Ethiopia and Sweden have agreed to enhance the already strong relations and further reinforce the bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

This has been emphasized during a meeting between State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Hirut Zemene and Ambassador Anna Karin Enestrom, Director General for Political Affairs at the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on 14 February 2017.

On the Occasion, State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Hirut Zemene acknowledged the excellent socio-economic and political ties between Ethiopia and Sweden.

The State Minister also took note of the importance of expanding the bilateral cooperation across a wide spectrum of areas, including the need to deepen political consultation, enhance trade and investment ties, and boost the partnership on climate change as well as work together on UNSC platforms.

Mrs. Hirut further called for enhanced involvement of Swedish investors in the agro-processing and manufacturing sectors.

Ambassador Anna Karin Enestrom on her part noted that Sweden fully recognizes Ethiopia’s commitment and of significant contribution towards ensuring peace and stability in the Horn of Africa region and beyond.

As both Ethiopia and Sweden have joined the United Nations Security Council as non-permanent members, the Ambassador emphasized that her country is keen to work more closely with Ethiopia on a range of regional and international issues.

The Ethiopian Investment Commission says Ethiopia has managed to attract anchor companies during the first six months of the current Ethiopian budget year (2016-2017) despite being under a state of emergency.

Commissioner Fitsum Arega told the Ethiopian News Agency that ten major Chinese companies have decided to invest in Ethiopia, half of them licensed in textile and garment manufacturing industries. They include Jiangsu Sunshine Group which engages in wool textiles and garments, biological pharmacy, real estate, energy, thermal electricity, IT industry, and others businesses in China and internationally, and has decided to invest in Ethiopia with close to US$1 billion.

The Commissioner said this decision clearly showed Ethiopia remained a favorable investment destination for anchor companies, with China the leading country in terms of capital and engagement in manufacturing industry, and India second during the first half year.

He said the Government’s ongoing direction was not focusing on increasing the number of participants coming as investors but rather aiming to attract “giant, effective companies which could meet the targets of both the company and the country”.

The Commission had, therefore, changed its way of licensing projects, giving priority to those companies with a high profile and which would change the projects into action.

He underlined that the peace and stability which continued to prevail in the country, ongoing infrastructure development including railway, road and energy developments were among the attractions.

Other factors were a trainable workforce, competitive wages, a fast growing economy, strong government support from the government, and a favorable investment climate.

(EBC; February 9, 2017) – Diplomatic works on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) have borne fruit, Office of the National Council for the Coordination of Public Participation on the Construction of the GERD has said.

According to Dr. Debretsion Gebremichael, Office Board Chairman, Ethiopia has exerted unrelenting diplomatic efforts to show to the world that GERD would have no negative environmental impacts on downstream countries.

The efforts have produced a positive stance among the Nile riparian countries, said Dr. Debretsion, who is also Minister of Communication and Information Technology and Coordinator of Finance and Economy Cluster with the rank of Deputy Prime Minister.

The minister made the remarks on Wednesday during a discussion forum on EBC regarding diplomatic efforts and ongoing collaborative works on GERD.

It was also noted on the occasion that a 6km road race bringing together some 650 thousand Ethiopians from all walks of life would be held on March 5, 2017 under the motto “We run for GERD” as part of fundraisers for the grand project.

Reporter: Dawit Tasew

Source: http://www.ebc.et/web/ennews/-/diplomatic-works-on-gerd-have-borne-fruit-dr-debretsion

The European Union has announced the launch of a $47.46 billion Africa Economic Development Fund aimed at helping Nigeria and other African countries drive economic growth and development.

According to the Vice-President of EU Digital Single Market, Andrus Ansip, at a press conference in Lagos, the EU is developing a strategic framework for the implementation and disbursement of the fund. He said the EU was also designing security measures to ensure it is effectively and efficiently disbursed.

He said the fund would go a long way to reduce the number of refugees arriving in Europe. In a press conference, he said disbursements from the fund would be available in first quarter 2018, providing credits to help developing economies cover identified risks to attract foreign direct investments.

In the latest of a number of measures pushed by the European Union to stop refugees reaching Europe Italy launched a new fund of €200 million a week ago to help African countries control their borders.

On Friday last week, EU leaders also gave their backing to a new drive to stem African migration to Europe.

It includes stepping up training of Libya’s coastguard and financing for UN agencies for refugees and migration to improve conditions for refugees in Libya.

Source: MFA Ethiopia

Reuters – French grain co-operative group Axereal is to build a malt processing factory in Ethiopia and expand capacity at its export hub in Belgium as it seeks to tap into rising demand for beer in emerging market countries.

Axereal is one of France’s biggest grain handlers and its Boortmalt division is also one of the world’s largest malt makers, behind fellow French groups Soufflet and Vivescia.

In Ethiopia, Boortmalt will develop a malt processing site with an annual capacity of 60,000 tonnes, with the aim of starting production by the end of 2018, Axereal said on Tuesday.

“The market for beer is growing in emerging countries, and in Africa in particular,” it said in a statement.

“Axereal Group will leverage its expertise by working alongside its brewing customers to develop local barley and malt production in these countries,” it added.

Boortmalt will also add a fourth production facility at the Belgian port of Antwerp, which will make its hub there the world’s largest malt production site with 470,000 tonnes in annual capacity, it said.

Financial details of the investments were not disclosed.

Rising worldwide consumption of beer, in which grain-based malt is a key ingredient, has led Boortmalt’s 10 existing malt factories in Europe to run at full capacity of 1.1 million tonnes, Axereal said.

The planned investments will bring its total annual malt capacity to 1.3 million tonnes, the company added.

http://www.reuters.com/article/grains-axereal-malt-idUSL5N1FS2JC

The Ethiopian Embassy, together with Ethiopian Airlines and five tour operators from Ethiopia colorfully promoted Ethiopia at the Brussels holiday fair “Salon des Vacances” from 2-4 February 2017. On the 2nd of February, the Ethiopian stand was officially inaugurated jointly with the Embassy and Ethiopian Airlines and on Saturday 4th of February, a cultural performance was presented. Coffee ceremonies took place throughout the fair.

Contingent and Globeleqe Consortium secured over 850 million USD for the construction of Genale Dawa VI hydropower project, first ever independently owned private hydropower investment in the country.

President Dr. Mulatu Teshome and Company representatives held talks on the investment process in Ethiopia yesterday.

Genale Dawa VI is one of the hydropower projects identified and studied at pre-feasibility level in the ongoing Genale-Dawa River Basin Integrated Resources Development Master Plan Study Project.

The powerhouse would be located in Filtu Woreda, Liben Zone of Ethiopia Somali State, whereas the dam would take shape in the Oromia State. Once completed in five years time, the plant would have an installed generation capacity of 250 MW, Consortium Strategic Director Alexander Stewart said.

He also added that the project would offer jobs for over 55, 000 employees.

“We had very productive meeting with the President and discussed the longstanding history of cooperation between Ethiopia and the UK. We are very keen on starting the project and have strong conviction that we get full support from the Ethiopian side. We had huge investment so far and we are ready to go forward,” he noted.

Stewart further said that the capital, which is a primarily prerequisite, for the investment had already been secured hence project is scheduled to start this year.

For his part, Cambridge Industries Company Managing Director Samuel Alemayew told journalists that the companies are reputable and experienced in managing independent power generation plants in Africa.

A three year impact assessment has been completed and the company is excited to secure the capital needed for the investment, he said, highlighting up to 27,000 hectares of land would be available for irrigation.

The generated power would be sold to government power utility and other interested private companies, added Samuel.

By Desta Gebrehiwot / The Ethiopian Herald

Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn said activities are underway to realize country’s structural economic transformation.

As part of the move, the premier laid a cornerstone on Thursday for the construction of Bure Integrated Agro-Industrial Park in southwest of the Amhara state.

Speaking at the occasion, Prime Minister Hailemariam said the park would bring  immense benefits for the farmers of the state.

He also noted that efforts are underway to create a strong link  between the agriculture and industry sectors.

The Premier also urged pertinent stakeholders to exert joint efforts in providing the needed input  for the park.

Amhara State Chief  Gedu Andargachew for his part expressed readiness to provide the necessary support for the park.

Upon completion, Bure Park will have 60 factories with a combined capacity of earning over 14 billion Birr annually.

Article by Yohannes Jemaneh, The Ethiopian Herald

State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Aklilu Hailemikael met with Chief of Cabinet of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Mr. Ovais Sarmad on the margins of the 28th AU Summit on Tuesday (January 31, 2017), during which the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to advance cooperation in areas of engaging the Diaspora to national development, and boosting partnership on migration management, and mitigation of Climate Change.

State Minister Dr. Aklilu commended IOM’s contribution to Ethiopia’s efforts of engaging the Diaspora to national development, particularly noting the organization’s support in the formulation of Ethiopia’s Diaspora Engagement Policy.

The Organization is working closely with Ethiopia in the efforts of actively involving the Diaspora in the economic development of the country through investment, technology and skills transfer, remittances, and image building of their country, Dr. Aklilu noted.

He said IOM has the potential to work closely with Ethiopia in the country’s New Diaspora Mapping project implementations. He pointed out that Diaspora engagement brings comprehensive development and well-being to a country as well as generates benefit for the Diaspora themselves.

Mr. Ovais Sarmad praised the support the Government of Ethiopia extended in the implementation of IOM’s Projects. He said, “We acknowledge the support and cooperation we have with Ethiopia.”

He added IOM is currently working in concert with the Government of Ethiopia in areas of Diaspora engagement, migration and management of displaced people and repatriation of citizens.

The two sides also shared global best experiences in engaging Diaspora to national development, among which the experiences of Mexico and India were taken note of.

Under-Secretary General and Executive Director of UNAIDS, Michel Sidibe upon meeting Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu in Addis Ababa on the margins of the 28th AU Summit on Tuesday (January 31, 2017) praised Ethiopia’s achievements in the health sector.

During their discussion, Mr.Sidibe appreciated Ethiopia for closely working with UNAIDS and noted that the country’s achievements in the health sector, particularly meeting the health-related Millennium Development Goals was significantly commendable.

He also reiterated his Organization’s commitment to continue to support Ethiopia in a bid to help the country meet the globally set plan of ending AIDS epidemic in 2030. Dr. Workineh on his side thanked UNAIDS for the support it has been offering to Ethiopia in the purduit of containing the AIDS epidemic. In such regards, the Minister mentioned Ethiopia’s health policy and particularly its preventive strategy.

The two sides have agreed to boost their collaboration against ending AIDS by 2030.