Category: Politics

Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy, Ambassador Tracey Jacobson handed over the vehicles to Afar Regional State Chief Administrator, Awol Arba.

During the handover ceremony, Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy Ambassador Tracey Jacobson said the vehicles donated to the police in Afar will help ensure humanitarian conveys inside Afar and to Tigray can safely move.

There are a lot of changes since the cessation of hostilities agreement was signed, she stated, and added:

“The guns have been silenced, that the truce has held, the permanent cessation of hostilities is being implemented, with the delivery of humanitarian assistance more and more communities in need, with the restoration of services to people who deserve those services in Tigray, Amhara and Afar and with the beginning of the Demobilization, Disarmament and Reintegration (DDR) process.”

Stating that there still much to be done, Ambassador Jacobson underscored “we will stand together with the government of Ethiopia and the people of Ethiopia.”

Even though we have multiple routes now that route through Semera up to Tigray remains the most important humanitarian corridor that we currently have to the North in Ethiopia, she explained.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Ethiopia has been attentively undertaking preparations to expedite the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as its contribution to the overall economic development of the country is immense, Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration said.

Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration has launched today a two-day national awareness campaign with a view to enhance the commitment of all stakeholders towards the accelerated implementation of AfCFTA, which is the world’s largest free trade area bringing together the 55 countries of the African Union with a combined GDP of approximately 3.4 trillion USD.

Speaking on the occasion, State Minister of Trade and Regional Integration, Kassahun Gofe said AFCFTA would bring widen market destinations and related business opportunities for the signing member countries including Ethiopia.

According to him, the two day consultation is part of the preparations in order to enable Ethiopia get ready to exploit this huge market opportunity and other related benefits.

The national awareness campaign also discusses issues about the challenges that might encounter during the implementation of AfCFTA and possible solutions to address the challenges.

Representative of the Executive Officer of the Ministry of International and Regional Trade Relations Tages Mulugeta on his part said AfCFTA will enable African countries to widen market destination for their products in reaching the huge community with big market potential.

Even if Ethiopia’s export has been focused on agricultural products, AfCFTA would enable Ethiopia increase both diversity and quantity of exports, he underscored.

Indicating Ethiopia has been carrying out preparations to engage into AfCFT, he said, following the policy the direction is set and the types of goods and services to be offered are ratified, Ethiopia will commence the implementation of AfCFT.

Noting that 70 percent of Ethiopia’s trade exchange is out of African countries due to various factors, he pointed out, the implementation AfCFTA would change the situation.

He further elaborated beyond widening the market destination; AFCFTA can also play a pivotal role in increasing FDI flow mong African countries. This will result in creating wide job opportunities.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

The Council of Ministers, in its 2oth regular session today, discussed the macroeconomy and fiscal framework of the next five years (2024-2028) and passed decision, according to the Office of the Prime Minister.

The council has thoroughly deliberated on the macro economy and fiscal framework of the stated period, based on which government budget was prepared in line with the objectives and principles of the macroeconomy; also taking into account government’s income and expenditure in the stated middle budget years, outlining government gross income predictions, expenditure limit, regional budget subsidy limit, and fiscal deficit for the 2016 federal government budget. And it unanimously approved.

The framework will help maintain healthy financial system and resolve the fiscal risks, which the country has encountered over the last couple of years, it was indicated.

Moreover, it will be helpful in balancing government income and expenditure.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

A three-day international flagship event: “Invest Ethiopia 2023” kicked off today in Addis Ababa, at Sky Light Hotel.

The event has brought together thousands of global corporates, investors and among others.

This international event intends to promote Ethiopia’s vast investment potential for investors who have come from around the world.

In her keynote address to the event, Lelise Neme, Ethiopian Investment Commissioner called on the investors to engage in the major priority investment areas including agriculture, mining, ICT, tourism, logistics manufacturing and other areas.

Ethiopia has made a wide-range of reforms in the investment sector to create enabling environment and easing the bureaucracy in the area for investors, she pointed out.

The commissioner urged global investors to invest in the aforementioned areas, noting that Ethiopia’s strategic location is also vital for international market in every corner of the world.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Demeke Mekonon paid a visit to Emperor Haile Selassie I Secondary School in Zanzibar and laid a sapling down as a marker. The school was founded 75 years ago.

In honor of Emperor Haile Selassie I’s contribution to the liberation of Africans, Julius Nyerere, a former Tanzanian president known also as the “Father of Tanzania,” named the school after the Emperor’s name.

The current generation, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke, should collaborate towards a shared objective in the manner of Africa’s founding fathers.

Demeke stated earlier during the session with Tanzanian President Samia Saluhu that Ethiopian Airlines has significantly boosted tourism in Tanzania and that the Airline is not only Ethiopian but also African.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke is in Tanzania as his first leg of a tour in four African countries.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Ministry of Irrigation and Lowlands has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the International Food Policy Research Institute to jointly carry out researches on the area of irrigation development.

Ethiopia’s Ambassador to the USA, Seleshi Bekele and the director of International Food Policy Research Institute in USA, Johan Swinen.

According to Ministry of Irrigation & Lowlands, the MOU will allow the ministry to jointly carry out research with the institute to increase capacity building and knowledge transfer.

The agreement is also expected to help conduct researches policy researches focusing on water that are related with the irrigation development activities as well as carrying out studies with a view to expanding irrigation schemes across lowland areas.

The agreement is also significant as it allows for the two parties to jointly work in identifying the opportunities and challenges of irrigation development and on the promotion of technologies and enhance access.

The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) provides research-based policy solutions to sustainably reduce poverty and end hunger and malnutrition in developing countries.

Established in 1975, IFPRI currently has more than 500 employees working in over 70 countries, and works with a wide range of partners.

It is a research center of CGIAR, the world’s largest agricultural innovation network.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency