Experts working in various higher institutions exclusively told FBC that the concluding Ethiopian year has been marked remarkable achievements in Nile politics.

The assertion from the experts has come at a time when Ethiopians are counting down the days to welcome their new year at September 11, 2020.

A Water Politics Researcher at Addis Ababa University, Professor Tesfaye Tafesse said the concluding Ethiopian Year has been laden with a historic milestone for the country has successfully completed the first filling of its Grand Renaissance Dam.

The nation has drawn important lessons from the negotiations and public mobilization held during the year in a way to champion the upcoming diplomatic missions in the same manner for mutual benefit among riparian countries. Professor Tesfaye underlined.

An instructor at Wolayita Sodo University, Nigatu Abebe, to his part, said Ethiopians have managed leave their legacy behind in the Nile politics for their have shown unity and togetherness towards the construction of the dam.

Ethiopians engaged in various fields of expertise have successfully challenged false propaganda and hegemonic concepts that were against Ethiopia’s rights over the Nile Waters through various media outlets.

Scholars and experts have shown their rhetorical abilities during the year to conclude in order to defend national interests of their country, according to Nigatu.

Both shared the same conviction that Ethiopia will complete its diplomatic and political mission on GERD Dam through active participation of the public in knowledge, money, and labor calling for continued collective efforts by purchasing bonds to finance the construction of the dam.

Source: FBC

Center for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI) has welcomed Ethiopia as its 50th member country where it will enjoy a range of benefits including input into CABI’s global development agenda, links to its international network of partners as well as regular consultations to address members’ needs.

Dr. Trevor Nicholls, CEO of CABI, confirmed the signature of the UN-level Treaty on CABI International by the Government of Ethiopia to bring the country into membership of CABI.

The application process of CABI Membership was led by Ethiopia’s Ministry of Agriculture, with whom CABI has a long and beneficial partnership.

Mr. Sani Redi Ahmed, the State Minister, Ministry of Agriculture, who had been championing for Ethiopia’s membership of CABI, said, “The Government of Ethiopia is committed to maximising its potential to ensure greater food security for its citizens as well as extend its capabilities for export of key cash crops including coffee.

“We look forward to working with CABI further in respect of trade, commodities and value chain development, and market access while looking to build better Sanitary and Phytosanitary Systems (SPS), Pest Risk Analysis (PRA) and other aspects of quarantine for invasive species management.”

Other benefits of membership with CABI that Ethiopia now receives include voting rights at CABI Review Conferences and Executive Council meetings as well as access to CABI’s broad range of products, services, programs, and project deliveries and capacity-building activities.

Dr. Nicholls said, “Membership of CABI will not only consolidate existing relations with Ethiopia but will also strengthen our relationship and shared goals of enhancing the country’s capacity to address and mitigate the rising challenges posed by crop pests and diseases amid a changing global climate.”

Ethiopia’s membership of CABI will greatly enhance CABI’s position and capability in helping ensure food security and achieve SDGs in Africa and globally.”

Ethiopia has a large domestic market of over 100 million people, making it the second-most populous country in Africa after Nigeria and has experienced one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.

Source: FBC

During this hard time, the inflow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has enabled Ethiopia to create some 40,000 job opportunities for citizens during the previous budget year, Ethiopian Investment Commission said.
Mekonnen Hailu, Communication Director at EIC told The Ethiopian Herald that despite the global situation, the inflow of FDI has created over 40,000 permanent and temporary job opportunities during the previous budget year. FDI has been contributing its role in the efforts of job creation.
The job opportunities were created in the agriculture, service, and manufacturing industry sectors at Industrial Parks and other industrial areas, he said.
Some 80 percent of the jobs went to women and are believed to help them ease their socio-economic challenges.
However, the commission faced difficulties in achieving its overall plan due to the challenge the COVID-19 outbreak posed.
“Although COVID-19 has been challenging the investment sector, some foreign and local companies have utilized the outbreak to a blessing and disguise and have shifted their operation to the production of personal protective equipment (PPE).
Previously, there was a challenge to meet the local PPE including facemasks demand. Besides generating hard currency, the shift in operation has enabled the country to meet its local demand for PPE at a fair price.

Source : EPA

The Industrial Parks Development Corporation has planned to generate $400 million from exports this Ethiopian budget year.

Creating 45,000 permanent jobs is also part of the plan, said Deribe Debele, Corporate Marketing and Communication Head at the corporation.

There are now 12 industrial parks across the national, of which seven are operational. The remaining five industrial parks will become fully operational this year, he said.

In order to attain the plan, efforts are underway to minimize the COVID-19 challenges, improve infrastructure developments and enhance electric power supply to the parks, he stated.

In addition to completing and making operational the five parks, 17 vacant shades in the old parks will be handed over to investors to achieve the annual plan, he told ENA.

Industrial parks in Ethiopia generated $165 million and created 11, 880 jobs last Ethiopian fiscal year.

The low performances in both job creation and export revenue were mainly due to the COVID-19 challenges and frequent power outages among other things, he said.

Source: FBC

African leaders need to think digital always, especially now as the continent continues to grapple with the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, participants attending the African World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Implementation Meeting on COVID-19 urged.

The participants stated that building a digital future is crucial if the continent is to become globally competitive, survive and claim the 21st century, according to a press release issued on Monday by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

They have also underlined the need for African countries to implement the African Union Commission’s comprehensive Digital Transformation Strategy.

The main objective of the strategy is to serve as a frame of reference in order to achieve the common vision of creating an integrated and inclusive digital society and economy in Africa, it was indicated.

The strategy builds on existing initiatives and frameworks such as the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) to support the development of a Digital Single Market (DSM) for Africa, the press release added.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Regional Director for Africa, Andrew Rugege, said the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has shown the practicality of an information society in combating not only this but other pandemic and crises as well.

“Organizations, governments, private sector, and even individuals are trying to find ways of using ICT to detect, manage and minimize the impact of COVID-19,” he added.

Director of the Technology, Climate Change, and Natural Resources Management Division at the ECA, Jean-Paul Adam said  ICTs  are crucial  to implement the SDGs however, he underscored that “ We can never meet the 2030 target if we do not urgently address the issue of connectivity across the continent.”

Source: ENA

The Executive Secretary of IGAD, Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, received the donation in a handover ceremony held in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa today.

Present at the event were also Gedu Andargachew, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Dr. Lia Tadesse, Minister of health.

Dr. Workneh on the occasion said the donation will contribute its share in reducing the vulnerability of health workers and deaths from the coronavirus.

The donated materials will be mainly used to protect internally displaced persons (IDPs), migrants, and refugees from the virus.

The COVID19 equipment and supplies donated by the Union include 3.5 million surgical masks, 24 ambulances, 8 mobile laboratories and 70,000 testing kits.

The medical supplies will be distributed to Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan and Uganda.

Source: FBC

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed affirmed that Ethiopia will realize unwavering success involving immense potentials of the youth he described as “Architects of the Future”.

The premier underlined that Ethiopia’s Prosperity journey gives emphasis on the creation of skilled and competent leaders besides bringing about concrete changes.

Prospective leaders who stick to accomplish their mission and leave their legacy to the generation are as masterminds of Ethiopia’s better future, the premier stressed.

Citizens who follow a holistic approach rather than focusing on individual affairs and generate solutions to national problems are assets of the country, the premier noted.

The youths who always score triumphant results in their careers downplaying all the ups and downs are architects of the destiny of Ethiopia, the Prime Minister underscored.

The premier expressed the conviction that Ethiopia will certainly realize its unwavering success getting in gear immense potentials of the youth.

Source: FBC

Ethiopia has become the second largest flower exporter in Africa, according to the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA).

The nation had done well in exporting cut flowers during the 2019-20 fiscal year, next to neighbouring Kenya, MoA’s Horticulture State Minister Wondale Habtamu told EPA.

Ethiopia is also ranked as the 5th largest non-EU cut flower exporter to the Netherlands, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Norway, Sweden, UK, the Middle East, and other EU countries, he added.

In a related development, the Ministry of Trade and Industry said the Netherlands is the top destination for Ethiopia exports, followed by the US, Somalia, Saudi Arabia, and Germany.

The country exported more than $320,162 worth products in the concluded fiscal year, which ended on July 7.

Source: FBC

Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed held discussion with Sudan’s Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok in Khartoum today.

The Ethiopian delegation led by Prime Minister Dr. Abiy arrived in Khartoum this morning for an official working visit.

The visit comes at the heels of the one-year anniversary of the signing of Sudan’s constitutional declaration according to a statement issued by the office of the Prime Minister.

During the discussion, Prime Minister Dr. Abiy congratulated the Sudanese government for the millstones achieved since then and for the current on-going political discussions.

The Prime Minister also highlighted that the fate of both countries is intertwined and rooted in longstanding historic and strategic relations.

He reiterated “we are one people, one family,” highlighting that any issues, including in relation to GERD and borders, can be addressed amicably through continued and sustained good-faith discussion.

Sudan’s Prime Minister for his part emphasized the complementary nature of both countries which compels them to work together for mutual benefits.

With strengthened collaborations on the economic front, Ethiopia and Sudan’s economies can be a catalyst for progress in the Horn region and Africa, he said.

Source: FBC