Ethiopia, Japan sign $17.3 million grant agreements

Addis Ababa , Ethiopia – Ethiopia and Japan here on Wednesday signed two grant agreements amounting to a total of 17.3 million US dollars for construction of educational facilities and detail design for rehabilitation of Lumame-Debremarkos road.

Some 16.4 million US dollars of the sated amount will be utilized for construction of primary and secondary schools in South Ethiopia Peoples’ State.

The other agreement which amounts to 900,000 US dollars will be used to finance a detail design for the Rehabilitation of Trunk Road Project Phase IV from Lumame to Debremarkos.

Finance and Economic Development State Minister, Ahmed Shide and Japanese Ambassador to Ethiopia, Hiroyuki Kishino signed the agreements.

Source: ENA

In UAE, Illegal Migrant Workers From Ethiopia and Philippines Rush to Seek Amnesty

New York  – Hundreds of amnesty seekers in the United Arab Emirates are rushing into the Philippine consulate and the Consulate-General of Ethiopia on the first day of a two-month amnesty program for illegal residents.

According to Khaleej Times, one of UAE’s English daily newspapers, more than 200 amnesty seekers have reached the Philippine Overseas Labour Office (POLO), located at the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai.

No official figures have been released regarding the number of Ethiopians that have come forward.

A Filipino woman named Cherry R. told the publication that she resigned from her job upon the demands of her company when she ran into trouble with several banks for delinquent accounts. “I wanted to leave the UAE but I was informed by a friend, who went to check with the police and the immigration on my behalf, that two banks had imposed a travel ban. Even at the time my father died, I could not go home. This amnesty is a great opportunity for me to go home or to legitimize my status,” she said.

“At the Ethiopian Consulate-General, Fananesh A. said she has been illegally staying in the UAE for five years, and though she wanted to go home, she could not go back due to travel ban from banks. “With this amnesty, I am looking forward to seeing my family again.”

The report added that her friend Abenet S. was absconding from her employer, which stopped her from leaving the country. “My father died and that day I cried for days because I could not go home. I felt I was put in a cage. Now is my time to go.”

sport

Eritrea withdraw from CHAN tie against Ethiopia

The Eritrea Football Federation has withdrawn its team from the African Nations Championship tie against neighbours Ethiopia.

The Confederation of African Football has confirmed the decision but gave no reason for the Eritreans withdrawal.

On Tuesday the Ethiopia Football Federation had asked Caf for the qualifiers to be moved to a neutral venue as the neighbouring countries continue to be embroiled in a border row.

On Wednesday 17 Eritrea players claimed asylum in Ugandafollowing the team's elimination from the Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup.

It is not immediately clear if either development led to the Eritrean decision.

The teams had been set to play in the Eritrean capital, Asmara, between 14-16 December, with the return tie in Addis Ababa two weeks later.

It means Ethiopia will now play Rwanda in the next round, with the first leg set for 21-13 June.

But even before the Eritreans withdrawal, Ethiopia had said they would not travel to the Red Sea state.

"We want the matches to take place, but we're not willing to travel there and it is obvious their government won't allow their team to visit Addis Ababa," said Ethiopian Football Federation spokesman Melaku Ayele.

"So we've proposed an alternative venue, neighbouring Sudan, for both matches to be held in."

Ethiopia and Eritrea fought a border war between 1998-2000 that killed tens of thousands of troops. A Hague-based independent border commission ruled that the flashpoint town of Badme belonged to Eritrea but the village remains in the hands of Ethiopia and the spat remains unresolved.

The African Nations Championship, played every two years, is the continent's second biggest tournament in which only domestic-based players can take part.

Ethiopia, nicknamed the Walyas, recently sealed a spot at the more glamorous Africa Cup of Nations finals set for January after a three-decade absence.

Ethiopia and Eritrea were last pitched against each other in 1998 in a qualifying round for the 2000 African Nations Cup, just months after fighting broke out along their sun-blasted border.

Ethiopia declined to take part in those matches.

West Coast Fundraiser for Ethiopia Reads

New York – December is here and that means the Holiday season is upon us! Last year, Ihosted a fundraiser here in New York for the Colorado-based non-profit organization, Ethiopia Reads, which focuses on projects to build libraries and encourage the culture of reading among children in Ethiopia.

File photograph from Ethiopia Reads fundraiser in New York on Thursday, December 15th, 2011. (Photo by Hannah Newbery)

The 2012 event will take place on Saturday, December 8th in Seattle, Washington. The evening’s program at Kings Hall, located in the Mount Baker neighborhood of southeast Seattle, will include entertainment, food (Ethiopian buffet dinner), cash-bar, raffles and much more.

Ethiopia-Kenya project gets Sh13.5B from ADB Treasury has acquired 13.5 billion loan from the African Development Bank that will be used to fund the Ethiopia - Kenya Electricity Highway Project as well as various projects in the Higher Education Ministry. The power project will get 9.8 billion shillings which is an addition to the 37.5 billion shillings that it already signed from World Bank Wednesday. Kenya and Ethiopia started an ambitious power project that would see Kenya import power from Ethiopia at an average cost of 7 cents per killowatt hour. This is expected to bridge the power deficit in Kenya and to minimize the frequent blackouts currently being experienced.

Ethiopia and Japan Sign a 310 Million Birr Grant Agreement

Ethiopia and Japan signed a 310 million birr agreement on Wednesday (December 5th) at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development in Addis Ababa.

The agreement was signed by Ahmed Shide, State Minister of Finance and Economic Development and Ambassador of Japan to Ethiopia, Ambassador Heroiki Kishini. Most of the grant will be used to build elementary and secondary schools in the Southern Nations Nationalities and People's Regional State, while 16 million birr will finance the renovation of the Debre Markos- Limalimo Road in the Amhara Regional State.

Ahmed Shide said that Ethiopia greatly appreciated Japan's development aid including the provision of loans with low interest rate to support Ethiopia's development efforts. He also called for increased support to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries and raise them to an even higher level. Ambassador Heroiki Kishini reaffirmed Japan interest in continuing its support in building schools to help Ethiopia achieve its Growth and Transformation Plan.

He also noted that Japan will continue its policy of supporting Ethiopia through increased investment.

US EXIM Bank to Back Ethiopian Airlines Bonds

The Export-Import Bank of the United States announced it will back the bonds that were issued by Ethiopian Airlines. The Airlines issued the bonds to buy ten Boeing 787 Dreamliner airplanes.

It was mentioned that the Airlines received a competitive interest rate from the bank. The agreement is good news to both parties because it helps the American export sector and Ethiopian Airlines will benefit from the financing program according to EXIM Bank Chairman and President Fred P. Hochberg.

Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI) is to be the co financer on the deal it was also mentioned.

The US EXIM Bank has been working in cooperation with Ethiopian Airlines starting from 2002 to support the renewal and expansion program launched by the national carrier.

It is to be remembered that the second Dreamliner purchased by Ethiopian Airlines was delivered in Seattle on Wednesday, October 3, 2012 and arrived at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport on Friday, October 5, 2012.

On the same day, Ethiopian second Dreamliner made its first scheduled flight to Paris. Ethiopian Dreamliner’s flight to Paris is part of tour of stations Ethiopian has been making with its Dreamliner. 

Since August 2012, Ethiopian Dreamliner, "Africa First", has been flying to destinations in its extensive network across the world, adding new level of comfort to its valued customers. Ethiopian is the first in Africa and ahead of any outside of Japan to own and operate the 787. 

Source: http://www.exim.gov/newsandevents/releases/2012/ExIm-Backs-Bonds-Issued-by-Ethiopian-Airlines-for-Export-of-US-Aircraft.cfm