.html

The Chinese-built 756-km electrified rail project connecting Ethiopia to Djibouti officially started commercial operations on 1 January with a ceremony held in Addis Ababa.

Contracted by two Chinese companies, the first 320 km of the rail project from Sebeta to Mieso was carried out by the China Rail Engineering Corporation (CREC), while the remaining 436 km from Mieso to Djibouti port section was built by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC). Speaking on the occasion, Ahmed Shide, Ethiopian Minister of Transport, hailed the standard gauge project as a milestone in China-Africa cooperation.

In addition to further enhancing economic ties as well as the people-to-people links between Ethiopia and Djibouti, it will have a significant contribution to the ongoing development efforts of building a new Ethiopia, said the minister. Emphasizing on its huge significance and importance, Tan Jian, Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia, noted that the project would contribute to the industrialization and diversification of the Ethiopian economy, and also towards the country’s growth and transformation plan. The ambassador has reiterated China’s commitment to further cooperating and closely working with Ethiopia and Djibouti to the railway’s smooth operation. The Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway project has been carried out with an investment of 4 billion U.S. dollars, and China’s Exim Bank has provided a loan.

Speaking on his part, Djibouti Ambassador to Ethiopia, Mohamed Idriss Farah, said the railway project would have a significant contribution to the economic integration between Djibouti and Ethiopia. “This is an important corridor, important railways between Djibouti and Ethiopia; we are working for our economic integration between our two countries. And this project was part of the economic integration, but not only economic integration but also connecting the peoples of Djibouti and Ethiopia,” said the ambassador.

The railway provides both passenger and freight services between Addis Ababa and Djibouti.

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-01/01/c_136865306.htm

Ethiopia has signed an agreement to build two geothermal power plants at a combined cost of $4 billion, to be run by the country’s first privately-owned utility. The Corbetti and Tulu Moye plants will produce a combined 1,000 MW of power upon completion in eight years time in the volcanically-active Rift Valley south of the capital Addis Ababa. Ethiopia is eager to meet rising energy demand from its industries as well as becoming the continent’s biggest exporter of energy.

“No doubt the success of this effort will have a significant impact in the country’s future economic well-being,” said Azeb Asnake, chief executive of state-run Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP). The project’s equity investors include the Paris-based asset manager Meridiam, as well as the Africa Renewable Energy Fund and InfraCo Africa – funds that focus on infrastructure. As Ethiopia’s first privately-owned utility, the project will be operated by the developers for a period of 25 years. In an economy traditionally dominated by state spending, the government has suggested that the nascent sector could be a model for increased private investment.

“Going forward, the government recognises the added value to be gained by working in partnership with the private sector, specifically in sharing with it the burden of investment for large-scale power generation,” said Seleshi Bekele, minister of water, irrigation and electricity.

Under a new 2015-2020 development plan, Addis Ababa wants to raise power generation to 17,346 MW from a current capacity of just over 4,300 MW from hydropower, wind and geothermal sources. It has an array of projects under construction, including the $4.1 billion Grand Renaissance Dam along its share of the Nile river that will churn out 6,000 MW at full capacity upon completion within the next 10 years.

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On 13 December 2017, International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director, Christine Lagarde, arrived in Ethiopia for a historic three-day visit, touring new industrial parks and meeting with government officials. This is the first time in the IMF’s 72-year history that a managing director paid a visit to the Ethiopian capital, as a demonstration of Ethiopia’s growing recognition as an economic hub of Africa.

“We had a very productive discussion about the performance of the Ethiopian economy which is doing very well in terms of growth”, Mrs. Lagarde told journalists following her discussion with President of Ethiopia Mulatu Teshome at the national palace. The Managing Director visited the country to witness for herself the economic development that the country has registered in the past two decades. “I’m very proud to come and visit. I really had a better understanding of the economic development model which has been implemented in Ethiopia” added the Managing Director.

Lagarde also appreciated Ethiopia for hosting 850,000 refugees, which is among the largest refugee population in the world. The IMF head said the work that the country is conducting to bring peace and stability to the Horn of Africa particularly Somali and South Sudan is commendable. During the discussion, President Mulatu who explained about the implementation of country’s pro-poor and inclusive development policy praised IMF for its support to Ethiopia’s economic development. He expressed hope that the visit of the Managing Director will help to further strengthen Ethiopia’s relation with the IMF, according to a high-level official who attended the meeting.

European Union Support to Energizing Development in Ethiopia Project with EUR10, 500,000 was launched in Addis Ababa on 12 December 2017.

During the launching of the project, Water, Irrigation and Electricity State Minister Dr. Frehiwot Woldehanna said adequate, reliable and affordable energy access is a critical enabler in realizing every country’s development and transforming economic prosperity as well as the wellbeing of all its citizens.

He added that the role of energy in improving quality of life through improved health care, improved education and economic opportunities cannot be over emphasized.

The energy provision program launched will include rural and deep rural areas by scaling up connectivity.

The State Minister pointed out that the country will use all renewable energy sources to generate electric power that has less environmental impact to reach to every corner of the country.

GIZ Ethiopia Country Director, Dr. Mathias Rompel said the European Union acknowledges the commitment of Ethiopia to use renewable energy sources.

According to the Country Director, Germany is working with the government of Ethiopia to bring energy transformation in the country from fossil fuels to sustainable energy development.

The European Union Support to Energizing Development in Ethiopia Project will provide a model for work with the private sector, he added.

It will provide modern energy services to individual household, institutions and small and medium size enterprises in Ethiopia, Rompel explained.

This is one of the best performance and outcome based programs in the energy sector, the Country Director said.

EU Infrastructure Team Leader, Giorgia Favero said the project is a solid starting point to support the energy sector in Ethiopia by the European Union.

She stressed that EU is committed to support the solar energy sector in Ethiopia to address energy to the rural community in Ethiopia.

Favero added that EU plans to do a lot in the dynamism of renewable energy development in Ethiopia.

On 12 December 2017, the European Commission announced 13 new actions worth €174.4 million under the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa to support refugees and host communities in the Horn of Africa region.