Addis Ababa, May 24 – Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India announced that his government would support the development of a new Ethio-Djibouti Railway line to the tune of 300 million dollars.
At the inaugural ceremony of the Second Africa India Forum Summit, Prime Minister Singh said India would also offer 5 billion USD for the next three years under lines of credit to help achieve the development goals of Africa.
“Under the lines of credit that we offered at the first Summit, we had specifically looked at promoting regional integration through infrastructure development,” Singh said in his address to Heads of States and representatives of 15 African countries. “On the advice of the African Union, I am happy to announce that we would support the development of a new Ethio-Djibouti Railway line to the tune of 300 million USD for this important regional project”.
The Prime Minister also said that India will offer an additional 700 million USD to establish new institutions and training programmes in consultation with the African Union and its institutions.
“Africa possesses all the prerequisites to become a major growth pole of the world in the 21st century,” Singh said. “We will work with Africa to enable it to realize this potential”.
The Prime Minister proposed to establish an India-Africa Food Processing Cluster, Integrated Textiles Cluster, Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting Cluster and an India-Africa Institute of Agriculture and Rural Development.
He also proposed the establishment of an India-Africa Virtual University, which will provide 10,000 new scholarships for African students.
“This, we hope, will help to meet some of the demand in Africa for higher studies in Indian Institutions,” Singh said adding that the current 500 African scholarships per annum would be increased to 900, taking the total commitment for the next three years to more than 22,000.
In support of maintaining peace and security in Africa, Prime Minister Singh said that India would contribute two million USD for the African Union Mission in Somalia.
The Second Africa-India Forum Summit is expected to adopt a Joint Declaration of the Africa – India Partnership (Addis Ababa Declaration) to contain the political commitments of the two sides, as well as an Africa – India Framework for Cooperation when it culminates tomorrow.
Representatives of 15 African countries including Algeria, Burundi, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Libya, Malawi, Namibia, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Swaziland are taking part in the summit.
On the Ethiopian side Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and his Deputy Hailemariam Desalegn, who is also Minister of Foreign Affairs, attended the Summit.
Singh, who co-chaired the Summit with Chairperson of the African Union and President of Equatorial Guinea, Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, is also expected to hold bilateral visits to Ethiopia and Tanzania.
Source..Waltainfo.com
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
ለህዳሴ ግድብ ግንባታ ድጋፍ ቀጥሏል
5-23-23-የቦንድ ግዥና የገንዘብ ድጋፍ ተጠናክሮ ቀጥሏል። ሰዒድ ያሲን የግል ኩባንያና ሠራተኞቹ ለታላቁ የኢትዮጵያ ህዳሴ ግድብ ግንባታ አንድ ነጥብ አንድ ሚሊዮን ብር ድጋፍ አድርገዋል። የኩባንያው ዋና ሥራ አስኪያጅ አቶ ሰዒድ ያሲን እንደገለጹት፤ የግድቡ ግንባታ ተጠናቅቆ አገልግሎት መስጠት ሲጀምር ከማንኛውም የኅብረተሰብ ክፍል በበለጠ ተጠቃሚው የንግዱ ማኅበረሰብ ነው። ንግሥት ለግድቡ ግንባታ መላው ሕዝብ እንዲሳተፍ ላቀረበው ጥሪም ኩባንያው 100 ሺ ብር በስጦታ፣ 900ሺ ብር ደግሞ ከወለድ ነጻ የሆነ ቦንድ ለመግዛት ውሳኔ ላይ ደርሷል።የኩባንያው ሠራተኞች ደግሞ በአንድ ዓመት ተከፍሎ የሚጠናቀቅ የአንድ ወር ደመዛቸውን 100ሺ ብር ለማበርከት ወስነዋል። በዓባይ ወንዝ ላይ የተጀመረው የልማት ፕሮጀክት የኢትዮጵያ ሕዝብ ለዘመናት የነበረውን የረጅም ጊዜ ምኞት ያሳካ መሆኑን ጠቁመው፤ የኩባንያው ድጋፍ የግድቡ ግንባታ ተጠናቆ ለአገልግሎት እስኪበቃ ድረስ አስፈላጊውን ድጋፍ ሁሉ እንደሚያደርግ አረጋግጠዋል።
መላው የንግዱ ማኅበረሰብም በባለቤትነት መንፈስ እያደረገ ያለውን ተሳትፎ አጠናክሮ እንደሚቀጥልም እምነታቸው መሆኑን ገልጸዋል።
ሰዓድ ያሲን ኩባንያ ቡናን ወደ ውጭ በመላክ ንግድ ላይ የተሰማራ የአገር ውስጥ ኩባንያ ነው።
ነገሌ
በጉጂ ዞን የኡራጋ ወረዳ የመንግሥት ሠራተኞችና መምህራን ለታላቁ የኢትዮጵያ ህዳሴ ግድብ ግንባታ የአንድ ወር ደመወዛቸውን ከ980ሺ በላይ ብር ለመለገስ ቃል ገቡ፡፡
የወረዳው ዋና አስተዳዳሪ አቶ ክፍሌ ዋሬ ሰሞኑን እንደገለጹት፤ መምህራኑና ሠራተኞቹ ደመወዛቸውን ለመለገስ ቃል የገቡት በህዳሴው ግደብ ግንባታ ዙሪያ በስፋት ከተወያዩ በኋላ ነው፡፡
እንዲሁም ከደመወዛቸው በተጨማሪ በግልና በቡድን እንደየአቅማቸው ገንዘብ በማዋጣት ቦንድ ለመግዛት ስምምነት ላይ መድረሳቸውንም ጠቁመዋል፡፡
የህዳሴው ግድብ ግንባታ ተጀምሮ እስከሚጠናቀቅም የሚፈለግባቸውን ለማድረግ ቃል መግባታቸውን ዋና አስተዳዳሪው አስታውቀዋል፡፡
ዲላ
በጌዴኦ ዞን የቡሌ ወረዳ የመንግሥት ሠራተኞችና የአመራር አካላት ለታላቁ የኢትዮጵያ ህዳሴ ግድብ ግንባታ የአንድ ወር ደመወዛቸውን ከአንድ ሚሊዮን በላይ ብር ለገሱ።
ሠራተኞቹና የአመራር አባላቱ ደመወዛቸውን ለመለገስ የተስማሙት በግድቡ ግንባታ እንቅስቃሴ ዙሪያ በወረዳው ዋና ከተማ በስፋት ከተወያዩ በኋላ ነው፡፡
እንዲሁም ሠራተኞቹ ከወር ደመወዛቸው በተጨማሪም ቦንድ እንደሚገዙና ግድቡ እስኪጠናቀቅ ድረስም በገንዘባቸው፣ በዕውቀ ታቸውና በጉልበታቸው ድጋፍ ለማድረግ መዘጋጀታቸውንም ገልጸዋል።
የወረዳው ዋና አስተዳዳሪ አቶ ኃይሉ መንገሻ እንደተናገሩት፤ የመንግሥት ሠራተኛው ለህዳሴው ግድብ የሰጠው ድጋፍ ለሀገሩ እድገት ያለውን ጉጉት የሚያሳይ ነው ብለዋል፡፡
ሠራተኛው የጀመረውን ተነሳሽነት በተሰማራበት መስክ ሁሉ በመተግበር ከድህነትና ኋላቀርነት ለመላቀቅ ለሚደረገው ድጋፍ የበኩሉን አስተዋፅኦ እንዲያበረክት አሳስበዋል።
source..http://www.ethpress.gov.et
መላው የንግዱ ማኅበረሰብም በባለቤትነት መንፈስ እያደረገ ያለውን ተሳትፎ አጠናክሮ እንደሚቀጥልም እምነታቸው መሆኑን ገልጸዋል።
ሰዓድ ያሲን ኩባንያ ቡናን ወደ ውጭ በመላክ ንግድ ላይ የተሰማራ የአገር ውስጥ ኩባንያ ነው።
ነገሌ
በጉጂ ዞን የኡራጋ ወረዳ የመንግሥት ሠራተኞችና መምህራን ለታላቁ የኢትዮጵያ ህዳሴ ግድብ ግንባታ የአንድ ወር ደመወዛቸውን ከ980ሺ በላይ ብር ለመለገስ ቃል ገቡ፡፡
የወረዳው ዋና አስተዳዳሪ አቶ ክፍሌ ዋሬ ሰሞኑን እንደገለጹት፤ መምህራኑና ሠራተኞቹ ደመወዛቸውን ለመለገስ ቃል የገቡት በህዳሴው ግደብ ግንባታ ዙሪያ በስፋት ከተወያዩ በኋላ ነው፡፡
እንዲሁም ከደመወዛቸው በተጨማሪ በግልና በቡድን እንደየአቅማቸው ገንዘብ በማዋጣት ቦንድ ለመግዛት ስምምነት ላይ መድረሳቸውንም ጠቁመዋል፡፡
የህዳሴው ግድብ ግንባታ ተጀምሮ እስከሚጠናቀቅም የሚፈለግባቸውን ለማድረግ ቃል መግባታቸውን ዋና አስተዳዳሪው አስታውቀዋል፡፡
ዲላ
በጌዴኦ ዞን የቡሌ ወረዳ የመንግሥት ሠራተኞችና የአመራር አካላት ለታላቁ የኢትዮጵያ ህዳሴ ግድብ ግንባታ የአንድ ወር ደመወዛቸውን ከአንድ ሚሊዮን በላይ ብር ለገሱ።
ሠራተኞቹና የአመራር አባላቱ ደመወዛቸውን ለመለገስ የተስማሙት በግድቡ ግንባታ እንቅስቃሴ ዙሪያ በወረዳው ዋና ከተማ በስፋት ከተወያዩ በኋላ ነው፡፡
እንዲሁም ሠራተኞቹ ከወር ደመወዛቸው በተጨማሪም ቦንድ እንደሚገዙና ግድቡ እስኪጠናቀቅ ድረስም በገንዘባቸው፣ በዕውቀ ታቸውና በጉልበታቸው ድጋፍ ለማድረግ መዘጋጀታቸውንም ገልጸዋል።
የወረዳው ዋና አስተዳዳሪ አቶ ኃይሉ መንገሻ እንደተናገሩት፤ የመንግሥት ሠራተኛው ለህዳሴው ግድብ የሰጠው ድጋፍ ለሀገሩ እድገት ያለውን ጉጉት የሚያሳይ ነው ብለዋል፡፡
ሠራተኛው የጀመረውን ተነሳሽነት በተሰማራበት መስክ ሁሉ በመተግበር ከድህነትና ኋላቀርነት ለመላቀቅ ለሚደረገው ድጋፍ የበኩሉን አስተዋፅኦ እንዲያበረክት አሳስበዋል።
source..http://www.ethpress.gov.et
የኢንዱስትሪ ልማት ተስፋዎች
የመሀከለኛው ክብ ወደ ጐን ለሁለት የተከፈለ ነው። ከታችኛው ክፋይ ባለው ቦታ መዶሻ፣ መሰላል፣ የልብስ መስፊያ ሲንጀር፣ ሌሎች መሣሪያዎች አረንጓዴ ቀለም መደብ ጐልተው ይታያሉ። ከላይኛው ወገን የቢጫ ቀለም መደብ ላይ የኢንዱስትሪ ምልክት በደማቁ ሰፍሯል – ሰባት ዓመታትን ያስቆጠረው የልማት ተጓዥ የጥቃቅንና አነስተኛ ልማት ኤጀንሲ አርማ።አረንጓዴ ቀለም የልምላሜ፣ ቢጫው ደግሞ የብሩህ ተስፋ ምልክት ስለመሆናቸው እርግጥ ነው።
በጠቅላይ ሚኒስትር ጽሕፈት ቤት የመሰብሰቢያ አዳራሽ ኢትዮጵያውያን በሚወዱት ሰንደቅ ዓላማቸው ላይ ያሉ ሁለት የመጀመሪያ ቀለሞችን ወክለው የለበሱ በርካታ የልማት አርበኞች በየወንበራቸው ተቀምጠዋል። ባላጋራቸውን ታግለው የረቱ ባለድል በመሆናቸው የፊታቸው ገፅታ ፈክቷል። ድህነት እንደሚሸነፍ በተግባር ያረጋገጡ የመሆናቸው እውነት ፊታቸው ይናገራል። በተለይ ቢጫውን ጋዋን የለበሱ ኢንተርፕራይዞች ከፊታቸው የቆመውን ችግር በማለፍ፤ መሰላሉን በብዙ ውጣ ውረድ በመውጣት ከግባቸው የደረሱ ናቸው። በዕለቱ ተመርቀው ወደ መካከለኛ ኢንዱስትሪ መሸጋገራቸውን የሚያረጋግጡ የልማት ጀግኖች ናቸው። በነጭ ቲ ሸርት ላይ አረንጓዴውን መቀነት ወደ ጐን ያጠለቁትም ቢሆኑ ከኢንተርፕራይዝነት ወደ ሞዴል ኢንተርፕራይዝነት የተሸጋገሩ በመሆናቸው በደስታ ፈክተዋል።
የአዲስ አበባ ከተማ አስተዳደር ለበርካታ የጥቃቅንና አነስተኛ አንቀሳቃሶች የተለያዩ ድጋፎችን በማድረጉ በሺ የሚቆጠሩ የከተማ ነዋሪዎች በዘርፉ እንዲታቀፉ ማድረጉን መረጃዎች ያመለክታሉ። ከደቂቃ ሙት ውስጥ 250 ኢንተርፕራይዞች ወደ መካከለኛ ኢንዱስትሪ መሸጋገር የሚችሉበት ደረጃ ላይም መድረሳቸውን አረጋግጠዋል።
ከእነዚህ መካከል የዮሽ ኮንስትራክሽን ኢንተርፕራይዝ አንዱ ነው። ሥራ አስኪያጁ አቶ ዮሐንስ ይግለጡ እንደሚናገሩት የኢንተርፕራይዙ ካፒታል አምስት ሚሊዮን ደርሷል።
አቶ ዮሐንሰ እንደተናገሩት፤ ኩባንያቸውን ያቋቋሙት በ2000 ዓ.ም ነው። የተሰማሩበት ዘርፍ ኮንስትራክሽን ቴራዞንና የግንባታ ሥራዎች ነው። የቴራዞን ማሽኖችን እየሠሩም ለሌሎች ኢንተርፕራይዞችና ድርጅቶች ይሸጣሉ።
በጥቃቅንና አነስተኛ ተቋም ጀምረው ወደ መካከለኛ ኢንዱስትሪ በመሸጋገራቸው እድለኛ መሆናቸውን ይናገራሉ። አቶ ዮሐንስ እንደሚሉት፤ መንግሥት የተለያዩ ድጋፎችን አድርጐላቸዋል። በድጋፉም በእጅጉ ደስተኛ ናቸው። ከአዲስ ብድር ቁጠባ በተለያየ ጊዜ ብድር መውሰዳቸውንም አውግተውናል።
በተቋቋሙበት ወቅት «በምን ዓይነት ሥራ ብንሰማራ ውጤታማ መሆን እንችላለን ብለን በማሰባችን ለዛሬው ውጤት አብቅቶናል እድለኞች ነን» ይላሉ ሥራ አስኪያጁ። በወቅቱ በመረጡት የቴራዞን ዘርፍ ማንም ኢንተርፕራይዝ እንዳልነበር ያስታውሳሉ። እንዲያውም ሥራውን የሚሠሩ በቁጥር ሦስት አራት የሆኑ የመንግሥት ትልልቅ ተቋማት ብቻ እንደሆኑም ይናገራሉ።
እንደ ሥራ አስኪያጁ ገለፃ፣ ሥራውን በሚጀምሩበት ወቅት ብዙ ሰዎች ገበያ አታገኙም የሚል አስተያየት ይሠጧቸው ነበር። በርግጥ በወቅቱ የገበያ ሁኔታ ፈታኝ ሆኖባቸዋል። በተጨማሪም 'በጥቃቅንና አነስተኛ ሥራ እንዴት ይደፈራል?' ያሏቸው ወገኖችም አሉ።
«ያም ሆኖ መንግሥት የገበያውን ስጋት ትስስር በመፍጠር ያቃለለው ሲሆን፤ በዚህም የተሻለ ውጤት በማምጣታቸው ቤቶች ልማት ላይ ጥሩ ሥራዎችን አከናውነዋል። ኢንተርፕራይዛቸው በራሱ ካፒታል የድንጋይ 'ክርኤቸር ሳይት' ተጫርቶ ገዝቷል» ብለዋል አቶ ዮሐንስ።
ኢንተርፕራይዛቸው ወደ መካከለኛ ኢንዱስትሪ በመሸጋገሩ የሚያከናውናቸው ሰፋፊ ሥራዎች እንዳሉ ይጠቁማሉ። ለኤጀንሲው «የ20 ሚሊዮን 770 ሺ ብር ፕሮጀክት» አስጠንተው አቅርበዋል።
ቀደም ሲል በሚሠራው ሥራ ኢንተርፕራይዛቸው 47 ያህል ለሚሆኑ ሰዎች የሥራ ዕድል መፍጠሩን የተናገሩት ሥራ አስኪያጁ፤ ቴራዞን ማሽኖችን በክልል ደረጃም እየታዘዙ ይሰሩ እንደነበር ነው ያብራሩት።
አካ ኃላፊነቱ የተወሰነ የግል ማኅበር የተቋቋመው በ1997ዓ. ም ነው። የተሰማራበት የሥራ ዘርፍም በእንጨትና ብረታ ብረት ነው። የኢንተርፕራይዙ ባለቤትና ሥራ አስኪያጅ አቶ አብዲላሀዲ ዓሊ በበኩላቸው በመመረቃቸው ከፍተኛ ደስታ እንደተሰማቸው ይገልፃሉ።
በአሁኑ ወቅት ወደ መካከለኛ ኢንዱስትሪ ሊሸጋገሩ የቻሉት ከአምስት ሚሊዮን ብር በላይ ካፒታል በማድረሳቸው እንደሆነ የሚገልጹት አቶ አብዱላሀዲ፤ በኢንተርፕራይዛቸው ወደ 14 የሚሆኑ ሠራተኞች የሥራ ዕድል እንዳገኙ ይገልፃሉ።
አቶ አብዱላሀዲ እንደሚናገሩት፤ ሽግግሩ የሥራንም ትጋት የሚጠይቅ ነው። ወደፊት ሊሠሩ ያቀዱት የፓስታ፣ ማካሮኒ፣ ዱቄትና ብስኩት ፋብሪካ በመገንባት ነው። ይህም ለብዙዎች የሥራ ዕድል ለመፍጠር ይችላል። ለዚህም የ13 ሚሊዮን ብር ፕሮጀክት ቀርፀው ለኤጀንሲው አስገብተዋል። ሁሉ ነገር ከተመቻቸላቸው አንዲትም ቀን ሳያሳልፉ ሥራ ለመጀመር ያላቸውን ብቃት በልበ ሙሉነት ይናገራሉ። «ሁሉም ሰው ያለመታከት በትጋት ሥራውን የሚያከናውን ከሆነ በሚያጋጥመው ጥቃቅን መሰናክል አይበገርም» የሚል እምነት አላቸው።
በ2001 ዓ.ም የተቋቋመው የጋላክሲ ኮንስትራክሽን ኢንተርፕራይዝ የተሰማራው በኮንስትራክሽኑ ዘርፍ መሆኑን የማኅበሩ ሊቀ መንበር አቶ አወቀ ጐዳና ይገልፃሉ።
እንደ አቶ አወቀ ገለፃ፤ ኢንተርፕራይዙ ያስመዘገበው አንድ ነጥብ አምስት ሚሊዮን ብር ካፒታል ነው። አስራ አንድ አባላት አሉት። ከአባላቱ ውጪ በተለያዩ ኮንስትራክሽን ሥራ ውስጥ የሚሠሩ 106 የጉልበት ሠራተኞችና ሦስት ቋሚ ተቀጣሪዎች አሉት።
ቀደም ባሉ ጊዜያት ሥራቸውን ሲያከናወኑ በርካታ ማነቆዎች አጋጥሟቸው እንደነበር አቶ አወቀ ያስታውሳሉ። ሰው በተሰማራበት ሥራ በቁርጠኝነት የሚሠራ ከሆነ የሚያጋጥመውን እንቅፋት በትዕግስት ማለፍ ይችላል ይላሉ። ኢንተርፕራይዞችም ሆኑ ሞዴል ኢንተርፕራይዞች ሊያጋጥማቸው ለሚችል ማንኛውም ፈተና እጅ መስጠት እንደሌለባቸው በመግለፅ።
«ጥቂት የማይባሉ ፈተናዎችን አልፌ በመሥራቴ በጣም ደስተኛ ነን» ያሉት አቶ አወቀ፤ መንግሥት 'ሁሌም ከጐናችሁ ነኝ' ከማለትም ሌላ በተግባር በርካታ ድጋፎችን በማድረጉ አሁንም የስኬት ጉዞዬን አጠናክራለሁ ሲሉ ሀሳባቸውን አጋርተውናል።
ቀደም ሲል ይሠሩ የነበረበትን ዘርፍ በመለወጥ ወደ ግብርናው ለመግባት የ14 ሚሊዮን ብር ፕሮጀክት መንደፋቸውን ገልጸው፤ በተለይ ከብት አደልበው ወደ ውጭ ሀገር ለመላክ በተጓዳኝም ሌሎች ሥራዎችን ለመሥራት መዘጋጀታቸውን ነው ያብራሩት።
እንደ እርሳቸው አነጋገር የመመረቃቸው ፋይዳ ብዙ ነው። ጥቃቅንና አነስተኛ ኢንተርፕራይዝ ተቋም ከተወሰነ ጣሪያ በላይ ለመንቀሳቀስ ሕጉ አይፈቅድም። አሁን ግን ከምረቃው በኋላ በተሰጣቸው እውቅና የተሻለ ነገር ለመሥራት ያስችላቸዋል። «ኢንቨስትመንት ውስጥ መግባት በራሱ ቀላል ነገር አይደለም። ይሁንና ያለፈውን ውጣ ውረድ ያለፍኩበትን ጥበብና ትጋት እንደ ተሞክሮ በመውሰድ በቀጣይም የተሻለ ነገር ለመሥራት በግንባር ቀደምትነት ለመንቀሳቀስ ዝግጁ ነን» ብለዋል።
ራዕይ ቅዱስ ሚካኤል ኮንስትራክሽን ኢንተርፕራይዝ ከአንድ ነጥብ ስድስት ሚሊዮን ብር በላይ ካፒታል እንዳለው የሚናገሩት ሊቀመንበሩ አቶ ሰለሞን ንጉሴ ናቸው። በ1997 ዓ.ም የተቋቋመው ኢንተርፕራይዛቸው የተሰማራበት ዘርፍ በእንጨትና ብረታ ብረታ እንደሆነ አመልክተው፤ የሚያመርተውም እንደ ብሎኬትና ፕሪካስት ዓይነት ምርቶች እንደሆነ ጠቁመዋል።
ሥራውን ሲጀምሩ በሁለት ሺ ብር እንደሆነ የሚያስታውሱት ሊቀመንበሩ፤ በአሁኑ ወቅት ከ30 የማያንሱ ሠራተኞች የሥራ አድል እንደተፈጠረላቸው ይናገራሉ። ከእነዚህ መካከል አምስቱ ቋሚ ሠራተኞች ናቸው ብለዋል።
ሊቀመንበሩ የወደፊት እቅዳቸውን ሲገልጹ ያሉበትን ዘርፍ በማጠናከር ዝግጅታቸውን አጠናቀዋል። በተለይ ትልልቅ ፋብሪካዎችን ለመገንባት አቅደዋል።
«ማንኛውም ሥራ ፈላጊ ሰው ሥራ ሳያማርጥ መሥራት አለበት» የሚል እምነት እንዳላቸው አቶ ሰለሞን ገልጸው፤ ሥራ ማማረጥ ግን የቀረ አሊያም የኋላቀርነት መገለጫ አድርገው እንደሚወስዱ ነው የተናገሩት።
በዕለቱ ወደ መካከለኛ ኢንዱስትሪ የተሸጋገሩትን ኢንተርፕራይዞች የመረቋቸው የኢፌዴሪ ጠቅላይ ሚኒስትር አቶ መለስ ዜናዊ ሲሆኑ፤ በዘርፉ የተማረ የሰው ኃይል በተለይም ከከፍተኛ የትምህርት ተቋም ተመርቀው የሚወጡ ወጣቶች እንዲሁም ሴቶች ሊሳተፉበት ይገባል ሲሉ ነው ያስገነዘቡት።
ለዘርፉ የተሻለ አመለካከት ያላቸው የልማት ጉዞአቸው ስኬታማ ሆኖ እነሆ ሰሞኑን ለመሸለም እና ለመመረቅ በቅተዋል፡፡ ከአዲስ አበባ አነስተኛና ጥቃቅንና ኢንተርፕራዝ ልማት ኤጀንሲው በተገኘ መረጃ መሠረት ከ20 ሺ ጥቃቅንና አነስተኛ ኢንተርፕራይዝ መካከል 400 ያህሉ ከ200 ሺ ብር በላይ ካፒታል በማስመዝገባቸው የተሸለሙ ሲሆን፤ ከአንድ ነጥብ አምስት ሚሊዮን እስከ 20 ሚሊዮን ብር ካፒታል ያስመዘገቡ ደግሞ ተመርቀው ወደ መካከለኛ ኢንዱስትሪ በመሸጋገራቸው ልማታዊ ባለ ሀብት ተፈጥሯል።
source..http://www.ethpress.gov.et/ethpress/main/news.php?newsLocation=home&newsInstruction=headline&newsId=2680
በጠቅላይ ሚኒስትር ጽሕፈት ቤት የመሰብሰቢያ አዳራሽ ኢትዮጵያውያን በሚወዱት ሰንደቅ ዓላማቸው ላይ ያሉ ሁለት የመጀመሪያ ቀለሞችን ወክለው የለበሱ በርካታ የልማት አርበኞች በየወንበራቸው ተቀምጠዋል። ባላጋራቸውን ታግለው የረቱ ባለድል በመሆናቸው የፊታቸው ገፅታ ፈክቷል። ድህነት እንደሚሸነፍ በተግባር ያረጋገጡ የመሆናቸው እውነት ፊታቸው ይናገራል። በተለይ ቢጫውን ጋዋን የለበሱ ኢንተርፕራይዞች ከፊታቸው የቆመውን ችግር በማለፍ፤ መሰላሉን በብዙ ውጣ ውረድ በመውጣት ከግባቸው የደረሱ ናቸው። በዕለቱ ተመርቀው ወደ መካከለኛ ኢንዱስትሪ መሸጋገራቸውን የሚያረጋግጡ የልማት ጀግኖች ናቸው። በነጭ ቲ ሸርት ላይ አረንጓዴውን መቀነት ወደ ጐን ያጠለቁትም ቢሆኑ ከኢንተርፕራይዝነት ወደ ሞዴል ኢንተርፕራይዝነት የተሸጋገሩ በመሆናቸው በደስታ ፈክተዋል።
የአዲስ አበባ ከተማ አስተዳደር ለበርካታ የጥቃቅንና አነስተኛ አንቀሳቃሶች የተለያዩ ድጋፎችን በማድረጉ በሺ የሚቆጠሩ የከተማ ነዋሪዎች በዘርፉ እንዲታቀፉ ማድረጉን መረጃዎች ያመለክታሉ። ከደቂቃ ሙት ውስጥ 250 ኢንተርፕራይዞች ወደ መካከለኛ ኢንዱስትሪ መሸጋገር የሚችሉበት ደረጃ ላይም መድረሳቸውን አረጋግጠዋል።
ከእነዚህ መካከል የዮሽ ኮንስትራክሽን ኢንተርፕራይዝ አንዱ ነው። ሥራ አስኪያጁ አቶ ዮሐንስ ይግለጡ እንደሚናገሩት የኢንተርፕራይዙ ካፒታል አምስት ሚሊዮን ደርሷል።
አቶ ዮሐንሰ እንደተናገሩት፤ ኩባንያቸውን ያቋቋሙት በ2000 ዓ.ም ነው። የተሰማሩበት ዘርፍ ኮንስትራክሽን ቴራዞንና የግንባታ ሥራዎች ነው። የቴራዞን ማሽኖችን እየሠሩም ለሌሎች ኢንተርፕራይዞችና ድርጅቶች ይሸጣሉ።
በጥቃቅንና አነስተኛ ተቋም ጀምረው ወደ መካከለኛ ኢንዱስትሪ በመሸጋገራቸው እድለኛ መሆናቸውን ይናገራሉ። አቶ ዮሐንስ እንደሚሉት፤ መንግሥት የተለያዩ ድጋፎችን አድርጐላቸዋል። በድጋፉም በእጅጉ ደስተኛ ናቸው። ከአዲስ ብድር ቁጠባ በተለያየ ጊዜ ብድር መውሰዳቸውንም አውግተውናል።
በተቋቋሙበት ወቅት «በምን ዓይነት ሥራ ብንሰማራ ውጤታማ መሆን እንችላለን ብለን በማሰባችን ለዛሬው ውጤት አብቅቶናል እድለኞች ነን» ይላሉ ሥራ አስኪያጁ። በወቅቱ በመረጡት የቴራዞን ዘርፍ ማንም ኢንተርፕራይዝ እንዳልነበር ያስታውሳሉ። እንዲያውም ሥራውን የሚሠሩ በቁጥር ሦስት አራት የሆኑ የመንግሥት ትልልቅ ተቋማት ብቻ እንደሆኑም ይናገራሉ።
እንደ ሥራ አስኪያጁ ገለፃ፣ ሥራውን በሚጀምሩበት ወቅት ብዙ ሰዎች ገበያ አታገኙም የሚል አስተያየት ይሠጧቸው ነበር። በርግጥ በወቅቱ የገበያ ሁኔታ ፈታኝ ሆኖባቸዋል። በተጨማሪም 'በጥቃቅንና አነስተኛ ሥራ እንዴት ይደፈራል?' ያሏቸው ወገኖችም አሉ።
«ያም ሆኖ መንግሥት የገበያውን ስጋት ትስስር በመፍጠር ያቃለለው ሲሆን፤ በዚህም የተሻለ ውጤት በማምጣታቸው ቤቶች ልማት ላይ ጥሩ ሥራዎችን አከናውነዋል። ኢንተርፕራይዛቸው በራሱ ካፒታል የድንጋይ 'ክርኤቸር ሳይት' ተጫርቶ ገዝቷል» ብለዋል አቶ ዮሐንስ።
ኢንተርፕራይዛቸው ወደ መካከለኛ ኢንዱስትሪ በመሸጋገሩ የሚያከናውናቸው ሰፋፊ ሥራዎች እንዳሉ ይጠቁማሉ። ለኤጀንሲው «የ20 ሚሊዮን 770 ሺ ብር ፕሮጀክት» አስጠንተው አቅርበዋል።
ቀደም ሲል በሚሠራው ሥራ ኢንተርፕራይዛቸው 47 ያህል ለሚሆኑ ሰዎች የሥራ ዕድል መፍጠሩን የተናገሩት ሥራ አስኪያጁ፤ ቴራዞን ማሽኖችን በክልል ደረጃም እየታዘዙ ይሰሩ እንደነበር ነው ያብራሩት።
አካ ኃላፊነቱ የተወሰነ የግል ማኅበር የተቋቋመው በ1997ዓ. ም ነው። የተሰማራበት የሥራ ዘርፍም በእንጨትና ብረታ ብረት ነው። የኢንተርፕራይዙ ባለቤትና ሥራ አስኪያጅ አቶ አብዲላሀዲ ዓሊ በበኩላቸው በመመረቃቸው ከፍተኛ ደስታ እንደተሰማቸው ይገልፃሉ።
በአሁኑ ወቅት ወደ መካከለኛ ኢንዱስትሪ ሊሸጋገሩ የቻሉት ከአምስት ሚሊዮን ብር በላይ ካፒታል በማድረሳቸው እንደሆነ የሚገልጹት አቶ አብዱላሀዲ፤ በኢንተርፕራይዛቸው ወደ 14 የሚሆኑ ሠራተኞች የሥራ ዕድል እንዳገኙ ይገልፃሉ።
አቶ አብዱላሀዲ እንደሚናገሩት፤ ሽግግሩ የሥራንም ትጋት የሚጠይቅ ነው። ወደፊት ሊሠሩ ያቀዱት የፓስታ፣ ማካሮኒ፣ ዱቄትና ብስኩት ፋብሪካ በመገንባት ነው። ይህም ለብዙዎች የሥራ ዕድል ለመፍጠር ይችላል። ለዚህም የ13 ሚሊዮን ብር ፕሮጀክት ቀርፀው ለኤጀንሲው አስገብተዋል። ሁሉ ነገር ከተመቻቸላቸው አንዲትም ቀን ሳያሳልፉ ሥራ ለመጀመር ያላቸውን ብቃት በልበ ሙሉነት ይናገራሉ። «ሁሉም ሰው ያለመታከት በትጋት ሥራውን የሚያከናውን ከሆነ በሚያጋጥመው ጥቃቅን መሰናክል አይበገርም» የሚል እምነት አላቸው።
በ2001 ዓ.ም የተቋቋመው የጋላክሲ ኮንስትራክሽን ኢንተርፕራይዝ የተሰማራው በኮንስትራክሽኑ ዘርፍ መሆኑን የማኅበሩ ሊቀ መንበር አቶ አወቀ ጐዳና ይገልፃሉ።
እንደ አቶ አወቀ ገለፃ፤ ኢንተርፕራይዙ ያስመዘገበው አንድ ነጥብ አምስት ሚሊዮን ብር ካፒታል ነው። አስራ አንድ አባላት አሉት። ከአባላቱ ውጪ በተለያዩ ኮንስትራክሽን ሥራ ውስጥ የሚሠሩ 106 የጉልበት ሠራተኞችና ሦስት ቋሚ ተቀጣሪዎች አሉት።
ቀደም ባሉ ጊዜያት ሥራቸውን ሲያከናወኑ በርካታ ማነቆዎች አጋጥሟቸው እንደነበር አቶ አወቀ ያስታውሳሉ። ሰው በተሰማራበት ሥራ በቁርጠኝነት የሚሠራ ከሆነ የሚያጋጥመውን እንቅፋት በትዕግስት ማለፍ ይችላል ይላሉ። ኢንተርፕራይዞችም ሆኑ ሞዴል ኢንተርፕራይዞች ሊያጋጥማቸው ለሚችል ማንኛውም ፈተና እጅ መስጠት እንደሌለባቸው በመግለፅ።
«ጥቂት የማይባሉ ፈተናዎችን አልፌ በመሥራቴ በጣም ደስተኛ ነን» ያሉት አቶ አወቀ፤ መንግሥት 'ሁሌም ከጐናችሁ ነኝ' ከማለትም ሌላ በተግባር በርካታ ድጋፎችን በማድረጉ አሁንም የስኬት ጉዞዬን አጠናክራለሁ ሲሉ ሀሳባቸውን አጋርተውናል።
ቀደም ሲል ይሠሩ የነበረበትን ዘርፍ በመለወጥ ወደ ግብርናው ለመግባት የ14 ሚሊዮን ብር ፕሮጀክት መንደፋቸውን ገልጸው፤ በተለይ ከብት አደልበው ወደ ውጭ ሀገር ለመላክ በተጓዳኝም ሌሎች ሥራዎችን ለመሥራት መዘጋጀታቸውን ነው ያብራሩት።
እንደ እርሳቸው አነጋገር የመመረቃቸው ፋይዳ ብዙ ነው። ጥቃቅንና አነስተኛ ኢንተርፕራይዝ ተቋም ከተወሰነ ጣሪያ በላይ ለመንቀሳቀስ ሕጉ አይፈቅድም። አሁን ግን ከምረቃው በኋላ በተሰጣቸው እውቅና የተሻለ ነገር ለመሥራት ያስችላቸዋል። «ኢንቨስትመንት ውስጥ መግባት በራሱ ቀላል ነገር አይደለም። ይሁንና ያለፈውን ውጣ ውረድ ያለፍኩበትን ጥበብና ትጋት እንደ ተሞክሮ በመውሰድ በቀጣይም የተሻለ ነገር ለመሥራት በግንባር ቀደምትነት ለመንቀሳቀስ ዝግጁ ነን» ብለዋል።
ራዕይ ቅዱስ ሚካኤል ኮንስትራክሽን ኢንተርፕራይዝ ከአንድ ነጥብ ስድስት ሚሊዮን ብር በላይ ካፒታል እንዳለው የሚናገሩት ሊቀመንበሩ አቶ ሰለሞን ንጉሴ ናቸው። በ1997 ዓ.ም የተቋቋመው ኢንተርፕራይዛቸው የተሰማራበት ዘርፍ በእንጨትና ብረታ ብረታ እንደሆነ አመልክተው፤ የሚያመርተውም እንደ ብሎኬትና ፕሪካስት ዓይነት ምርቶች እንደሆነ ጠቁመዋል።
ሥራውን ሲጀምሩ በሁለት ሺ ብር እንደሆነ የሚያስታውሱት ሊቀመንበሩ፤ በአሁኑ ወቅት ከ30 የማያንሱ ሠራተኞች የሥራ አድል እንደተፈጠረላቸው ይናገራሉ። ከእነዚህ መካከል አምስቱ ቋሚ ሠራተኞች ናቸው ብለዋል።
ሊቀመንበሩ የወደፊት እቅዳቸውን ሲገልጹ ያሉበትን ዘርፍ በማጠናከር ዝግጅታቸውን አጠናቀዋል። በተለይ ትልልቅ ፋብሪካዎችን ለመገንባት አቅደዋል።
«ማንኛውም ሥራ ፈላጊ ሰው ሥራ ሳያማርጥ መሥራት አለበት» የሚል እምነት እንዳላቸው አቶ ሰለሞን ገልጸው፤ ሥራ ማማረጥ ግን የቀረ አሊያም የኋላቀርነት መገለጫ አድርገው እንደሚወስዱ ነው የተናገሩት።
በዕለቱ ወደ መካከለኛ ኢንዱስትሪ የተሸጋገሩትን ኢንተርፕራይዞች የመረቋቸው የኢፌዴሪ ጠቅላይ ሚኒስትር አቶ መለስ ዜናዊ ሲሆኑ፤ በዘርፉ የተማረ የሰው ኃይል በተለይም ከከፍተኛ የትምህርት ተቋም ተመርቀው የሚወጡ ወጣቶች እንዲሁም ሴቶች ሊሳተፉበት ይገባል ሲሉ ነው ያስገነዘቡት።
ለዘርፉ የተሻለ አመለካከት ያላቸው የልማት ጉዞአቸው ስኬታማ ሆኖ እነሆ ሰሞኑን ለመሸለም እና ለመመረቅ በቅተዋል፡፡ ከአዲስ አበባ አነስተኛና ጥቃቅንና ኢንተርፕራዝ ልማት ኤጀንሲው በተገኘ መረጃ መሠረት ከ20 ሺ ጥቃቅንና አነስተኛ ኢንተርፕራይዝ መካከል 400 ያህሉ ከ200 ሺ ብር በላይ ካፒታል በማስመዝገባቸው የተሸለሙ ሲሆን፤ ከአንድ ነጥብ አምስት ሚሊዮን እስከ 20 ሚሊዮን ብር ካፒታል ያስመዘገቡ ደግሞ ተመርቀው ወደ መካከለኛ ኢንዱስትሪ በመሸጋገራቸው ልማታዊ ባለ ሀብት ተፈጥሯል።
source..http://www.ethpress.gov.et/ethpress/main/news.php?newsLocation=home&newsInstruction=headline&newsId=2680
Platinum Exports Earn Ethiopia Unplanned $10,965
Yubdo Gold & Platinum (Yubdo Platinum), a United Kingdom (UK) based company, was the sole platinum miner in Ethiopia. The small-scale operation annually produced an average of 2.8kg from western Ethiopia at a site located 460km from the capital in Oromia Regional State.
“The company exported only 12kg of platinum during three years of operation, so it pulled out,” Tamrat explained.
This left the site, from which individuals have been obtaining the platinum, open. However, the area has since been cordoned off, pending an investigation by the ministry into how best to extract it.
“If it is found that traditional methods can be used to extract the platinum, we will establish mining associations,” Tamrat said. “Otherwise, the ministry plans to use mechanised mining methods to extract it.”
While there are no associations extracting platinum, there are more than150 engaged in mining gold.
The ministry has sold 5,815kg of gold worth of 4.1 billion Br to National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) over the past 10 months, more than the 3,616kg it initially planned to sell for the year.
With 2,045kg, 1,517kg, and 1,127kg, Oromia, Tigray, and Benishangul-Gumuz regional states were the top gold producers, respec over the past 10 months. Gold is also mined in Gambella, Southern, and Amhara regional states.
During the first six months of the fiscal year, MoM sold 3,942.2kg of gold to NBE, while it had planned to sell 2,703.3kg. As a result, it revised its annual plan in March 2011 to sell 4,606kg, an increase of 990kg that has already been achieved.
“The performance of the ministry was positively affected by the rise in the international price of gold, which encouraged people to engage in gold extraction,” Tamrat told Fortune.
The global average price of an ounce of gold was 1,478.30 dollars in 2010 while it stood at 1,510.90 dollars on Friday, May 20, 2011.
The rise in the international price is attributed by an economic expert to investors putting their money in assets other than the dollar.
Gold is Ethiopia’s third largest export commodity after coffee and oil seeds.
A total of 281 million dollars worth of gold was exported to Switzerland and South Africa, the only importers of Ethiopia’s gold, in 2009/10, according to research conducted by Access Capital. Out of the total, Switzerland imported 211.2 million dollars, the research showed.
The purchase of gold by Swiss banks in line with a worldwide pattern in gold trade between commercial or central banks that has contributed to the increase in gold exports, according to the expert.
The government plans to increase its gold exports from 3,907kg in 2009/10 to 8,700kg in five years’ time, an increment of 122pc.
For the past two years, NBE has been adding five per cent to the international market price when buying gold from miners in order to discourage its sale on the black market, according to Tamrat.
An independent unit responsible for gold transactions was also established in September 2010.
MoM used to perform geological tests on the metal produced for sale by miners to determine its authenticity. However, following the scandal in 2008 when the central bank bought alleged fake gold for 158 million Br, the bank started conducting the tests itself.
This decreased fraud and contributed to the ministry’s increased performance, according to Tamrat.
The hearing of a group of individuals charged by the Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (FEAC) for the sale is being heard by the Federal High Court, First Criminal Bench. Among the accused are four brothers: Kaf Mohammed, owner of Sofam Fashion; Sultan Mohammed, owner of Day & Night Multichoice Boutique; Fuad Mohammed, owner of WOW Fashion; and Nuredin Mohammed, owner of Nur Building.
Aside from gold, the ministry also exported precious stones and tantalum that, along with the platinum, amounted to two billion Birr over the past 10 months. It had initially aimed to export 7,315kg of precious stones and 105tn of tantalum this year.
During the first six months, it exported precious stones and tantalum worth 171.7 million dollars. While MoM had planned on 3,104kg and 43tn, it exported 6312.4kg and 85.6tn of precious stones and tantalum, respectively.
All the minerals were extracted using traditional mining methods. Like platinum, tantalum is extracted only in Oromia Regional State, while precious stones is mined in Amhara, Oromia, and Somali regional states.
(source...ADDISFORTUNE.com)
“The company exported only 12kg of platinum during three years of operation, so it pulled out,” Tamrat explained.
This left the site, from which individuals have been obtaining the platinum, open. However, the area has since been cordoned off, pending an investigation by the ministry into how best to extract it.
“If it is found that traditional methods can be used to extract the platinum, we will establish mining associations,” Tamrat said. “Otherwise, the ministry plans to use mechanised mining methods to extract it.”
While there are no associations extracting platinum, there are more than150 engaged in mining gold.
The ministry has sold 5,815kg of gold worth of 4.1 billion Br to National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) over the past 10 months, more than the 3,616kg it initially planned to sell for the year.
With 2,045kg, 1,517kg, and 1,127kg, Oromia, Tigray, and Benishangul-Gumuz regional states were the top gold producers, respec over the past 10 months. Gold is also mined in Gambella, Southern, and Amhara regional states.
During the first six months of the fiscal year, MoM sold 3,942.2kg of gold to NBE, while it had planned to sell 2,703.3kg. As a result, it revised its annual plan in March 2011 to sell 4,606kg, an increase of 990kg that has already been achieved.
“The performance of the ministry was positively affected by the rise in the international price of gold, which encouraged people to engage in gold extraction,” Tamrat told Fortune.
The global average price of an ounce of gold was 1,478.30 dollars in 2010 while it stood at 1,510.90 dollars on Friday, May 20, 2011.
The rise in the international price is attributed by an economic expert to investors putting their money in assets other than the dollar.
Gold is Ethiopia’s third largest export commodity after coffee and oil seeds.
A total of 281 million dollars worth of gold was exported to Switzerland and South Africa, the only importers of Ethiopia’s gold, in 2009/10, according to research conducted by Access Capital. Out of the total, Switzerland imported 211.2 million dollars, the research showed.
The purchase of gold by Swiss banks in line with a worldwide pattern in gold trade between commercial or central banks that has contributed to the increase in gold exports, according to the expert.
The government plans to increase its gold exports from 3,907kg in 2009/10 to 8,700kg in five years’ time, an increment of 122pc.
For the past two years, NBE has been adding five per cent to the international market price when buying gold from miners in order to discourage its sale on the black market, according to Tamrat.
An independent unit responsible for gold transactions was also established in September 2010.
MoM used to perform geological tests on the metal produced for sale by miners to determine its authenticity. However, following the scandal in 2008 when the central bank bought alleged fake gold for 158 million Br, the bank started conducting the tests itself.
This decreased fraud and contributed to the ministry’s increased performance, according to Tamrat.
The hearing of a group of individuals charged by the Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (FEAC) for the sale is being heard by the Federal High Court, First Criminal Bench. Among the accused are four brothers: Kaf Mohammed, owner of Sofam Fashion; Sultan Mohammed, owner of Day & Night Multichoice Boutique; Fuad Mohammed, owner of WOW Fashion; and Nuredin Mohammed, owner of Nur Building.
Aside from gold, the ministry also exported precious stones and tantalum that, along with the platinum, amounted to two billion Birr over the past 10 months. It had initially aimed to export 7,315kg of precious stones and 105tn of tantalum this year.
During the first six months, it exported precious stones and tantalum worth 171.7 million dollars. While MoM had planned on 3,104kg and 43tn, it exported 6312.4kg and 85.6tn of precious stones and tantalum, respectively.
All the minerals were extracted using traditional mining methods. Like platinum, tantalum is extracted only in Oromia Regional State, while precious stones is mined in Amhara, Oromia, and Somali regional states.
(source...ADDISFORTUNE.com)
Corporation exceeds year’s goal of 3.9bn Br in revenues from sugar sales
State’s Sugar Earns 4.1bn Br in Nine Months
The Ethiopian Sugar Corporation (ESC) earned 4.1 billion Br from the sale of 314,946tn of sugar over the past nine months, exceeding its goal of 3.9 billion Br in revenues. The corporation’s ethanol sales reached 48 million Br, up from 8.5 million Br projected in September 2010.
However, the industry suffers from inefficiency and improper budgeting, according to Abay Tsehaye, director general of the corporation, who unveiled plans to revamp Ethiopia’s fledgling sugar industry to Parliament’s standing committee on industry affairs on May 11, 2011.
“For the past five years, project study designs, budget allocations, recruitment of manpower to open project offices, and the onsite execution of projects have stayed the same, with little or no progress,” Abay told the standing committee.
Wonji Shoa, Metahara, and Finchaa Sugar Factory, the country’s operational state owned sugar factories, have an annual production capacity of 2.8 million quintals.
In a bid to meet sugar shortages in the local market, the government imported 130,000tn of sugar last year and plans to import 80,000tn this fiscal year.
(source..Addisfortune.com)
The implementation of reforms and poor budgeting had delayed the corporation’s progress, but with a little time Ethiopia could meet its five-year sugar development goals, Abay claimed.
Ethiopia plans to have 2.5pc of the world’s sugar market in five years.
The strategic plan envisions building eight new sugar factories in the set period. At the start of production, these will have an aggregate annual production of 2.2 million tonnes, according to the GTP.
In July 2007, India and Ethiopia agreed on a 640 million dollar credit line for the construction of Tendaho Sugar Factory.
Tendaho and the expansion of existing factories were singled out by Abay, who was appointed as head of the corporation at its establishment in September 2010, for having shown little progress.
“The projects have shown retarded progress coupled with wastages in the budget,” he said. “Several complex land rights issues between pastoralists and the regional authorities at the Tendaho and Wolenchiti sites have remained unresolved. The delays in the projects have not only created unnecessary expenditures but also losses in potential revenues that could have been earned had they been operational.”
The corporation has finalised assessments on the shortcomings of the sector and proposed modernising measures to raise productivity and efficiency, the director general, who is a minister without a portfolio, told the committee in his two-hour report.
A revamp of the sector’s manpower is essential and appointments must be made on competency, according to Abay. He also proposed the implementation of fast tracked business process reengineering (BPR) supported with constant training to help improve the state of affairs in the sector.
It was for this reason that factory workers were refused the salary increment they requested.
“We sat down with the labour unions and discussed why the time for that is not now, and why it is not necessary,” Abay said. “When we have achieved something and are more competent, we will provide what is required.”
The rise in prices of fuel, spare parts, cement, and fertilisers made a dent in the sector’s budget, while wastages also presented a problem to the sector’s overall performance, according to the report.
The very existence of the factories has been threatened by increasing production costs and the necessity to employ excessive manpower, Abay claimed.
“Consolidation is in progress,” said Dereje Gutema, deputy director of planning at the ESC. “The corporation views potential for growth as evidence of the long-term attractiveness of this sector in Ethiopia. If we are going to become global players, we must lower production costs and boost production capacity.”
The Ethiopian Sugar Corporation (ESC) earned 4.1 billion Br from the sale of 314,946tn of sugar over the past nine months, exceeding its goal of 3.9 billion Br in revenues. The corporation’s ethanol sales reached 48 million Br, up from 8.5 million Br projected in September 2010.
However, the industry suffers from inefficiency and improper budgeting, according to Abay Tsehaye, director general of the corporation, who unveiled plans to revamp Ethiopia’s fledgling sugar industry to Parliament’s standing committee on industry affairs on May 11, 2011.
“For the past five years, project study designs, budget allocations, recruitment of manpower to open project offices, and the onsite execution of projects have stayed the same, with little or no progress,” Abay told the standing committee.
Wonji Shoa, Metahara, and Finchaa Sugar Factory, the country’s operational state owned sugar factories, have an annual production capacity of 2.8 million quintals.
In a bid to meet sugar shortages in the local market, the government imported 130,000tn of sugar last year and plans to import 80,000tn this fiscal year.
(source..Addisfortune.com)
The implementation of reforms and poor budgeting had delayed the corporation’s progress, but with a little time Ethiopia could meet its five-year sugar development goals, Abay claimed.
Ethiopia plans to have 2.5pc of the world’s sugar market in five years.
The strategic plan envisions building eight new sugar factories in the set period. At the start of production, these will have an aggregate annual production of 2.2 million tonnes, according to the GTP.
In July 2007, India and Ethiopia agreed on a 640 million dollar credit line for the construction of Tendaho Sugar Factory.
Tendaho and the expansion of existing factories were singled out by Abay, who was appointed as head of the corporation at its establishment in September 2010, for having shown little progress.
“The projects have shown retarded progress coupled with wastages in the budget,” he said. “Several complex land rights issues between pastoralists and the regional authorities at the Tendaho and Wolenchiti sites have remained unresolved. The delays in the projects have not only created unnecessary expenditures but also losses in potential revenues that could have been earned had they been operational.”
The corporation has finalised assessments on the shortcomings of the sector and proposed modernising measures to raise productivity and efficiency, the director general, who is a minister without a portfolio, told the committee in his two-hour report.
A revamp of the sector’s manpower is essential and appointments must be made on competency, according to Abay. He also proposed the implementation of fast tracked business process reengineering (BPR) supported with constant training to help improve the state of affairs in the sector.
It was for this reason that factory workers were refused the salary increment they requested.
“We sat down with the labour unions and discussed why the time for that is not now, and why it is not necessary,” Abay said. “When we have achieved something and are more competent, we will provide what is required.”
The rise in prices of fuel, spare parts, cement, and fertilisers made a dent in the sector’s budget, while wastages also presented a problem to the sector’s overall performance, according to the report.
The very existence of the factories has been threatened by increasing production costs and the necessity to employ excessive manpower, Abay claimed.
“Consolidation is in progress,” said Dereje Gutema, deputy director of planning at the ESC. “The corporation views potential for growth as evidence of the long-term attractiveness of this sector in Ethiopia. If we are going to become global players, we must lower production costs and boost production capacity.”
Ethiopian MoM(Ministry Of Mines) sells 4.1 billion Br of gold in 10 months, more than 4,606kg planned for year
Platinum Exports Earn Country Unplanned $10,965
The Ministry of Mines (MoM) earned 10,965 dollars from the export of 640 grams of platinum over the past 10 months, the extraction of which was unplanned. “There is no one engaged in formal platinum extraction in Ethiopia,” Tamrat Mojo, head of traditional mines manufacturing and transactions at MoM, told Fortune. “As a result, we did not expect to export any.”
The platinum was obtained from individuals who used traditional mining methods to extract the metal.
“The platinum was not extracted with modern mining techniques,” Tamrat said. “As a result, it was not washed as well as it would be with machines, causing it to fetch a lower price than it otherwise might have.”
Yubdo Gold & Platinum (Yubdo Platinum), a United Kingdom (UK) based company, was the sole platinum miner in Ethiopia. The small-scale operation annually produced an average of 2.8kg from western Ethiopia at a site located 460km from the capital in Oromia Regional State.
“The company exported only 12kg of platinum during three years of operation, so it pulled out,” Tamrat explained.
This left the site, from which individuals have been obtaining the platinum, open. However, the area has since been cordoned off, pending an investigation by the ministry into how best to extract it.
“If it is found that traditional methods can be used to extract the platinum, we will establish mining associations,” Tamrat said. “Otherwise, the ministry plans to use mechanised mining methods to extract it.”
While there are no associations extracting platinum, there are more than150 engaged in mining gold.
The ministry has sold 5,815kg of gold worth of 4.1 billion Br to National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) over the past 10 months, more than the 3,616kg it initially planned to sell for the year.
With 2,045kg, 1,517kg, and 1,127kg, Oromia, Tigray, and Benishangul-Gumuz regional states were the top gold producers, respec over the past 10 months. Gold is also mined in Gambella, Southern, and Amhara regional states.
During the first six months of the fiscal year, MoM sold 3,942.2kg of gold to NBE, while it had planned to sell 2,703.3kg. As a result, it revised its annual plan in March 2011 to sell 4,606kg, an increase of 990kg that has already been achieved.
“The performance of the ministry was positively affected by the rise in the international price of gold, which encouraged people to engage in gold extraction,” Tamrat told Fortune.
The global average price of an ounce of gold was 1,478.30 dollars in 2010 while it stood at 1,510.90 dollars on Friday, May 20, 2011.
The rise in the international price is attributed by an economic expert to investors putting their money in assets other than the dollar.
Gold is Ethiopia’s third largest export commodity after coffee and oil seeds.
A total of 281 million dollars worth of gold was exported to Switzerland and South Africa, the only importers of Ethiopia’s gold, in 2009/10, according to research conducted by Access Capital. Out of the total, Switzerland imported 211.2 million dollars, the research showed.
The purchase of gold by Swiss banks in line with a worldwide pattern in gold trade between commercial or central banks that has contributed to the increase in gold exports, according to the expert.
The government plans to increase its gold exports from 3,907kg in 2009/10 to 8,700kg in five years’ time, an increment of 122pc.
For the past two years, NBE has been adding five per cent to the international market price when buying gold from miners in order to discourage its sale on the black market, according to Tamrat.
An independent unit responsible for gold transactions was also established in September 2010.
MoM used to perform geological tests on the metal produced for sale by miners to determine its authenticity. However, following the scandal in 2008 when the central bank bought alleged fake gold for 158 million Br, the bank started conducting the tests itself.
This decreased fraud and contributed to the ministry’s increased performance, according to Tamrat.
The hearing of a group of individuals charged by the Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (FEAC) for the sale is being heard by the Federal High Court, First Criminal Bench. Among the accused are four brothers: Kaf Mohammed, owner of Sofam Fashion; Sultan Mohammed, owner of Day & Night Multichoice Boutique; Fuad Mohammed, owner of WOW Fashion; and Nuredin Mohammed, owner of Nur Building.
Aside from gold, the ministry also exported precious stones and tantalum that, along with the platinum, amounted to two billion Birr over the past 10 months. It had initially aimed to export 7,315kg of precious stones and 105tn of tantalum this year.
During the first six months, it exported precious stones and tantalum worth 171.7 million dollars. While MoM had planned on 3,104kg and 43tn, it exported 6312.4kg and 85.6tn of precious stones and tantalum, respectively.
All the minerals were extracted using traditional mining methods. Like platinum, tantalum is extracted only in Oromia Regional State, while precious stones is mined in Amhara, Oromia, and Somali regional states.
By MAHLET MESFIN
FORTUNE STAFF WRITER
The Ministry of Mines (MoM) earned 10,965 dollars from the export of 640 grams of platinum over the past 10 months, the extraction of which was unplanned. “There is no one engaged in formal platinum extraction in Ethiopia,” Tamrat Mojo, head of traditional mines manufacturing and transactions at MoM, told Fortune. “As a result, we did not expect to export any.”
The platinum was obtained from individuals who used traditional mining methods to extract the metal.
“The platinum was not extracted with modern mining techniques,” Tamrat said. “As a result, it was not washed as well as it would be with machines, causing it to fetch a lower price than it otherwise might have.”
Yubdo Gold & Platinum (Yubdo Platinum), a United Kingdom (UK) based company, was the sole platinum miner in Ethiopia. The small-scale operation annually produced an average of 2.8kg from western Ethiopia at a site located 460km from the capital in Oromia Regional State.
“The company exported only 12kg of platinum during three years of operation, so it pulled out,” Tamrat explained.
This left the site, from which individuals have been obtaining the platinum, open. However, the area has since been cordoned off, pending an investigation by the ministry into how best to extract it.
“If it is found that traditional methods can be used to extract the platinum, we will establish mining associations,” Tamrat said. “Otherwise, the ministry plans to use mechanised mining methods to extract it.”
While there are no associations extracting platinum, there are more than150 engaged in mining gold.
The ministry has sold 5,815kg of gold worth of 4.1 billion Br to National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) over the past 10 months, more than the 3,616kg it initially planned to sell for the year.
With 2,045kg, 1,517kg, and 1,127kg, Oromia, Tigray, and Benishangul-Gumuz regional states were the top gold producers, respec over the past 10 months. Gold is also mined in Gambella, Southern, and Amhara regional states.
During the first six months of the fiscal year, MoM sold 3,942.2kg of gold to NBE, while it had planned to sell 2,703.3kg. As a result, it revised its annual plan in March 2011 to sell 4,606kg, an increase of 990kg that has already been achieved.
“The performance of the ministry was positively affected by the rise in the international price of gold, which encouraged people to engage in gold extraction,” Tamrat told Fortune.
The global average price of an ounce of gold was 1,478.30 dollars in 2010 while it stood at 1,510.90 dollars on Friday, May 20, 2011.
The rise in the international price is attributed by an economic expert to investors putting their money in assets other than the dollar.
Gold is Ethiopia’s third largest export commodity after coffee and oil seeds.
A total of 281 million dollars worth of gold was exported to Switzerland and South Africa, the only importers of Ethiopia’s gold, in 2009/10, according to research conducted by Access Capital. Out of the total, Switzerland imported 211.2 million dollars, the research showed.
The purchase of gold by Swiss banks in line with a worldwide pattern in gold trade between commercial or central banks that has contributed to the increase in gold exports, according to the expert.
The government plans to increase its gold exports from 3,907kg in 2009/10 to 8,700kg in five years’ time, an increment of 122pc.
For the past two years, NBE has been adding five per cent to the international market price when buying gold from miners in order to discourage its sale on the black market, according to Tamrat.
An independent unit responsible for gold transactions was also established in September 2010.
MoM used to perform geological tests on the metal produced for sale by miners to determine its authenticity. However, following the scandal in 2008 when the central bank bought alleged fake gold for 158 million Br, the bank started conducting the tests itself.
This decreased fraud and contributed to the ministry’s increased performance, according to Tamrat.
The hearing of a group of individuals charged by the Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (FEAC) for the sale is being heard by the Federal High Court, First Criminal Bench. Among the accused are four brothers: Kaf Mohammed, owner of Sofam Fashion; Sultan Mohammed, owner of Day & Night Multichoice Boutique; Fuad Mohammed, owner of WOW Fashion; and Nuredin Mohammed, owner of Nur Building.
Aside from gold, the ministry also exported precious stones and tantalum that, along with the platinum, amounted to two billion Birr over the past 10 months. It had initially aimed to export 7,315kg of precious stones and 105tn of tantalum this year.
During the first six months, it exported precious stones and tantalum worth 171.7 million dollars. While MoM had planned on 3,104kg and 43tn, it exported 6312.4kg and 85.6tn of precious stones and tantalum, respectively.
All the minerals were extracted using traditional mining methods. Like platinum, tantalum is extracted only in Oromia Regional State, while precious stones is mined in Amhara, Oromia, and Somali regional states.
By MAHLET MESFIN
FORTUNE STAFF WRITER
Eritrea opposes South Sudan, Kenya may recognize Somaliland
Addis Ababa, May 23, 2011 (WIC) - The Somaliland Press claims that Kenya is preparing to recognize Somaliland’s independence, which would create another new country in the horn of Africa.
“Kenyan Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Richard Onyonka said during an event held in Nairobi to commemorate Somaliland’s 20th anniversary of Independence that his country will support Somaliland as an independent state” reported Somaliland Press and Iran's Press TV. Kenyans who have called for their government to recognize Hargeisa argue that Somaliland would help stabilize the region and stop Somalia’s expansionism dreams into Kenya and into Ethiopia’s eastern regions with Somali ethnic populations. Since Somaliland’s ally Ethiopia cannot become the first African country to recognize Somaliland, analysts have often maintained that Kenya and Uganda will be the first nations to officially acknowledge Somaliland as a sovereign country.
Meanwhile, sources in Ethiopia claim that Eritrea’s President Isaias Afewerki is gathering anti-SouthSudan forces together even before South Sudan officially becomes a country. The Juba government in South Sudan will form an independent state on July 9, 2011 which will create the youngest country in Africa. However, Eritrea wants to remain the youngest country in Africa. President Isaias often justifies not having elections in Asmara and the lack of economic progress in Eritrea with the pretext that Eritrea is still the youngest country.
According to the source, Eritrean President Isaias Afawerki has a unique foreign policy of collecting anti-government forces from countries in the horn of Africa (Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti, South Sudan, Somaliland and Sudan) in order to be relevant and have influence in the region. By creating instability inside its neighbors, the Eritrean government often uses its ability to mediate negotiations to restore stability among its neighbors as a leverage in its foreign relations with countries in the horn of Africa. Eritrea wants to have leverage against the new Juba government since South Sudan has a long border with Ethiopia that can be used to infiltrate opponents of the Addis Ababa government.
Since it became a country, Eritrea has been involved in conflicts with Djibouti, Ethiopia, Yemen, Sudan and in Somalia.
(waltainfo.com)
“Kenyan Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Richard Onyonka said during an event held in Nairobi to commemorate Somaliland’s 20th anniversary of Independence that his country will support Somaliland as an independent state” reported Somaliland Press and Iran's Press TV. Kenyans who have called for their government to recognize Hargeisa argue that Somaliland would help stabilize the region and stop Somalia’s expansionism dreams into Kenya and into Ethiopia’s eastern regions with Somali ethnic populations. Since Somaliland’s ally Ethiopia cannot become the first African country to recognize Somaliland, analysts have often maintained that Kenya and Uganda will be the first nations to officially acknowledge Somaliland as a sovereign country.
Meanwhile, sources in Ethiopia claim that Eritrea’s President Isaias Afewerki is gathering anti-SouthSudan forces together even before South Sudan officially becomes a country. The Juba government in South Sudan will form an independent state on July 9, 2011 which will create the youngest country in Africa. However, Eritrea wants to remain the youngest country in Africa. President Isaias often justifies not having elections in Asmara and the lack of economic progress in Eritrea with the pretext that Eritrea is still the youngest country.
According to the source, Eritrean President Isaias Afawerki has a unique foreign policy of collecting anti-government forces from countries in the horn of Africa (Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti, South Sudan, Somaliland and Sudan) in order to be relevant and have influence in the region. By creating instability inside its neighbors, the Eritrean government often uses its ability to mediate negotiations to restore stability among its neighbors as a leverage in its foreign relations with countries in the horn of Africa. Eritrea wants to have leverage against the new Juba government since South Sudan has a long border with Ethiopia that can be used to infiltrate opponents of the Addis Ababa government.
Since it became a country, Eritrea has been involved in conflicts with Djibouti, Ethiopia, Yemen, Sudan and in Somalia.
(waltainfo.com)
Ethiopia seeks more investment from India
Addis Ababa, May 23 (WIC) – Hailemariam Desalegn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minster of Foreign Affairs said that Ethiopia seeks more collaboration with India in the areas of ICT and agricultural technologies.
In an exclusive interview with WIC, Hailemariam said that India is best known for its ICT and agricultural technologies for which Ethiopia has a great potential. He said that it will be easy for Indian investors to come to Ethiopia due to the deep rooted people to people relation between the two countries.
“We have a long history of getting along with each other,” Hailemariam said. “If we counterpart with India, it will be easy for us to come out in the world economy,” Hailemariam told WIC.
According to the Ministry of Trade (MoT), in recent years total trade exchange between Ethiopia and India has shown a 21 percent increase in average per annum while imports from India has shown an increase of 22 percent. India’s overall investment in Africa has also reached 33 billion dollars.
“Africa is becoming stable and democracy is flourishing in many African countries,” Hailemariam said. “Emerging powers such as India and China are aware they can harness Africa’s comparative advantage in untapped natural resources and young cheap labor”.
According to Hailemariam, compared to Europe and America, who were hardly hit by the financial crisis, the emerging powers with their strong saving culture, have enough money to come and invest in Africa.
Admitting that Ethiopia has not attracted European investors as much as it should, the deputy prime minister underscored the importance of promoting investment opportunities in Ethiopia to European and North American countries.
With such objective in mind the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the British Embassy in Ethiopia and Wafa Marketing and Promotion Plc, are finalizing preparations to organize Ethio-UK Investment Forum in London in June 2011.
“We need to diversify the investment in our country,” Hailemariam said. “We have to go to Europe and North America and attract FDI from those areas”.
With a view to harnessing Ethiopia’s investment potential, Hailemariam said that his government is working to modernize the overall working system.
“We are working to make the bureaucratic bottleneck easier for investors,” Hailemariam told WIC.
Source..(waltainfo.com)
In an exclusive interview with WIC, Hailemariam said that India is best known for its ICT and agricultural technologies for which Ethiopia has a great potential. He said that it will be easy for Indian investors to come to Ethiopia due to the deep rooted people to people relation between the two countries.
“We have a long history of getting along with each other,” Hailemariam said. “If we counterpart with India, it will be easy for us to come out in the world economy,” Hailemariam told WIC.
According to the Ministry of Trade (MoT), in recent years total trade exchange between Ethiopia and India has shown a 21 percent increase in average per annum while imports from India has shown an increase of 22 percent. India’s overall investment in Africa has also reached 33 billion dollars.
“Africa is becoming stable and democracy is flourishing in many African countries,” Hailemariam said. “Emerging powers such as India and China are aware they can harness Africa’s comparative advantage in untapped natural resources and young cheap labor”.
According to Hailemariam, compared to Europe and America, who were hardly hit by the financial crisis, the emerging powers with their strong saving culture, have enough money to come and invest in Africa.
Admitting that Ethiopia has not attracted European investors as much as it should, the deputy prime minister underscored the importance of promoting investment opportunities in Ethiopia to European and North American countries.
With such objective in mind the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the British Embassy in Ethiopia and Wafa Marketing and Promotion Plc, are finalizing preparations to organize Ethio-UK Investment Forum in London in June 2011.
“We need to diversify the investment in our country,” Hailemariam said. “We have to go to Europe and North America and attract FDI from those areas”.
With a view to harnessing Ethiopia’s investment potential, Hailemariam said that his government is working to modernize the overall working system.
“We are working to make the bureaucratic bottleneck easier for investors,” Hailemariam told WIC.
Source..(waltainfo.com)
PM arrives in Addis Ababa for Africa-India Forum Summit
Addis Ababa, May 23, 2011 (WIC): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today arrived Ethiopia for the second India-Africa Forum Summit and a six-day visit to Ethiopia and Tanzania to step up bilateral ties.
Singh will co-chair the Summit with the President of Equatorial Guinea, Obiang Nguema Mbasogo in his current capacity as chairperson of the AU. The leaders will discuss significant aspects of the India-Africa partnership with the objective of enhancing and widening its ambit for mutual benefit. The Summit is expected to come out with the Addis Ababa Declaration setting out the roadmap for further consolidating the strategic partnership between India and the African Union. An Africa-India Framework for Enhanced Cooperation will also be firmed up at the Summit.
In his departure statement in New Delhi , Singh said that the India-Africa partnership rests on three pillars of capacity building and skill transfer, trade and infrastructure development.
"It (India-Africa Forum) is designed to respond to the needs and priorities of Africa and for India to learn from Africa's rich experience. It is based on equality, mutual trust and a consultative and transparent approach. It is a living embodiment of South-South cooperation," he said.
The Second Africa-India Forum Summit here will be a landmark event that will for the first time bring together a large gathering of African leaders to meet with India on African soil.
"Today, both Africa and India are on the move. Africa is emerging as a new growth pole of the world, while India is on a path of sustained and rapid economic development.
Relations between India and Africa are marked by strong people-to-people interaction and a deep sense of solidarity and goodwill.
On Tanzania, he said India has excellent political and economic relations with them, which date back to the days of Julius Nyerere and the Nonaligned Movement.
"Our cooperation has expanded in recent years in diverse sectors. We wish to enhance the substance of this partnership in consonance with the developmental priorities of Tanzania. I look forward to my discussions with President Jakaya Kikwete to this end," he said. (economictimes.indiatimes.com).
Singh will co-chair the Summit with the President of Equatorial Guinea, Obiang Nguema Mbasogo in his current capacity as chairperson of the AU. The leaders will discuss significant aspects of the India-Africa partnership with the objective of enhancing and widening its ambit for mutual benefit. The Summit is expected to come out with the Addis Ababa Declaration setting out the roadmap for further consolidating the strategic partnership between India and the African Union. An Africa-India Framework for Enhanced Cooperation will also be firmed up at the Summit.
In his departure statement in New Delhi , Singh said that the India-Africa partnership rests on three pillars of capacity building and skill transfer, trade and infrastructure development.
"It (India-Africa Forum) is designed to respond to the needs and priorities of Africa and for India to learn from Africa's rich experience. It is based on equality, mutual trust and a consultative and transparent approach. It is a living embodiment of South-South cooperation," he said.
The Second Africa-India Forum Summit here will be a landmark event that will for the first time bring together a large gathering of African leaders to meet with India on African soil.
"Today, both Africa and India are on the move. Africa is emerging as a new growth pole of the world, while India is on a path of sustained and rapid economic development.
Relations between India and Africa are marked by strong people-to-people interaction and a deep sense of solidarity and goodwill.
On Tanzania, he said India has excellent political and economic relations with them, which date back to the days of Julius Nyerere and the Nonaligned Movement.
"Our cooperation has expanded in recent years in diverse sectors. We wish to enhance the substance of this partnership in consonance with the developmental priorities of Tanzania. I look forward to my discussions with President Jakaya Kikwete to this end," he said. (economictimes.indiatimes.com).
Sunday, May 22, 2011
President Isaias rejects independence for South Sudan
Sunday, 22 May 2011-In its May 20, 2011 “A Week in the Horn” report, Ministry of Foreign Affaiers raised issues on The 2nd India Africa Forum Summit opens next week, The Fourth UN Conference on Least Developed Countries, Somalia: The continued split in the TFIs, AUHIP hosts another round of Sudan talks, President Isaias rejects independence for South Sudan and A Sudanese delegation looks at Ethiopia’s poverty reduction strategies.. Read more.. http://www.waltainfo.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=26794&Itemid=143
PM Meles pledges support to SMEs
Addis Ababa, May 22 (WIC) – Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said that the government would extend its support to small and micro enterprises (SMEs). Some 250 enterprises whose capital exceeded from 1.5 million birr were transferred to medium-scale industries at a ceremony held at the Prime Minister’s office on Friday, May 21, 2011.
Prime Minister Meles on the occasion said that the government would continue to support SMEs as they are engine of economic growth and employment creation. "The government would also provide all-round supports that match with their levels to those enterprises advanced to medium-scale industry today," he said.
In addition to creating immense job opportunities, SMEs are foundation for big industries and development investors, the primer said, adding “the enterprises advanced to medium-scale companies today are witnesses for this.”
Our country’s economic growth expedited not only by attracting forging investors or by some Ethiopians who accumulated wealth but also by those thousands and millions of citizens who are ready to engage in various work sectors and generate wealth, he said.
The economic growth of the country would be more sustainable if graduates of universities and technical and vocational colleges organize themselves and engage in small and micro enterprises (SMEs) rather than waiting for job opportunities, he said.
PM Meles finally called on the youth to engage in small and micro enterprises (SMEs).
Mayor of Addis Ababa City, Kuma Demekssa, on his part said that the outcomes attained in SMEs sectors are the direct results of the developmental and democratic nature of the Ethiopian government.
“Today is a unique day as it coincided with the implementation of the five-year Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP), the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and the 20th founding anniversary of May 28,” he said.
Some 180 model enterprises whose capital surpassed from 500,000 birr were also awarded medals on the occasion.
Source..waltainfo.com
Prime Minister Meles on the occasion said that the government would continue to support SMEs as they are engine of economic growth and employment creation. "The government would also provide all-round supports that match with their levels to those enterprises advanced to medium-scale industry today," he said.
In addition to creating immense job opportunities, SMEs are foundation for big industries and development investors, the primer said, adding “the enterprises advanced to medium-scale companies today are witnesses for this.”
Our country’s economic growth expedited not only by attracting forging investors or by some Ethiopians who accumulated wealth but also by those thousands and millions of citizens who are ready to engage in various work sectors and generate wealth, he said.
The economic growth of the country would be more sustainable if graduates of universities and technical and vocational colleges organize themselves and engage in small and micro enterprises (SMEs) rather than waiting for job opportunities, he said.
PM Meles finally called on the youth to engage in small and micro enterprises (SMEs).
Mayor of Addis Ababa City, Kuma Demekssa, on his part said that the outcomes attained in SMEs sectors are the direct results of the developmental and democratic nature of the Ethiopian government.
“Today is a unique day as it coincided with the implementation of the five-year Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP), the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and the 20th founding anniversary of May 28,” he said.
Some 180 model enterprises whose capital surpassed from 500,000 birr were also awarded medals on the occasion.
Source..waltainfo.com
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Citadel Capital Gains After Unit Finds Gold in Ethiopia
Bloomberg- May 21, 2011 Citadel Capital SAE gained the most on record after one of the units of the Egyptian private equity company said it found gold in a concession in Ethiopia. The shares rose 5.7 percent, the most since they were listed in December 2009, to 4.84 Egyptian pounds at the 2:30 p.m. close in Cairo. That valued the company at 3.2 billion pounds ($538 million).
Asec Co. for Mining said it found evidence of the existence of gold near the surface in an area where it has exploration rights in Ethiopia. The company said it completed the first phase of drilling in the area and plans to start the second phase in July and the third phase in the third quarter.To contact the reporter on this story: Ahmed A Namatalla in Cairo at anamatalla@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Claudia Maedler at cmaedler@bloomberg.net
Asec Co. for Mining said it found evidence of the existence of gold near the surface in an area where it has exploration rights in Ethiopia. The company said it completed the first phase of drilling in the area and plans to start the second phase in July and the third phase in the third quarter.To contact the reporter on this story: Ahmed A Namatalla in Cairo at anamatalla@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Claudia Maedler at cmaedler@bloomberg.net
Telecom played vital role for Ethiopia’s overall development: Ethio Telecom
Addis Ababa, May 21 (WIC) – The telecommunication sector has played a vital role in the political, economic and social achievements of the country over the past two decades, Ethio Telecom (ET) said.
External Communications Manager at ET, Abdurahim Ahmed said that due to the special attention accorded to the sector by the government, the telecom service has expanded to a wide range of services and customers.
In the past two decades the telecom sector has registered a steady growth in terms of the service provided, network capacity and number of customers, the external communications manager said.
In 1991 fixed line subscribers stood at 6,700. At the moment, it stands just below the million mark.
“Since the introduction of the mobile phone service, the growth of the fixed line subscribers is limited,” Abdurahim told WIC in an exclusive interview. “In the next five years, we plan to pass the million mark”.
Internet and Mobile phone services were introduced to Ethiopia in 1997 and 1999, respectively. At the time, the number of internet subscribers was 1,042 while mobile phone service, which originally had a network capacity to accommodate 36,000 dial-up subscribers, registered 6,700 customers.
“Now, mobile phone subscribers has reached 9.5 million and the network capacity stands at 20 million subscribers,” Abdurahim said. “By the end of the previous budget year, internet subscribers have reached 68,000”.
The telecom sector had also launched the School-net, Wereda-net, and Agri-net projects with a view to assisting education, agriculture and good governance sectors, respectively.
According to Abdurahim, 684 senior secondary schools under the School-net project, 631 Weredas under the Wereda-net project and 49 agricultural institutes under the Agri-net project are connected with V-Sat technology.
The external communication manager said that under the rural connectivity project, all weredas are now connected with digital telephone services.
He said that a project which was launched to connect all Kebeles through wireless technology will be completed by the end of this fiscal year.
“We have, so far, connected more than 11,000 Kebeles with this technology,” Abdurahim told WIC.
External Communications Manager at ET, Abdurahim Ahmed said that due to the special attention accorded to the sector by the government, the telecom service has expanded to a wide range of services and customers.
In the past two decades the telecom sector has registered a steady growth in terms of the service provided, network capacity and number of customers, the external communications manager said.
In 1991 fixed line subscribers stood at 6,700. At the moment, it stands just below the million mark.
“Since the introduction of the mobile phone service, the growth of the fixed line subscribers is limited,” Abdurahim told WIC in an exclusive interview. “In the next five years, we plan to pass the million mark”.
Internet and Mobile phone services were introduced to Ethiopia in 1997 and 1999, respectively. At the time, the number of internet subscribers was 1,042 while mobile phone service, which originally had a network capacity to accommodate 36,000 dial-up subscribers, registered 6,700 customers.
“Now, mobile phone subscribers has reached 9.5 million and the network capacity stands at 20 million subscribers,” Abdurahim said. “By the end of the previous budget year, internet subscribers have reached 68,000”.
The telecom sector had also launched the School-net, Wereda-net, and Agri-net projects with a view to assisting education, agriculture and good governance sectors, respectively.
According to Abdurahim, 684 senior secondary schools under the School-net project, 631 Weredas under the Wereda-net project and 49 agricultural institutes under the Agri-net project are connected with V-Sat technology.
The external communication manager said that under the rural connectivity project, all weredas are now connected with digital telephone services.
He said that a project which was launched to connect all Kebeles through wireless technology will be completed by the end of this fiscal year.
“We have, so far, connected more than 11,000 Kebeles with this technology,” Abdurahim told WIC.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Sudan, Ethiopia to boost cooperation in domains of da'wa
Addis Ababa, May 19 (WIC) - State Minister at Sudan’s Ministry of Guidance and Endowments Khalil Abdullah reviewed with a visiting Ethiopian delegation headed by the Chairman of the Higher Council for Islamic Affairs in Ethiopia Sheikh Ahmadadin Sheikh Abdullah means of boosting joint cooperation between the Sudan and Ethiopia in domains of Hajj, Umra , Endowments, Propagators and pertinent issues.
The Minister welcomed the visit of the Ethiopian delegation and affirmed Sudan's readiness to cooperate and exchange expertise with the Higher Council for Islamic Affairs in Ethiopia, Sudan News Agency reported.
Director of the Department of International and Public Relations at the Ministry of Guidance and Endowments, Al-Fatih Mukhtar, said the meeting stressed the need to enhance cooperation between the two sides in domains of Hajj, Ummrah, Endowments, propagation and Training.
Mukhtar added that the Ethiopian delegation will meet with officials at the Higher Council for Islamic Affairs, Endowment Authority, Hajj and Ummrah Administration.
Source..Waltainfo.com
The Minister welcomed the visit of the Ethiopian delegation and affirmed Sudan's readiness to cooperate and exchange expertise with the Higher Council for Islamic Affairs in Ethiopia, Sudan News Agency reported.
Director of the Department of International and Public Relations at the Ministry of Guidance and Endowments, Al-Fatih Mukhtar, said the meeting stressed the need to enhance cooperation between the two sides in domains of Hajj, Ummrah, Endowments, propagation and Training.
Mukhtar added that the Ethiopian delegation will meet with officials at the Higher Council for Islamic Affairs, Endowment Authority, Hajj and Ummrah Administration.
Source..Waltainfo.com
Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India, will hold first-ever bilateral visit to Ethiopia, Vivek Katju, Secretary (West), announced.
Addis Ababa, May 19 (WIC) – Briefing journalists yesterday, the secretary said that Prime Minister Singh, who will visit Ethiopia to take part on the Second Africa-India Forum Summit (May 24 to 25), will hold bilateral discussions with Ethiopia on May 25 and 26.
“This will be the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to this country,” Katju told journalists.
The secretary said the Prime Minister will hold discussions with Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and address the Ethiopian Parliament. According to Katju, the two leaders are expected to sign an agreement which will avoid double taxation, apart from strengthening bilateral ties.
During the past two decades, the Ethiopian Investment Agency has approved Indian investment of around 4.5 billion dollars. Agriculture and floriculture, engineering, plastics, manufacturing, cotton and textiles, pharmaceuticals, healthcare and ICT are the areas in which Indian companies have been investing in Ethiopia.
“India is a partner in Ethiopia’s development process and has extended Lines of Credits amounting to around 700 million dollars,” Katju said. “A large part of this credit is committed to the development of the sugar industry in Ethiopia”.
Fifteen African countries, selected by the African Union, are expected to participate in the Second Africa-India Forum Summit, which will be held in Addis Ababa from May 23 to 26. These countries include Algeria, Burundi, Chad, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Libya, Malawi, Namibia, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Swaziland and the host country Ethiopia.
“The choice of the countries is decided by the AU on the basis of the Banjul format adopted by the AU for the participation of African countries in Summits like this,” the Secretary said.
The Summit will give due emphasis on ways of increasing the level of Trade and Investment between India and Africa. According to the Secretary, the bilateral trade between India and Africa has reached 48 billion dollars and India hope to reach a target of 70 billion dollars by 2015.
source..waltainfo.com
“This will be the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to this country,” Katju told journalists.
The secretary said the Prime Minister will hold discussions with Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and address the Ethiopian Parliament. According to Katju, the two leaders are expected to sign an agreement which will avoid double taxation, apart from strengthening bilateral ties.
During the past two decades, the Ethiopian Investment Agency has approved Indian investment of around 4.5 billion dollars. Agriculture and floriculture, engineering, plastics, manufacturing, cotton and textiles, pharmaceuticals, healthcare and ICT are the areas in which Indian companies have been investing in Ethiopia.
“India is a partner in Ethiopia’s development process and has extended Lines of Credits amounting to around 700 million dollars,” Katju said. “A large part of this credit is committed to the development of the sugar industry in Ethiopia”.
Fifteen African countries, selected by the African Union, are expected to participate in the Second Africa-India Forum Summit, which will be held in Addis Ababa from May 23 to 26. These countries include Algeria, Burundi, Chad, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Libya, Malawi, Namibia, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Swaziland and the host country Ethiopia.
“The choice of the countries is decided by the AU on the basis of the Banjul format adopted by the AU for the participation of African countries in Summits like this,” the Secretary said.
The Summit will give due emphasis on ways of increasing the level of Trade and Investment between India and Africa. According to the Secretary, the bilateral trade between India and Africa has reached 48 billion dollars and India hope to reach a target of 70 billion dollars by 2015.
source..waltainfo.com
Monday, May 16, 2011
Samsung to open electronics engineering academy in Ethiopia
Sunday, 15 May 2011-Addis Ababa, May 14 (WIC) - Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd, the South Korean electronics manufacturer, is planning to set up an electronics engineering academy in Ethiopia. George Ferriera, Samsung Electronics Africa, Chief Operating Officer (COO), said that the company plans to open up the engineering academy in Addis Ababa with an estimated cost of 1.5 million dollars.
The company opened the first electronics engineering academy in Africa at Boksburg, South Africa, in March 2011. The academy, which is equipped with electronics engineering lab, provides practical trainings to students from Grade 10 to 12 drawn from schools chosen by the company.According to the COO, the academy planned to be opened in Ethiopia will be similar to the one built in South Africa with a view to boosting local technical and engineering skills.
“The students will have practical access to the latest notebooks, tablet PCs and electronic boards to use and work on,” George Ferriera said. “They will have a place to eat and drink with transportation facilities provided”.
The company, which intends to have 10,000 electronic engineers in Africa by 2015, has also plans to set up assembly plants in different parts of Africa, including Ethiopia, Sudan, South Africa, Nigeria and Senegal.
“We are currently busy with feasibility studies to set up assembly plants for home appliances,” Ferriera said. “If we do so much business in Africa, we can do much investment in the continent”.
With an estimated cost of 300,000 dollars, the company recently also erected a clock tower on Teklehaimanot square, few blocks from the head office of its local distributor.
In its 2010 performance, Samsung registered a company record of 1.23 billion dollars revenues from its operations in Africa, a 31 percent growth from the previous year.
With a market share of 22 percent in consumer electronic products in Africa, as opposed to Nokia’s 54 percent in 2009, Samsung aims to generate 10 billion dollars in annual revenue from Africa by 2015.
“This year’s plan is to grow by 60 percent, which will effectively put us on par with Nokia,” Ferriera said.
The company opened the first electronics engineering academy in Africa at Boksburg, South Africa, in March 2011. The academy, which is equipped with electronics engineering lab, provides practical trainings to students from Grade 10 to 12 drawn from schools chosen by the company.According to the COO, the academy planned to be opened in Ethiopia will be similar to the one built in South Africa with a view to boosting local technical and engineering skills.
“The students will have practical access to the latest notebooks, tablet PCs and electronic boards to use and work on,” George Ferriera said. “They will have a place to eat and drink with transportation facilities provided”.
The company, which intends to have 10,000 electronic engineers in Africa by 2015, has also plans to set up assembly plants in different parts of Africa, including Ethiopia, Sudan, South Africa, Nigeria and Senegal.
“We are currently busy with feasibility studies to set up assembly plants for home appliances,” Ferriera said. “If we do so much business in Africa, we can do much investment in the continent”.
With an estimated cost of 300,000 dollars, the company recently also erected a clock tower on Teklehaimanot square, few blocks from the head office of its local distributor.
In its 2010 performance, Samsung registered a company record of 1.23 billion dollars revenues from its operations in Africa, a 31 percent growth from the previous year.
With a market share of 22 percent in consumer electronic products in Africa, as opposed to Nokia’s 54 percent in 2009, Samsung aims to generate 10 billion dollars in annual revenue from Africa by 2015.
“This year’s plan is to grow by 60 percent, which will effectively put us on par with Nokia,” Ferriera said.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Egypt approves of Ethiopia’s Renaissance Dam in principle and will buy Electric!!
Sun 5/15/2011-Egypt has in principle approved the Renaissance Dam that Ethiopia intends to build on its borders with Sudan this year, according to an official source.The source added that Prime Minister Essam Sharf and his Ethiopian counterpart have agreed that an Egyptian technical committee examine the blueprints of the dam, so as to determine whether it would adversely affect Egypt’s Nile water quota, and that Egypt might participate in the construction of the dam, which is expected to cost around US$4.7 billion.
An agreement has also been reached by which Egypt and Sudan will buy electricity from Ethiopia’s power station in Mendaya, which has the capacity to provide 1200 megawatts to Sudan and another 2000 to Egypt. A related agreement allows for Egypt to import a large number of Ethiopian livestock.
“More than 30 Egyptian companies have already asked to import meat from Ethiopia due to its high quality and low price,” said Ayman Eissa, head of the Egyptian-Ethiopian Business Council.
He added that Egypt aims to link its economic development to that of Ethiopia, in order to avoid unilateral projects that would harm the interest of either countries.
(Source Almasryalyoum.com)
An agreement has also been reached by which Egypt and Sudan will buy electricity from Ethiopia’s power station in Mendaya, which has the capacity to provide 1200 megawatts to Sudan and another 2000 to Egypt. A related agreement allows for Egypt to import a large number of Ethiopian livestock.
“More than 30 Egyptian companies have already asked to import meat from Ethiopia due to its high quality and low price,” said Ayman Eissa, head of the Egyptian-Ethiopian Business Council.
He added that Egypt aims to link its economic development to that of Ethiopia, in order to avoid unilateral projects that would harm the interest of either countries.
(Source Almasryalyoum.com)
Ethiopia to participate in the Indian-African Summit!!!
Agenda being set for India-Africa Summit in Addis Ababa
Wednesday, 11 May 2011
Addis Ababa, May 11 (WIC) -A two-day India-Africa seminar kicks off here Wednesday ahead of the second India Africa Forum Summit to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the Ethiopian capital later this month to step up ties between the two regions that account for 40 percent of humanity.
The seminar has been organised by the Indian Council for World Affairs (ICWA) with support from its counterpart here, the Ethiopian International Institute for Peace and Development, under "Track-II Diplomacy" initiative of India's ministry of external affairs.
"This the first of the seminars we are hosting, ahead of the India-Africa Summit which our prime minister is inaugurating. The outcomes and suggestions will be taken up at the larger level," said ICWA Director General Sudhir T. Devare.
"The focus remains how India-Africa partnership can be mutually beneficial for the overall development and growth," Devare, who is also among the key speakers at the seminar, told IANS.
The organisers said the seminar was also in the nature of an academic conference with expert speakers drawn from areas such as strategic affairs, banking, gender issues, finance, policy, education, foreign relations and history.
Key speakers include the African Union Deputy Chairman Erastus J.O. Mawencha, Ethiopian Education Minister Demeke Mekonnen and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Ambassador Berhane Gebrekirstos, and National Maritime Foundation Director C. Uday Bhaskar.
The seminar, ICWA said in a concept note, will focus on five key areas: Economic development, capacity building in terms of human resources, gender mainstreaming, diaspora resource and non-traditional security.
In terms of the two-million-strong Indian diaspora in Africa, the note said India has not been able to convert it into a resource and the same holds true for African nations. The speakers will seek to find answers to this issue.
The seminar comes at a time when India's bilateral trade with Africa crossed the 50-billion USD mark last year, and Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Shaerma has set a target of 70 billion USD by 2012.
In economic partnership, one of the main topics of discussion will be how the Indian private and public sector companies can contribute to the infrastructure needs of Africa both with technology and funds.
Addis Ababa is the seat of the African Union.
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 11 May 2011 )
source waltainfo.com
Wednesday, 11 May 2011
Addis Ababa, May 11 (WIC) -A two-day India-Africa seminar kicks off here Wednesday ahead of the second India Africa Forum Summit to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the Ethiopian capital later this month to step up ties between the two regions that account for 40 percent of humanity.
The seminar has been organised by the Indian Council for World Affairs (ICWA) with support from its counterpart here, the Ethiopian International Institute for Peace and Development, under "Track-II Diplomacy" initiative of India's ministry of external affairs.
"This the first of the seminars we are hosting, ahead of the India-Africa Summit which our prime minister is inaugurating. The outcomes and suggestions will be taken up at the larger level," said ICWA Director General Sudhir T. Devare.
"The focus remains how India-Africa partnership can be mutually beneficial for the overall development and growth," Devare, who is also among the key speakers at the seminar, told IANS.
The organisers said the seminar was also in the nature of an academic conference with expert speakers drawn from areas such as strategic affairs, banking, gender issues, finance, policy, education, foreign relations and history.
Key speakers include the African Union Deputy Chairman Erastus J.O. Mawencha, Ethiopian Education Minister Demeke Mekonnen and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Ambassador Berhane Gebrekirstos, and National Maritime Foundation Director C. Uday Bhaskar.
The seminar, ICWA said in a concept note, will focus on five key areas: Economic development, capacity building in terms of human resources, gender mainstreaming, diaspora resource and non-traditional security.
In terms of the two-million-strong Indian diaspora in Africa, the note said India has not been able to convert it into a resource and the same holds true for African nations. The speakers will seek to find answers to this issue.
The seminar comes at a time when India's bilateral trade with Africa crossed the 50-billion USD mark last year, and Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Shaerma has set a target of 70 billion USD by 2012.
In economic partnership, one of the main topics of discussion will be how the Indian private and public sector companies can contribute to the infrastructure needs of Africa both with technology and funds.
Addis Ababa is the seat of the African Union.
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 11 May 2011 )
source waltainfo.com
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Large-scale Technology is at Heart of Economic Structural Transformation in Ethiopia
Tsegaye Tegenu, May 14, 2011
In the European history, large scale technologies have played central role in the structural transformation the economy and society. The introduction of threshing machine, iron plows, seed drills and other important tools in the 18th century could increase the scale in agriculture. In the industrial sector, the technologies of the industrial revolution related to textile, iron production, mining, and steam power have led to an increase in the scale of production. Much later on, during the time of the second industrial revolution the introduction of new technologies such as steel, concrete, chemicals, paper and internal combustion engines led to even larger scales of efficient production. The introduction of influential technologies both in the agriculture and manufacturing sectors increased the scale of production and required large capital investment.
Egyptian PM Essam Sharaf said Egypt is not against Renaissance Dam
Addis Ababa, May 14, 2011(WIC) – The Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf said that Egypt won’t stand against the building of the Ethiopian Grand Renaissance Dam.
In his discussion with Ethiopian Premier H.E Meles Zenawi on Friday, Essam Sharaf he stressed that Egypt will cooperate with Ethiopia and it sets to play a positive role on fair utilization of the Nile River.
According to the premier, Egypt is not against the dam project that Ethiopia has initiated on the Nile, adding that move taken by Egypt’s former leaders to prevent Ethiopia from getting support for its Nile-related projects was flawed.
Meles for his part reassured Mr. Sharaf of Ethiopia’s readiness as it used to be to work in partnership with Egypt.
source Waltinfo.com
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