The 37th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union kicked off on Tuesday with a virtual video conference.

In the opening session, the Council has adopted the budget for the AU for the year 2021.

The Council has also endorsed the theme of the year 2021: “Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers to building the Africa We Want”.

Speaking at the occasion, Minister of the Foreign Affairs Ethiopia, Gedu Andargachew, suggested that the 2021 budget of the Commission would consider the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic potential of member states.

He also appreciated the Permanent Representative Committee for successfully handling the reform agenda of the Commission amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Minister expressed his hope that the Commission would implement the reform agenda giving due attention to competence and relevance to the requirements that the jobs demand.

The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa, Naledi Mandisa Pandor has chaired the session.

The session will continue tomorrow with the remaining agenda items and will be concluded by adopting its decisions.

Source: FBC

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs briefed resident ambassadors and the diplomatic community in Addis Ababa on current national issues.

The briefing mainly focused on Ethiopia’s postponed 6th general elections, the current COVID 19 situation, and the unconstitutional regional election that took place in Tigray.

Ethiopia postponed the elections due to the COVID-19 pandemic by taking all necessary constitutional procedures, the Ethiopian officials told the diplomats.

However, Tigray conducted a regional election in breach of the constitution. The House of Federation passed a decision that makes the election unconstitutional and unacceptable, they said.

Source: FBC

President Sahle-Work Zewde said a flag is one of few things that hold together pride, dignity, and patriotism in a community.

The 13th Ethiopian National Flag Day was celebrated in all regional states and the two city administrations today under the theme, “Our Flag for Our Peace, Unity, and Prosperity.”

In Addis Ababa, it was celebrated in the premises of the Ethiopian parliament in the presence of the President and Speaker of the parliament, Tagesse Chafo, among others.

President Sahle-Work on the occasion said that a flag is an emblem of freedom, sovereignty, and unity of a nation.

Ethiopia is one of the countries with a long history of flag, she said, adding the sacrifice paid for it allowed Ethiopians to walk with their heads held high.

As Ethiopia requires the contribution of all individuals now more than ever, let’s stand together under the umbrella of the national flag, said the President.

Speaker of the parliament, Tagesse Chafo, said this year’s celebration comes at a time when the country is in a new chapter of reforms, thereby creating a good opportunity to raise the flag high.

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) project has reached 76.35% completion, said the Ministry of Water, Irrigation, and Energy (MoWIE).

Dr. Seleshi Bekele, Minister of Water, Irrigation, and Energy briefed journalists on his ministry’s quarterly performance in areas of access to safe water and sanitation, irrigation, and energy.

The performance of the project increased by 2.5% to 76.35% in the first quarter owing to efforts made to enable the dam to start generating power with two turbines this Ethiopian fiscal year (2020/21), he said.

As per the plan, the two turbines will begin generating power this fiscal year, the Minister confirmed.

Dr. Seleshi further stated that the recent decision by the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority banning all flights over the dam is intended to avoid security threats.

In his briefing, the Minister described the quarterly performance achievements in access to safe water and sanitation as well as electricity as encouraging, according to EBC.

Source: FBC

President Sahle-Work Zewde held talks with the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the Commission, Josep Borrell.

Borrell was accompanied by Janez Lenarcic, European Commissioner for Crisis Management in charge of European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid.

After the discussion, President Sahle-Work tweeted that “I had a fruitful discussion” with Josep Borrell.

Borrell also met with Gedu Andargachew, Ethiopia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs to exchange views on ways of strengthening relations between the Union and Ethiopia.

Gedu took the opportunity to thank the European Union member states for the comprehensive support they extend to the development endeavors of Ethiopia.

He also provided a briefing to Borrell on the ongoing Ethiopian socioeconomic reforms, the status of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) talks, and Ethiopia’s critical role in peace-building activities in the region.

Borrell commended the reforms in Ethiopia and reiterated that the EU would continue to assist the Ethiopian Government in this regard.

Source: FBC

Stressing the strong partnership between ‘Team Europe’ and the African Union in response to COVID-19 pandemic, the European Union is sending a Humanitarian Air Bridge flight to Ethiopia delivering 7.5 tons of coronavirus testing kits to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. They are part of third batch of the overall 1.4 million test kits delivered.

EU High Representative Josep Borrell and EU Commissioner Janez Lenarčič will take part in a handover ceremony at the Bole International Airport.

Following the handover ceremony, they will continue their visit, meeting Chairperson Moussa Faki and other interlocutors of the African Union, to discuss the AU-EU Partnership and the upcoming Summit of 2021, as well as with the Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and other members of the government, to discuss EU-Ethiopia relations.

The trip will continue in the Somali region, with a visit to a refugee camp in Qoloji and a nutrition project in Jijiga, supported by ECHO, European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations.

Source: eeas.europa.eu

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed inaugurates Bahir Dar Industrial Park built at 75 ha of land comprising eight factory sheds.

The inauguration ceremony has been attended by First Lady Zinash Tayachew and high government officials including Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gedu Andargachew, among others.

“Enhancing the manufacturing sector is one of the key pillars of our Home Grown Economic Reform unveiled in 2019.” the premier stressed, adding “Hence the expansion of such parks will facilitate our industrial development goals together with the enabling environment we are working to create for investments.”

The industrial park has greater importance in boosting job creation endeavors to transform the manufacturing sector in the area, the premier said on the occasion.

Prime Minister Abiy said the Country has completed the construction of all thirteen industrial parks which were under construction across the nation.

The premier underlined that the industrial parks will be integrated with agro-processing in a view to modernizing the agricultural sector.

Bahir Dar Industrial park has finalized screening works to create jobs for more than 4,000 individuals and will engage 10,000 more manpower when it goes fully operational in two shifts.

And, it is expected to double job opportunities when the second phase of its working sheds is completed.

People who are displaced from the area due to the development of the park are given priority in job opportunities.

Source: FBC

Ethiopians and nationals of Ethiopia origin celebrated Meskel in Brussels, Belgium.
On the occasion, H.E Ambassador Hirut Zemene represented the Embassy as a guest of honor in lighting up the Demera (bonfire) accompanied by priests, members of the Ethiopian community, and invited guests in Brussels.
Ambassador Hirut wished all Ethiopians around the world a Happy Meskel and Demera Festivity.
Meskel is a UNESCO inlisted intangible heritage of humanity commemorated in memory of the finding of the true cross. According to Ethiopian Orthodox Christian tradition, the national holiday marks the finding of the true cross that Jesus was crucified on. Celebrated on September 27 (Mesekerem 17, according to Ethiopian calendar), this festival has religious and cultural features.

Ducaju Group from Meulebeke, Belgium has donated 32,000 face masks to Ethiopia for the fight against COVID-19. The masks will go to a major health project in Addis Ababa by the Rotary club in the capital city.

CEO of Ducaju Group, member of the Rotary Club, Geert Casselman said: “This initiative is a form of gratitude on our part, and it also illustrates that we certainly in a difficult period to achieve more by working together, across borders.”

The Group, from Meulebeke, made efforts in corona virus crisis to produce the first Belgian surgical masks on a large scale. The Chinese machines for surgical mask production came to the Meulebeke via a cargo flight from Ethiopian Airlines with the necessary support of a Rotarian interclub committee and the Embassy of Ethiopia in Brussels.

Ministry of Water, Irrigation, and Energy announced a plan that aims to address all citizens of the country with access to electric power in 2030.

Ministry reiterated a commitment to ensure unswerving electric supply and food security backed by an improved irrigation development scheme in the next ten years.

Addressing leadership and employees convened to discuss the ten-year master plan of the Ministry, the Minister, Dr. Sileshi Bekele said that efforts are being maximized to realize dependable electric supply that will contribute to social and economic transformation in the country.

He stressed a need to address energy wastage seen during the distribution and transmission of electricity from power stations.

The master plan looks envisage substituting imports by local produces by transforming the irrigation development endeavors, Dr. Sileshi underlined, adding that the sector prioritizes the creation of more jobs to the youths across the nation.

Source: FBC