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Israeli Strategy to make Ethiopia a Leading Nation in Exporting Fertilizer Djibouti (HAN) March 22, 2014
The Israeli Chemicals Limited (ICL) Africa and Allana Potash signed partnership agreement to mine potash fertilizer and supply to farmers in Ethiopia and Africa as well as other countries. The accord would help Ethiopia to introduce new fertilizer to farmers and considerably increase productivity, the Ministry of Agriculture said.
Israel Chemical Limited (ICL) of Africa has extended half-a-million USD support to Ethiopia’s fertilizer company. The grant-aid agreement was signed on Monday by State Agriculture Minister Professor Tekalegn Mamo and Mr. Yoran Chon, ICL General Manager.
During the occasion, Chon said Ethiopia can be a leading nation in Africa in exporting fertilizer when the factory starts production by utilizing its potash resource.
The General Manager who appreciated the all round effort Ethiopia is making in agriculture said he supports the effort the country has been making to produce fertilizer.
Professor Takelagn said on his part Ethiopia is for the first time making preparations to produce fertilizer dubed Mitin and supply it to farmers.
He also thanked the company for not only the financial but technical support too.
Last Month, Israel Chemicals said, it would partner with Canada’s Allana Potash to develop a potash mine in Ethiopia in a deal which includes ICL taking a stake in Allana.
The feasibility study for the Danakhil project in the Dallol region of northeast Ethiopia indicates it will produce about one million tons of potash annually within five years.
Sources: Tasfaye Abera – @HAN & Geeska Afrika Online Market Reporter
https://geeskaafrika.com/?p=1916
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“PINE” MARKETS HERALDED AS BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY OF THE DECADE
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Strong economic growth in Asian and African markets presents major opportunities for global business's
“PINE” Markets Heralded As Business Opportunity Of The Decade
Following the economic crisis that crippled the world’s economic powerhouses and slowed growth in the BRICs (Brazil, Russia, India and China), attention has turned to new markets as global businesses seek to find the next major business opportunities of the decade.
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Analysts are increasingly agreeing on the importance of the PINE countries as new economic powers. The Philippines, Indonesia, Nigeria and Ethiopia are demonstrating impressively strong growth in what remain difficult economic circumstances globally.
The Philippines is the fastest-growing economy of the emerging PINE markets, growing its GDP by 7.2% last year. Neighboring Indonesia has been similarly excelling, exhibiting growth of 5.7% in the last year, which is expected to continue to grow at over 6% this year. These levels of GDP growth are stronger than that expected for China in 2014.
Growth in the South Asian emerging markets is being fuelled by attractive exports, and an increasing ease of doing business. The continued expansion of these markets is attracting the attention of major international companies, enthused by the growing size of the middle classes and the generally positive business conditions.
The PINE countries are within the business portfolio of Lamudi, a major global online real estate marketplace. Paul Philipp Hermann, Co-Founder at Lamudi, commented on the implications of this impressive growth for the company’s operations in Asia: “Lamudi is only the latest of a growing roster of companies with an international reputation such as Shell, Allianz, HSBC, Dell and more, who are targeting emerging markets such as the Philippines and Indonesia for investment.
In our experience, both Indonesia and the Philippines are not only great places but exciting places to do business. We are looking forward to a very bright future in these locations and are convinced that the PINE markets offer the major business opportunity of the next decade”.
Whether people are looking for properties for rent or for sale, the internet platform Lamudi enables customers to easily find or sell their house, apartment, commercial property or land online. At the same time, property providers and agents get a trusted online presence through a personalized webpage.
Key characteristics of Lamudi are the diverse property offers, the intuitive website set-up and the high security standards which filter-out fraudulent property offers. The business platform operates under a high level of transparency through professional photos, updated listings, detailed descriptions, reports and rankings for 100% of its properties in each market. The Lamudi platform helps brokers to manage their inventory fast, easy and stress-free.
https://www.globalbankingandfinance.com/pine-markets-heralded-as-business-opportunity-of-the-decade/
Ethiopia: Chinese are Building a Huge Industrial Village
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Djibouti (HAN) March 22, 2014
The Chinese shoe factory Huajian Group says it would build a huge industrial zone in Addis Ababa. Factory president Xiang Hurong who held talks with Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Tedros Adhanom here in Addis said the village industry to be built at Lafto Sub-city is far wider than the Eastern Industry Zone at Dukem. He said construction is expected to begin in two months.
The company which built a factory in Dukem town had created 3,500 permanent and temporary jobs, the president added. The new industrial village would create from 30 to 50,000 jobs to citizens, according to Xiang Hurong. It will mainly focus on shoe production.
In a related development, Dr. Tedros Adhanom held talks with his Cuban counterpart Mr. Bruno Rodriguez. The officials conferred on ways to strengthen Ethio-Cuba relations.
They have confirmed that they would jointly strive to boost relations in the heath sector. In his facebook: The Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Tedros said, So glad to receive from President of Huajian the final design of the construction of a light manufacturing special economic zone for shoe “Shoe City”. Preparations are well underway to start construction in few months. The total investment will be 2.2 Bln USD. Please see the attached beautiful design of the “Shoe City” which looks like a shoe. #Ethiopia poised to become a hub for shoe manufacturing. The investment is expected to create 30 to 50 thousand jobs.
Sources: Tasfaye Abera – @HAN & Geeska Afrika Online Market Reporter
https://geeskaafrika.com/?p=1912
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South African based firm bids for 250m airport expansion project
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- Plans to “immaculate” the capital
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The South Africa-based Ngoyama Okpanum and Associates group is bidding to have a stake in the Bole International Airport expansion project that will require some USD 250 million, The Reporter learnt.
According to Innocent Okpanum (Ph.D.), managing director and owner of the company, the bid requires contenders to handle both contract and construction management activities. Bidders will render a more demanding consultancy. The group company also runs for designing the master plan the airport envisages to have.
It is recalled that the budget and finance affairs standing committee of the House of Peoples' Representatives will further review the draft bill, which governs the expansion project. At the moment it has secured some USD 225 million loan from the Chinese EX-IM bank. In 2012 Ethiopian Airlines managed to serve 6.34 million passengers and some 163.4 thousand tons of cargo and the parliament sees that it has become a challenge for the airport to handle anything beyond the current capacity.
During his recent visit to the capital, Innocent told The Reporter that he has planned to engage himself in Ethiopia in projects that will positively affect the society. One of the things he will do is join hands with public agencies responsible with handling the day-to-day clean ups and municipality activities. According to Innocent, making Addis “immaculate” is the immediate and short-term plan to work on. For the medium term, innocent envisaged that he would manage to indulge into the design and planning business. To him, Addis is not merely the political seat of Ethiopia; rather it serves as the home and the head for African nations. “The leader should tell us where to go and should stand as a model for the rest to follow,” Innocent argues in a logical sense that Ethiopia is not there as a leader for the task.
Having frequent visits to the capital, Innocent has been vocal in downplaying some of the construction going through. For the architect, the newly built roads are “brutally cannibalizing” the social and economic values of the society. Innocent claims constructions in the capital are mainly fixated on easing up traffic. Systematically avoiding pedestrian walks is easily noticed as fatal errors of design and planning. He cites the road from Bole to Mesqel Square and the bridge over the railway crossing the square as the most brutal thing to do. According to Innocent, Mesqel Square is a representative symbol of the nation. The presidential stand is at the pick of the square and it no longer it serves the same purpose.
A few weeks ago, The Reporter was able to contact Innocent about his medium term plans and learned that he is dealing with the officials to have some 300 hectares of land to construct an innovative and technology city within the city. If successful, the proposed plan may consume some USD 2.7 billion; equivalent to the cost of the new similar project that Innocent has the go ahead on from the Nigerian government.
In the long run, Innocent plans to have a closer touch with stakeholders of the nation’s architects and others so that a quarterly forum will be organized to debate about the planning and design aspects of architecture. He also plans to promote young affiliates of the profession to have firsthand exposure and internship grants for which he promises to cover all expenses. Currently, some final year students of Addis Ababa University (AAU) have had the chance to go to South Africa and explore practical experiences.
https://www.thereporterethiopia.com/index.php/news-headlines/item/1752-south-african-based-firm-bids-for-250m-airport-expansion-project
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World Bank provides 6.2 bln. birr loan
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State Minister Ahmed Shide (right) and World Bank Country Director for Ethiopia Guang Zhe Chen exchanging loan agreement document
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The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MoFED) and the World Bank yesterday signed an agreement providing for 6.2 billion birr loan to finance the 258-kms Nekemte-Bure road upgrading project and assist in Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA) institutional capacity building. The agreement was signed by State Minister Ahmed Shide and World Bank Country Director for Ethiopia Guang Zhe Chen.
Ahmed said the project is aimed at improving the 258-kms Nekemte-Bure road which provides a strategic link between Amhara and Oromia states and forming part of the state road link to Sudan.
He also said the project helps to enhance the institutional development of ERA, reduce travel time and cost along the selected inter-regional corridors.
According to Ahmed, the project will also help to support the sustainability of the federal road network.
“The Bank is one of the first development partners to work with the government/ ERA in the drafting of the Road Sector Development Programme (RSDP) which was launched in 1997,” said the Country Director. Since the launching of the programme, the Bank has provided 1.70 billion USD for upgrading and the expansion of 3,725-kms of road network which constitutes about six per cent of the country's classified road network, he added.
“I am happy to note that 79 per cent of these road projects are complete and are facilitating the overall economic development of the country,” Guang Zhe Chen said.
The project will help to enhance trade reduce travel time, create new markets and provide improved access to education, medical services and food security to the country's poor thereby contributing to the GTP, he said.
Indicating the fact that helping to upgrade Ethiopia's road network is not new for World Bank, the Country Director said that this project is different in its special approach to asset management.
In the approach, contractors selected to undertake the project and will be responsible for its maintenance for a period of six years after its completion.
“We believe that this type of contract will lead to an improvement in quality and greater control of the final cost of the work, both critical issues for the government”, he added.
The project is expected to be completed within four years.
https://www.ethpress.gov.et/herald/index.php/herald/news/6347-wb-provides-6-2-bln-birr-loan
CNR Dalian locomotives exported to Ethiopia
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ETHIOPIA: CNR Dalian is supplying three diesel locomotives for use by contractor China Civil Engineering Construction Corp during the construction of the standard gauge route which is to replace the out-of-use metre gauge line from Djibouti to Addis Abeba.
The 2 940 kW locomotives have 16V240ZJD engines and a maximum speed of 100 km/h. They are designed to operate in temperatures of 50°C and altitudes of 2 000 m, and have two level of air filtration to handle the dusty environment.
When ambient temperatures exceed 40°C the onboard computer can automatically adjust the output power of the main generator to optimise performance. The air-conditioned cab has a double roof for temperature insulation.
https://www.railwaygazette.com/news/news/africa/single-view/view/cnr-dalian-locomotives-exported-to-ethiopia.html
Related rail news
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17 Mar 2014 - Addis Abeba tram supplier selected
28 Jun 2012 - Ethiopian Railways Corp awards northern construction contracts
16 Feb 2012 - Contract signed for final section of new Djibouti - Ethiopia railway
10 Feb 2012 - Contract awarded for Ethiopian electric railway
11 Sep 2009 - Grand designs from Ethiopian Railway Corp
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OIA inaugurates modern eye care centre
The opening of the centre will strengthen the bilateral ties between the two countries
The Indian- based Overseas Infrastructure Alliance (OIA), a development partner of Ethiopia in electric power, sugar production and transport sectors, yesterday inaugurated a modern eye care centre at Zewditu Hospital.
President Dr. Mulatu Teshome, Health Minister Dr. Kesete-Birhan Admasu, Indian Ambassador Sanjay Verma and other invited guests attended the inauguration ceremony.
The centre plans to increase its capacity, in phases, to treat 100,000 patients and perform 10,000 sight restoring surgeries in about three years.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Centre Lead Ophthalmologist Dr. Rashmin Gandhi said that besides its plan to treat 100,000 patients within three years, the centre is also ready to introduce Mobile Eye Care Clinics in the remote areas.
Dr. Kesete-Birhan said that the inauguration of the centre will move the health sector a step forward in addressing the availability of tertiary eye care in Ethiopia. As to the Minister, in addition to providing internationally standardized eye care services the centre is believed to produce professional human power.
“To produce many eye specialists, we have launched the programme in Gondar and Jimma Universities which was previously limited only at Addis Ababa University,” the Minister said.
President Dr. Mulatu also said that the opening of the centre will strengthen the bilateral ties between the two countries. “The launching of OIA India Eye Care Centre, which was built under a successful public-private-partnership between our two countries, is a true affirmation and the consolidation of mutually beneficial relationship that we have been successfully promoting for the past several years,” the President said.
With a 15-bed dedicated state of the art and ultra-modern ophthalmology facility based in the campus of Zewditu Memorial Hospital in Addis Ababa, OIA Eye Care Centre will offer relief to patients suffering from conditions such as cataract, glaucoma, diabetes related eye problems and plastic surgery around the eyes. The facility also has an in-house training centre for surgeons, paramedic and administrative staff to build the local human resources and has been built in technical collaboration with an Indian centre of excellence which provides medical advisory and consultancy services.
https://www.ethpress.gov.et/herald/index.php/herald/news/6373-oia-inaugurates-modern-eye-care-centre
Ethiopian President desires U.S. Companies to invest Ethiopia
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Djibouti (HAN) March 22, 2014
The President of federal Ethiopia, Dr.Mulatu Teshome said it is Ethiopia’s desire that US companies invest in Ethiopia in various areas.
While conferring with a delegation of Corporate Council on Africa (CCA), the President said Ethiopia is interested on US companies to engage especially in manufacturing, power generation and infrastructure development.
The President briefed the delegation about investment opportunities in the country. CCA President Stephen Hayes on his part expressed US companies’ interest to invest in Ethiopia in manufacturing, power generation and infrastructure development as well as information technology. He said the peace and stability, human power and the country’s rapidly growing economy is attracting attention of many companies.
CCA is a non-profit, membership-based organization established in 1993 to promote business and investment between the United States and the nations of Africa.
CCA has more than 160 member companies, which represent nearly 85 percent of total U.S. private sector investments in Africa. Its members range from America’s smallest to largest corporations The former Ethiopian Ambassador to Turkey, Dr. Mulatu Teshome Wirtu (Oromo nation) was last October, 2013 sworn in as the new President of Ethiopia. Ambassador Mulatu served in various ministerial positions before he was appointed as an Ambassador under the current administration. The President of Ethiopia is also the executive member of the Oromo Peoples’ Democratic Organization (OPDO).
Sources: Tasfaye Abera – @HAN & Geeska Afrika Online Market Reporter
https://geeskaafrika.com/?p=1919
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Meet deliberates on urban landholding registration proclamation
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Involving the public in landholding adjudication sections and villages would further
enhance public decision making and facilitate land administration's implementing role
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The Ministry of Urban Development and Construction said the proclamation providing for registration of urban landholding (No.818/2014) will ensure the rights of Ethiopians to immovable property they build on the land as provided under Article 40 of the Constitution and their right to use land in urban areas.
Opening a day-long consultative meeting with stakeholders on Urban Land Registration Legal Framework held at Desalegn Hotel yesterday Minister Mekuria Haile said that Urban Landholding Registration would create nationwide vibrant landholding system and ensure citizens' wealth creation capacity. The registration also attracts developmental investors to urban areas and provide reliable information for the country's economy which will be utilized for the required services, especially to give citizens, possession right security and accelerate, social and environmental development of citizens, the Minister added.
Mekuria further said that the legal framework will further facilitate registration of rights, restrictions and responsibilities relating to land and immovable property to enhance the contribution of land and immovable property to the development of free market economy system.
The Minister added that as it is declared,involving the public in landholding adjudication sections and villages would further enhance public decision making and facilitate land administration's implementing role.
Urban and Land Related Property Registry and Information Agency Acting Director General Solomon Kebede on his part said that implementing legal cadastre principles such as registration of possession, getting the consent of the possessor during transactions, making registration of possession would have a paramount importance. He added that legal cadastre will enhance the social and economical development of the country.
The proclamation providing for registration of urban landholding (No.818/2014) will take effect following endorsement by the Council of Ministers.
https://www.ethpress.gov.et/herald/index.php/herald/national-news/6375-meet-deliberates-on-urban-landholding-registration-proclamation
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Working to ensure food security
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Ethiopian scientist Segenet Kelemu is working to improve the resistance and productivity of forage grasses, which are used to feed the animals (and so to produce milk and meat).
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Born in a rural village and defying strong cultural norms, she managed to have an international career and return to Africa where she shared her much needed knowledge.
The main food source for much of the world’s livestock, forage grasses are vitally important to meeting the increasing demand for meat and milk. Dr. Segenet Kelemu has been recognized for her research on how microbes living in symbiosis with these grasses influence their health, their capacity to adapt to environmental stress and their ability to resist disease. By enabling small-scale farmers in tropical and
sub-tropical regions to choose the most productive, most pathogen-resistant forage grasses, her work has both helped them improve their lives and increase supplies of much needed animal proteins. In particular, Dr. Segenet’s research on Brachiaria grasses has shown that their capacity to thrive in diverse
environments is related to an endophyte fungus which lives within these plants, protects them and exists in symbiosis with them. Her work has led to solutions for disruptions in food supplies caused by pathogenic organisms and extreme climatic conditions and may help to determine which microbes allow crops to survive environmental alterations.
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From village to global village
Dr. Segenet grew up in a remote village in Ethiopia. Although she bore the unequal burden carried by rural
African women, she had an uncommon determination to overcome any obstacle to achievement and to help her continent’s farmers. Defying strong cultural norms, she became the first woman from her region to attend what was then Ethiopia’s only university.
"Don’t let anyone tell you that you cannot do it. Science is not reserved for the privileged few or the super smart or the especially crazy!" she says.
She excelled in her chosen field, plant sciences, and after obtaining her PhD in the United States, she went to Cornell University as a post-doctoral fellow. In 1992 she joined the International Center for Tropical Agriculture in Cali, Colombia as Senior Scientist and was eventually appointed Leader of Crop and Agroecosystem Management of the Center.
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Leading science in Africa
Dr. Segenet returned to Africa in 2007 to help establish the Biosciences eastern and central Africa (BecA) Hub laboratories, hosted and managed by the International Livestock Research Institute in Kenya, and is currently Director General of the International Center for Insect Physiology and Ecology.
“Africa is in desperate need of world-class institutions and I returned with joy when the opportunity arose to help create one.”
She came back to her home continent with far more than expertise. She returned with a passion that she is transmitting to a new generation of scientists working for a better Africa: “Set your goals and pursue them relentlessly. Don’t let anyone tell you that you cannot do it. Science is not reserved for the privileged few or the super smart or the especially crazy! If I can do it, so can you!”
Ed.'s Note: The story first appeared on https://www.discov-her.com.
https://www.thereporterethiopia.com/index.php/living-and-the-arts/society/item/1758-working-to-ensure-food-security
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Water sanitation, hygiene project launched
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A water sanitation and hygiene (WaSH) project would be carried out in 20 towns of Oromia,Amhara, Southern Nations and Nationalities and Peoples, and Tigray states with 33 million birr donated by WaterAid.
The capacity building project aims at increasing the efficiency, effectiveness and relevance of WaSH service provision in the twenty towns through strengthening utilities and municipalities as well as improving coordination, according to a press release issued by WaterAid today.
A survey commissioned by WaterAid Ethiopia showed that the water supply coverage of the towns ranged from 31 to 70 percent. Almost a third of the population has partial or no access to piped water, it was pointed out.
In addition, most of the towns do not conduct regular water quality assessment and the main cause for this is lack of infrastructure investment and capacity to plan and manage the available resources, the release added
https://www.ethpress.gov.et/herald/index.php/herald/national-news/6364-water-sanitation-hygiene-project-launched
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Bureau targets to help 1.5 million mothers deliver in health institutions
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The Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples (SNNP) Health Bureau plans to help 1.5 million mothers deliver in health institutions assisted by trained professionals this budget year.
This was disclosed at the opening of a performance evaluation conference of the State's health sector in the first half of this budget year.
State Deputy Chief and Bureau Head Kifle Gebre-Mariam said that over 150,000 mothers gave birth in health institutions in the reported period. This is more than double compared to that of same period last year.
Kifle said the target is to increase the performance tenfold and help 1.5 million mothers get access to the service in the remaining period.
Representatives of all zones and special woredas, including Hawassa, attended the conference held in Soddo town.
https://www.ethpress.gov.et/herald/index.php/herald/national-news/6363-bureau-targets-to-help-1-5-mln-mothers-deliver-in-health-institutions