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Ethiopia Launches Tourism Promotion And Marketing Forum

Foreign Affairs Ministry has established a joint Tourism Promotion and Marketing Forum in a view to make Ethiopia a major destination.

The joint forum to be led by Business Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs State Minister at Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tsion Teklu incorporates all stakeholders working in the tourism sector.

Culture and Tourism Ministry, Tourism Ethiopia, Hotels, Tour Operators, Officers of Tourism Marketing Associations are included in the joint forum.

The joint forum put in place directives aimed to lead the tourism promotion and marketing sector in collaboration with the private sector.

Members entities in the forum discussed ways of redirecting actors of the tourism sector in to the industry based on World Travel and Tourism Council criteria.

Source: FBC

Ethiopia Calls For Digital Financial Services To Boost Women’s Economic Opportunities

Ethiopia’s State Minister of Finance Dr. Eyob Tekalign has called on Africa to promote digital financial services to boost women’s economic opportunities.

He made the call yesterday at a panel of G7 and African countries during the 75th United Nations (UN) General Assembly.

Dr. Eyob said, “Although many African governments are doing much more to harness digital technologies to build more inclusive economies, much remains to be done to ensure women benefit from the digital advancements, especially those that live in rural and marginalized communities.”

He added, “improving women’s access, use, and control over financial services enable them, especially the poorest women, to achieve the same status, power, and opportunities as men resulting in dramatic social changes that propel society forward.”

Furthermore, Dr. Eyob, noted how the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of digital services encouraging the use of digital payment services.

In particular, he explained how for emerging economies, the challenges from the pandemic have brought more opportunities to promote financial inclusion objectives through the use of technology.

Source: FBC

Ethiopia Lifts COVID-19 Restrictions On Tourism, Sporting Events

The House of People’s Representatives (HPR) has lifted restrictions imposed on the tourism industry and sporting events.

Ethiopia introduced the restrictions on the travel industry and sporting events in March this year due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In its urgent session held today, the House decided the tourism sector to go ahead and sports events to take place in accordance with the precaution measures recommended by the Ministry of Health.

Ethiopia Decides To Hold The 6th General Election In Adherence To COVID-19 Precautions

The FDRE House of Peoples Representatives has decided with a majority vote and eight abstentions to hold the 6th general elections in adherence to COVID-19 precautionary measures based on the recommendations forwarded by the Ministry of Health.

The decision came after the house assessed the report from Women, Youth, Social Affairs and Legal, Justice, and Democratic Affairs Standing Committees submitted regarding the recommendations forwarded by the Ministry of Health to hold the elections with the observance of guidelines put in place to protect the spread of the virus.

The Resolution No 16/2020 tabled by Chairperson of Women, Youth, and Social Affairs Standing Committee, Abeba Yoseph regarding the endorsement of the recommendation on national elections has been passed by members of the parliament with a majority vote and eight abstentions.

The house has so far approved appointments of ministries and nomination of Federal Court’s judges.

Source: FBC

Ministry Briefs Resident Ambassadors On “Dine For Nation” Project

Foreign Affairs Ministry has briefed resident Ambassadors on “Dine for Nation” Project which aims to expand beautification and greenery works across the nation.

In his opening remarks on the briefing session, Foreign Affairs Minister, Gedu Andargachew told the resident ambassadors that the already completed “Dine for Sheger” Project has transformed Addis Ababa, a diplomatic seat, in many aspects.

The projects launched by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed under the “Dine for Nation” National Scheme will be implemented in a way to creating jobs in addition to building a green resilient economy and transforming the image of the country, Gedu explained to the Ambassadors.

The Foreign Affairs Minister further called upon the diplomatic community to contribute support to the National Greenery and Beautification Projects.

Innovation and Technology Minister, Dr. Abrham Belay, Director General of Ethiopian Road Authorities, and Manger of the Gorgora Project, Dr. Fiseha Tegegn have tabled presentations highlighting the implementation of the projects.

Source: FBC

PM Inaugurates Artificial Intelligence (AI) Center

The center was designed to support young entrepreneurs through capacity building and research excellence.

It will be a site for the development of functional and problem solving technological innovations.

The opening of the center is expected to modernize various sectors and facilitate the transition to digital economy.

It would also help to save both time and money by replacing human labor with technologies.

The establishment of the center was approved by the Council of Minister early this year.

The Prime Minister seized the opportunity to caution all Ethiopians locally and abroad to not be tools of money laundering.

“Amidst a period of currency change, I call upon all Ethiopia loving Diaspora to use appropriate channels of remittance to ensure that you’re not a channel for illicit currency transfers,” he said.

Last Monday, Ethiopia introduced new banknotes that have enhanced security features and other distinctive elements.

The new banknotes replace the birr 10, 50, and 100 notes while an additional birr 200 note has also been unveiled.

Source: FBC

Ethiopia Begins Distribution Of New Currency Notes

The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) has begun the distribution of new banknotes.

NBE Governor Yinager Dessie and President of Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) Abie Sano launched the distribution yesterday at the CBE-Addis Ababa branch.

The Government of Ethiopia last Monday introduced the new currency notes that have enhanced security features and other distinctive elements.

The new currency notes replace the birr 10, 50, and 100 notes while an additional birr 200 note has also been unveiled.

The birr 5 note remains unchanged and will be turned into a coin format soon.

The currency change is aimed at gathering currency circulating informally and outside of financial institutions.

It also intended to curb corruption and contraband as well as support financial institutions to confront currency shortage.

According to NBE, new banknotes worth 2.9 billion birr have been printed for distribution. Some 3.7 billion birr was spent on printing the new banknotes.

Sources: FBC

Enterprises, Investors Contribute 225M Birr To “Dine For Nation” Project

Some 15 enterprises and investors have purchased dinner coupons amounting 225 Million Birr in support of the “Dine for Nation” national project which aspires to expand greenery and beautification stride across the country.

The enterprises and the investors bought the dining coupons at a fundraising event summoned by Deputy Mayor of Addis Ababa, Adanech Abiebie.

A national committee in charged with succeeding fundraising endeavors has been formed comprising experienced businesspersons, renowned public figures and investors in the country.

Deputy Mayor Adanech awarded recognition for individuals and enterprises that contributed their shares to the success of the “Dine for Sheger” project, the first version of the initiative.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has officially launched ‘Dine for the Nation’ program on August 16, 2020, to mobilize funds for three nationwide greenery and beautification projects in Amhara, Oromia, and Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Regions.

Source: FBC

EU Contributes 86.8M Birr To Ethiopia To Support Locust Affected Communities

The European Union (EU) has contributed 86.8 Million Birr to UNICEF to provide nutrition support for communities affected by desert locusts in Ethiopia.

The donation aims to extend humanitarian assistance to vulnerable communities affected by desert locusts in the Afar, Amhara, Oromia, Somali, and Tigray regions.

The funding is being made available through the EU’s Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations directorate-general (ECHO).

The support is in addition to 2.4 million Euros the EU provided to UNICEF in May 2020 to address the nutrition impact of multiple hazards such as climate-induced recurrent droughts, disease outbreaks, and internal displacements in the Afar, Somali, and Oromia regions, said Yassine Gaba, the Head of the EU Humanitarian Aid’s office in Ethiopia.

“As one of the largest humanitarian donors in the world, the EU is committed to supporting efforts to address urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia”, he said.

Source: FBC