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

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’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

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.

The FDRE House of Peoples Representatives has decided with a majority vote and eight abstentions to hold the 6^th 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

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