New announcement concerning the Amhara and Oromia Regional State amended housing scheme. Please click on the following links to access the documents:
State Minister Hirut bids farewell to the outgoing Italian Ambassador
State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Hirut Zemene bade farewell to the outgoing Italian Ambassador to Ethiopia, Giuseppe Mistretta on Friday the 29th of September 2017.
On the ocassion, the State Minister thanked the Ambassador for his outstanding efforts to elevate the Ethio-Italian relations during his tenure.
Mrs. Hirut also emphasized the need to further promote the long-standing bilateral ties between Ethiopia and Italy as well as strengthen cooperation in regional and multilateral fora.
Ethiopia Signs Financing Agreement with the World Bank
On 29 September 2017, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia signed two Financing Agreements amounting to USD 1.3 billion (approximately ETB 30.37 billion) in the form of loan and grant with the World Bank at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Cooperation (MoFEC).
The proceeds from the first Financing Agreement amounting to USD 700 million credit will be used for the implementation of the Enhancing Shared Prosperity through Equitable Services (ESPES) Program. This Additional Financing will support the achievement of the Program objective of improving equitable access to basic services and strengthen accountability systems at the decentralized level in five sectors namely education, health, agriculture, water supply and sanitation, and rural roads through inter-governmental fiscal transfers.
The second Financing Agreement amounting to USD 600 million in the form of grant will be used to finance the implementation of Ethiopian Rural Productive Safety Net Project (ERPSNP). The proceeds from the Grant will be used for the improvement of the effectiveness and scalability of Ethiopia’s rural safety net system.
H.E. Dr. Abraham Tekeste, Minister, Ministry of Finance and Economic Cooperation and Ms. Carolyn Turk, World Bank Country Director for Ethiopia Sudan and South Sudan, signed the agreements on behalf of the Ethiopian Government and the World Bank respectively.
Source: MOFEC.
Prime Minister Hailemariam met with President of Finland in New York
On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting, Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn met today the president of the Republic of Finland Saudi Niinisto and discussed on matters of mutual interest.
During the discussion President Niinisto noted that Ethiopia Ethiopia and Finland have long standing relationship and commended Ethiopia’s contribution in stabilizing the Horn of Africa region.
Ethiopia’s economic growth is recognizable, said president Niinisto, as one of the fastest in the world while recognized the pressure on Ethiopia from the flow refugees’ due to conflicts in the region.
Prime Minister Hailemariam extends his thanks to the support Ethiopia is getting from Finland, and said, mainly the support to the education sector is productive and qualitative.
With regards to the economic environment, the Premier explained that the government is trying to improve the business climate and reform programs to improve our system underway. These reform programs, according to him would enable Ethiopia to attract more business from Finland and other European countries.
On the security matters, Prime minister Hailemariam explained the security challenges in the region, especially of the source of refugees in Eritrea. He said that the young Eritreans leave their country because of the policy of the government and that has resulted to a demographic problem in the country.
As Ethiopia strives to fight poverty, it wants peace to prevail in the region, and Eritrea is not an exception, he said. Hence, Ethiopia offers several times for dialogue to solve the border problem and asks international partners to put press on Eritrea to have civilized dialogue.
Finally, the Prime Minister reaffirmed the President of the Republic of Finland and to work closely with his country in various global issues.
Source: Ethiopian Mission, UN
Ethiopia, Italy Sign Cooperation Framework
The governments of Ethiopia and Italy on Friday signed a cooperation framework that would last for three years.
The cooperation framework is crucial to support the efforts of the Ethiopian government to achieve comprehensive and sustainable development.
Comprehensive and sustainable agricultural development, accessibility of basic services, governance and building capacity of refugees are the focal areas in the cooperation framework, it was indicated.
Through the framework, the government of Italy will extend 125 million Euros development assistance. Of the total assistance the 45 million Euros has extended in the form of grant, while 80 million Euro in the form of loan.
Out of the total assistance 64 million USD will be used to finance the construction of agro-processing parks, value chain development, enterprenerial development, leather industry and drought resilient projects.
The remaining money will be used to carry out the projects for potable water supply and sanitation, health service provision in rural areas, and for expenditures related to administration and migration.
The accord was inked by State Minister of Finance and Economic Cooperation, Admasu Nebebe, and Italian Ambassador to Ethiopia, Giuseppe Mistretta.
Dr. Workneh receives credentials of German & Swedish Ambassadors
Foreign Minister Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu received copies of credentials of Ambassador Brita Wagener of the Republic of Germany and Ambassador Torbjorn Pettersson of Sweden on the 14th of September 2017.
Minister Workneh took note of the already strong bilateral ties between Ethiopia and the Republic of Germany. He also described Germany as a key partner to Ethiopia’s development endeavor. Ambassador Mrs. Brita Wagener, on her part, said her country is keen to further engage with Ethiopia in areas of economic cooperation.
Holding talks with Ambassador Torbjorn Pettersson of Sweden, Dr. Workneh underlined Ethiopia’s readiness to work
more closely with Sweden, adding that the bilateral cooperation would be strengthened further ahead. Ambassador Torbjorn Pettersson mentioned that the two sides have signed a new developmental cooperation agreement, which he said, would open a new venue for engagement and collaboration. The Ambassador also revealed that anchor Swedish companies would recently come to Ethiopia to engage in various investment sectors in the country.
Ethiopian Prime Minister: “We will continue to defeat long rooted arch-enemy, poverty”
“We are defeating our long rooted arch-enemy – poverty – since the beginning of the third Ethiopian millennium and we will continue to do so”, said Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn.
The Premier addressed tens of thousands of Ethiopians gathered Sunday night at the millennium hall to celebrate the 2010 Ethiopian New Year.
Recalling that the country has witnessed an average of 10 percent growth over the past more than ten years, Hailemariam said all Ethiopians should further advance their strong commitment in achieving the country’s development goals.
Modernizing agriculture, industrial development, strengthening small and medium enterprises, and attracting FDI are among the priority areas in the New Year, he pointed out.
He also said that an extensive work will be done to equip the youth with the up to date technologies while creating an abundance job opportunities in urban areas.
In addition, empowering women and make them active participants of and beneficiaries from the overall development of the country is also continue to be a priority.
Speaking of politics, the Premier said activities geared towards maintaining the multi-party system and enhance the democratization process will further be continued.
The government, as a continuation of its in-depth evaluation, will work to root out any poor governance and rent-seeking attitude, he emphasized.
Noting that Ethiopians had managed to maintain the unity even during in times of adversity, the Premier urged the public to continue to strengthen the culture of peaceful coexistence and harmony.
Hailemariam wished that the 2010 Ethiopian Year be a year of peace, unity, and development. (ENA)
State Minister Hirut welcomes newly appointed EU Ambassador
On the 13th of September 2017, State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hirut Zemene received the newly appointed European Union Ambassador for European Union (EU) office in Addis Ababa, Mr Johan Borgstam.
The State Minister emphasized that the government of Ethiopia attaches significant importance to its relations with the EU.
Hirut added that Ethiopia is looking forward to strengthening the strategic partnership with the European Union on key areas of cooperation, including migration, terrorism, job compact, EU-Africa relations.
Ambassador Johan Borgstam commended Ethiopia’s Open-Door Policy for refugees from neighboring countries, adding that the EU is open for further discussion and collaboration with Ethiopia in all areas of engagement.
He also emphasized that the cooperation between Ethiopia and the EU should be further strengthened through the strategic partnership, which he said, has been key to address a range of common concerns.
Source: Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Information for the Ethiopian diaspora living in the Benelux countries about the Power of Attorney
Government ready to bring Ethiopia’s growth in new year into new high
Preparations have been made to cope with any challenges and bring Ethiopia’s growth in the new year into a new high, said Government Communication Affairs Office (GCAO).
In a press conference he issued on the 9th of September 2017, Office Minister Dr Negeri Lencho, said the government has attached prime attention towards carrying out successfully works in the new year through integrating peace, unity, democracy and development.
Ethiopia launched a ten-day celebration on August 30 to welcome the new near, which is starting on Monday the 11th of September.
The events include Day of Love, Mothers’ and Children’s Day, Elders’ Day, Peace Day, Reading Day, Green Development Day, Respect Day, National Feelings Day, Unity Day and Ethiopia Day.
The celebration contributed a lot in inspiring Ethiopian people for enduring peace and enhanced development in the new year, Dr Negeri told journalists.
The government will toughen its strategy of solving problems before they arise, he said, adding it has been solving the boundary disputes which arose between Oromia and Ethiopian Somali as well as between Amhara and Tigra regional states.
He said the government has made preparations to improve the economic growth of the country by completing mega projects, attracting more investments and coping with emergencies, including drought.
The government would also intensify ongoing fight against corruption in the new year, he said, urging the public to do their part for the success of government’s new year plan.
Dr Negeri finally wished all Ethiopians a new year of peace and health.