Addis Ababa, 3 February 2015 (WIC) – Ethiopia has been showing strong engagement in agriculture and infrastructure development, the issues incorporated in Africa’s Agenda 2063, AU Commissioners said.The commissioners stated that the country is showing good progress in the two sectors included in the agenda.

Rural Development and Agriculture Commissioner, Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, said in order to eradicate poverty, the continent has prepared a comprehensive agricultural development program that would help it eradicate famine and reduce poverty. Ethiopia is among the few countries that met the goals of the program by allocating 10 percent of its budget, exceeding the 6 percent proposed for agricultural growth in the agenda, she added. According to the commissioner, Ethiopia has also shown good performance in agricultural research technologies, marketing network, and extension.

Infrastructure and Energy Commissioner, Dr. El Ham M.A Ibrahim, said on his part the country has been undertaking encouraging work by creating comprehensive infrastructural network in the continent. Its decision to make use of the support the commission has been extending to countries developing renewable energy shows the attention it has given to the sector, according to the commissioner. Its activities to realize the integration of the continent in infrastructure development through railway and the determination to implement the Yamasakoru declaration with respect to creating free flight routes to continental airlines is admirable, Dr. El Ham M.A Ibrahim stated. (ENA)

Foreign Minister Dr. Tedros Adhanom met Mr. Bert Koenders, Foreign Minister of the Netherlands, on the margins of the 24th Assembly of the Heads of State and Government at the headquarters of the African Union today (January 31). The two sides exchanged views on bilateral and regional matters. Dr. Tedros underlined the need to encourage trade and investment and build on the growing Netherlands’ investments in Ethiopia especially in the area of floriculture and horticulture. Mr. Koenders said Ethiopia’s fast and equitable economic growth provided important lessons in balancing growth and equitable development. He said the Netherlands appreciated Ethiopia’s significant contributions to UN and AU peacekeeping missions and noted his country’s desire to work with Ethiopia and Africa in peacekeeping. They also discussed AMISOM’s contribution to Somalia and the Netherlands contribution in helping resolve the Mali crisis. Dr. Tedros highlighted Ethiopia’s firm commitment to support peace and security in the region, with the example of the role being played by Ethiopia forces in Abyei, in South Sudan and in Somalia. He noted that Ethiopia is hosting more than 600,000 refugees from neighboring countries making it one of the leading refugee-hosting countries in the world. Mr. Koenders hailed Ethiopia’s open door policy in hosting refugees and expressed the desire to work closely with Ethiopia. Dr. Tedros welcomed the growing bilateral relations between the two countries and thanked Netherland for its support to Ethiopia’s development efforts. He appreciated Netherlands interest in working with Ethiopia in issues of migration and refugees.

On 29 January 2015, Foreign Minister Dr. Tedros Adhanom held discussions with Dr. Nicholas Wescott, Managing Director of African Affairs of the European External Action Service, Alexander Rondos, Special Envoy of European Union to the Horn of Africa, and Ambassador Chantal Hebberecht, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Ethiopia. The focus was on the regional political and security situation and on ways to strengthen cooperation between Ethiopia and the European Union. Dr. Tedros emphasized that Ethiopia appreciated the EU’s support to Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa, one of the most vulnerable regions in the continent. He underlined the need to sustain this support to keep up the momentum of positive change. In regard to Somalia, Dr Tedros noted the remarkable progress made in consolidating fragile security situation with the removal of Al-Shabaab from a number of key strategic towns. He pointed out that, despite some hiccups, the building institutions and formation of regional states has shown encouraging progress. The Jubaland process, he said, is serving as a successful model for the South West Administration with indications that Central Somalia will follow suit. At the same time he stressed that the leadership of the Federal Government of Somalia needed to take practical steps to meet the goals of its Vision 2016. Dr. Tedros underlined that Ethiopia would continue supporting Somalia on the basis of the needs and priorities set by the Federal Government to realize a stable, secure and vibrant Somalia. Speaking on Eritrea, Dr. Tedros noted that the regime in Asmara remained determined to continue its policy of destabilizing the region. There had been no change in its behavior. He said: “Hosting rebels from neighboring countries, Eritrea has chosen the path of destruction rather than cooperation and mutual development”. He said it was imperative that the UN imposed sanctions to stop Asmara from disturbing the regional peace were fully implemented. Dr. Tedros also reiterated the urgent need to end the conflict in South Sudan and bring durable peace there. He said IGAD was continuing to work towards producing incremental changes, building on the agreed points of forming a national unity government in a manner that can provide a real solution. Mr. Wescott, noting Ethiopia’s important role in the regional peace and security efforts, also underlined the need for AMISOM to aggressively engage in removing the threat of Al-Shabaab altogether while accelerating the political process in Somalia. He said he shared the view that there was an urgent necessity to end the conflict in South Sudan he reaffirmed the European Union’s support to the IGAD-led mediation process. The EU delegation and Dr. Tedros also exchanged views regarding Ethiopia’s upcoming national election in May. Dr. Tedros explained that the pre-election process was on schedule and there had been impressive and substantial voter registration. He said the Government and the ruling party were taking all necessary measures to make sure that the election would be held in a manner that ensured widespread participation by the public and by all political parties.
Source: MFA

Addis Ababa, 28 January 2015 (WIC) – A new private equity firm based in Mauritius, Ascent Capital, is looking forward to financing local businesses including start-ups in Ethiopia.

The company on Friday officially opened its office in Addis Ababa in Abyssinia Mall near Bole Medhayialem Church. Lucas Kranck, managing partner, told Reporters that Ascent Capital has raised USD 50 million to be invested in Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia.

Kranck, one of the founders of Ascent, said his company is committed to invest 20 million dollars in Ethiopia over the next three years. The amount could be raised ten times in three years time.

The fund is based in Mauritius and has offices in Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya. The fund will invest in mid-size companies with a minimum revenue of USD two million.

“This could go as high as USD 10 million. We will have a ten-year lifetime to exist,” Kranck said. The fund’s life is ten years with a possible extension of two. The company hopes to repay the money to its investors within ten years’ time and exit from business.

“It is equity capital; it is not debt. We share the risk and the reward. We invest between USD 2-5 million per company. If everything goes well, which we hope it will, then we share the reward but if things do not go well we share the risk as well. And, of course, we target good dynamic Ethiopian entrepreneurs and there are many of them in this country,” Kranck said.

Michael Mebaselassie, principal and country director of Ascent Capital, said that the fast economic growth, political stability and huge population make Ethiopia attractive for investment. “Ethiopia has been registering a dramatic economic growth in the past years and there are attractive and promising companies to work with,” Michael said. (Reporter)

Addis Ababa, 27 January 2015 (WIC) – Low Emission Low Carbon Transfer (LCET) Program that enhances and promotes Ultra-Low Head Micro Hydro Power (ULH-MHP) technologies for productive uses in Ethiopia was launched last Saturday at Adama Town.

Officially launching the pilot program that will be implemented at Fentale Wereda, Oromia Regional State, Alemayehu Tegenu Water, Irrigation and Energy (MoWIE) Minister said the emphasis on developing the nation’s renewable source of energy is one of the major targets of the country.

According to him, the overriding development agenda of the country is to sustain rapid and broad based economic progress. In this regard, significant results are being registered.
During the GTP II emphasis will be given to the utilization of improved technologies that speed up environmental friendly technological transformation, he said.

Alemayehu further noted that, using progressive and sustainable environmentally friendly technologies, the country aspires to register remarkable economic growth thus marching to make poverty history, the Minister added.
According to him, access to social services has increased and the level of poverty is diminishing from time to time. Besides expanding rural electrification, technologies like Ultra-Low Head Micro Hydro Power are significant to increase agricultural productivity, job creation and create value chain among different economic sectors.

Alemayehu also said in an effort to achieve economic progress the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, UNIDO, is contributing a lot to the industrial development of Ethiopia.
Speaking on his part, Kazuhiro Suzuki, Ambassador of Japan to Ethiopia stated that, Japan is working hard to improve the energy situation in Ethiopia through various schemes.
According to Suzuki, as part of its scheme Japan is providing support to Ethiopia in the field of climate change through formulation of plans related to water supply and resources, as well as through projects aimed to improve water supply, hygiene, and livelihoods in rural areas.

He also said that “Japan is working hard to improve the energy situation in Ethiopia. This will be accomplished in the future by joint efforts of both private and public sectors, including Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), so that Japan as a whole, can tackle various challenges associated with developing and implementing a new technology hand in hand with Ethiopia, for the sake of global environmental conservation.”
Suzuki said, Ethiopia is the first among African countries that signed a bilateral document with Japan on the Joint Crediting Mechanisms (JCM), which enhances the reduction of carbon emission.
The UNIDO Project in Fentale has been implemented to formulate specific projects under JCM, he said.

Acknowledging Ethiopian economic progress, Jean Bagambanya Bakole, UNIDO Representative and Director of Regional Office in Ethiopia said that UNIDO is glad to be associated with the process of Ethiopia’s transformation which is indeed an African home grown development success story.

Oromia Water Mineral and Energy Bureau Head Motuma Mekasa, said at the event that, in addition to increasing agricultural produces, when the project is implemented, it will open another window of hope to access modern and clean energy.

“This will definitely improve the life of the population. When scaled up, it will improve the life of millions who live far from the Grid,” Motuma said.
Enhancing local capacity and promoting ultra-low head micro hydro power technologies for productive uses in Ethiopia Project is a program funded by through the technical cooperation of UNIDO. (EH)

Addis Ababa, 26 January 2015 (WIC) – Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Tedros Adhanom received on Sunday (January 25) a Norwegian delegation led by Foreign Minister, Borge Brende.

The bilateral discussions of the two Foreign Ministers dwelt on numerous issues of common interest. Both Ministers exchanged views on the promotion of Ethio-Norway partnership and expanding the depth, breadth and scale of the relations of the two friendly countries.

Dr Tedros gave a briefing on Ethiopia’s renaissance journey, the ongoing IGAD-led peace talks as well as IGAD’s role in supporting the South Sudanese warring parties end conflict and advance the cause of peace and stability. Dr. Tedros noted that Ethiopia will remain committed to advancing peace and stability in the region and attaches special importance to dialogue to resolve disputes.

He also recalled the successful conclusion of the 53rd Extraordinary Meeting of the IGAD Council of Ministers held in Mogadishu on January 10, adding that the very fact that meeting was held in Mogadishu tells a lot about the improving security situation in Somalia.

Foreign Minister Borge Brende on his part noted that his visit to Addis Ababa is a demonstration of Norway’s commitment for the further strengthening of the bilateral ties with Ethiopia.

He also underscored that Norway stood committed to step up its cooperation with Ethiopia. The Foreign Minister underlined the need for further consolidation of the bilateral partnership of the two countries.

Borge Brende noted that Norway’s Foreign Affairs Ministry is prposing placing Ethiopia among the six focus countries for development cooperation program.

Dr Tedros expressed his gratitude to Norwegian Foreign Affairs Ministry’s decision to make Ethiopia as one of the six priority countries in the country’s development cooperation program. This, he said, would help Ethiopia’s efforts to realize a carbon-free middle- income country status by 2025.

Both sides reached a consensus in jointly pushing cooperation forward in many areas including climate change, education, private sector engagement, trade and investment. (MoFA)

Addis Ababa, 23 January 2015 (WIC) – Melca Ethiopia, a local NGO with a vision to see bio-cultural diversity conserved for a healthy eco-system and sustainable life is helping Ethiopia boosts forest bio-sphere reserves.
The organization which has been able to set aside 238,750 hectares of Sheka zone, as a forest bio-sphere, containing over 300 higher plants, 50 mammals, 200 birds and 200 amphibian species ,out of which 55 plants and 10 birds are endemic is gearing up to help even more forest areas for the benefit of the local population.

The reserve also has 38 big waterfalls, 13 caves, 38 mineral water and hot springs as well as two lakes and a number of sacred natural sites.
It plans in the next few months to have a similar bio-sphere reserve in the Majang zone to augment the nearby Sheka forest reserve.

Dr. Million Belay, Director of Melca Ethiopia which together with local authorities has devised several other bio-spheres, stated at a ceremony on December 27, held in Tep town 609 kms SW of Addis Ababa celebrating the first Sheka and Majang Cultural bio-diversity day that protecting forests is more than meets the eye.

“Bio-sphere reserves aren’t only there to protect forests, but also has other aims such as keeping tradition, as was done with Yayu, Keffa, and Sheka which are UNESCO recognized bio-sphere reserve” stated Belay adding that another aim to conserve this forest is to preserve its indigenous knowledge of the forest and traditional diversity through the generations.
Melca states that out of the 238,750 has of bio-sphere area, 55,255 is classified as a core zone devoted to long term protection of the natural forest, devoid of human interference except for bee keeping, medical plants collection and ritual ceremonies among a select few activities.

While the buffer zone which covers 76,395 has is devoted for both conservation and economic use functions except such as logging, intensive agriculture, investment and hunting are allowed.
The third zone dubbed transitional zone, covering 107,100 has is a development zone where all activities for livelihood of the local community in a sustainable manner can be undertaken.
Belay while stating that bio-sphere reserves have direct benefits such as for lumber, food, yarn and health, they also have indirect benefits too.

These include in keeping rivers running and clean, and keeping temperatures balanced which would without forest presence lead to soil erosion, polluting the river as well as causing erratic weather patterns.
“In the age of climate change, we need lots of flora and fauna species to combat its effect, which are persistent and unpredictable” stated Belay adding that his organization plans to hold the second cultural bio-diversity event in Majang Zone, which is slated to have the next UNESCO recognized bio-sphere with participants from other bio-spheres around Ethiopia to participate to learn and exchange knowledge.

Image: gaiafoundation.org

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Addis Ababa, late on Wednesday (January 21) on the first stage of an official visit to countries in the Horn of Africa. President Erdogan is accompanied by his wife and daughter, Emine and Summeye Erdogan, as well as ministers including Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtuand, a delegation of officials and businessmen. The President was received by Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn and Osman Riza Yavuzalp, the Turkish ambassador in Ethiopia. On Thursday (January 22), President Erdogan held meetings with President Dr. Mulatu Teshome and Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn as well as other officials. President Mulatu was Ethiopia’s former ambassador to Ankara. Ewnetu Belata, State Minister of the Government Communications Affairs Office said “”President Erdogan is most welcome in Ethiopia at this time when the partnership between the two countries has reached a record high.” He said “Turkey leads the pack of industrialized countries in terms of foreign direct investment in Ethiopia, with more than 350 Turkish companies operating in Ethiopia to date and they have created jobs to more than 50,000 Ethiopians,” as well as providing for technology and knowledge transfer. According to the Turkish Ambassador to Ethiopia, Osman Riza Yavuzalp, Turkish investment in Ethiopia stands at US$3 billion. President Erdogan’s three-day visit to the Horn of Africa, which will include a visit to Djibouti where he will hold talks with President Ismail Omar Guelleh, is part of Turkey’s efforts to strengthen trade, economic and investment ties in the region. According to Turkish government data, the volume of trade between Ethiopia and Turkey reached US$422 million in 2013, and in the first 11 months of 2014 it was US$360 million, seven percent down on the previous period in 2013. A statement from the Turkish Presidential Palace said Turkey had “increasing economic, trade and investment ties with the countries in the region especially with Ethiopia.” It added that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit aimed to further strengthen and deepen the continued growth of these business ties as well as long-standing relations with Ethiopia and the region.

Addis Ababa January 20/2015 The number of voters registered during the past 10 days has jumped over 23 million, according to National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE). NEBE Public Relations Director, Demisew Benti, told ENA that 23,289,852 voters were registered up until Sunday, January 18, 2014. Of the total registered voters, close to 11.3 are female, he said. The registration shows the active participation of voters and the momentum should be kept until the final day of registration, February 12, 2015, the director stated. Some 35 million voters are expected to get registered for the May Election.

Source: http://www.ena.gov.et/en/index.php/politics/item/275-over-23-million-voters-registered-nebe#sthash.dDhywgfh.dpuf