Saudi Billionaire Plans to Invest $2.5 Billion to Build Ethiopia Rice Farm (March 24, 2011)

Saudi Star Agricultural development P.L.C, a food company owned by billionaire Sheikh Mohammed al- Amoudi, said it plans to invest $2.5 billion by 2020 developing a rice-farming project in Ethiopia. The company, based in Addis Ababa, leased 10,000 hectares (24,711 acres) in Ethiopia’s western Gambella region.

The project forms part of the Horn of Africa nation’s plan to lease 3 million hectares to investors.

PM Meles unveils 4th Int’l Floriculture, Horticulture Exhibition (March 23, 2011)

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi opened here on Wednesday the 4th “Hortiflora Ethiopia 2011”, an international floriculture and horticulture exhibition organized by The Ethiopian Horticulture Producers Exporters Association.

EHPEA Chairperson, Tsegaye Abebe said on the occasion that the revenue that the country secures from the sector has been increasing by 25 percent beginning from the last two years.

Some 150 companies drawn from 30 countries across the world are displaying their products in the three-day exhibition. The exhibition is expected to be visited by more than 7,000 local and about 600 foreigners.

Prime Minister Meles holds talks with UK DFID Minister (January 30, 2011)

Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi held talks with UK Secretary of State for Department for International Development (DFID) Andrew Mitchell here on Sunday at UN-ECA.

The two parties have discussed on bilateral, regional and international concerns.

On the occasion, Mitchell said he took notes that the support for Ethiopia is channeled for the right purpose and his government development aid aims at capacitating the ability of cumulating wealth and ensuring self-reliance

NEPAD’s 10-year performance report to be official in June: Prime Minister Meles (January 29, 2011)

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said the report on the ten years performance of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) will be made official in the coming June.

While opening the 24th Meeting of the NEPAD Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee (HSGOC) here on Saturday, the Premier said the report will be made official at the G-8 Summit to be held in France in the coming June.

He said the Committee has played major role to integrate the NEPAD program into the structures of the African Union.

Hailemariam discusses with Foreign Affairs Minister of Finland (January 29, 2011)

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Hailemariam Desalegn held talks here on Saturday with Foreign Affairs Minister of Finland, Alexander Stubb.

They discussed on the existing bilateral relation of the two sisterly countries as well as regional and international affairs.

The Finnish Minister said he discussed with Hailemariam in the areas of peace and security in the region, the Sudanese referendum, Ethiopia’s role in the region, among others.

He said Ethiopia is situated at the right position to establish peace and security in the region.

Ethiopian receives 2nd Boeing 777-200 LR Aircraft (December 18, 2010)

Ethiopian is the first airline in Africa to operate the world's most technologically advanced and longest-range airplane,".

The newly arrived aircraft transported also anaesthesia equipments valued at more than 500,000 USD to Black Lion Hospital free of charge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ethiopia ready to share best practices in agriculture sector (April 21, 2011)

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi expressed Ethiopia's readiness to share with other countries its best practices in the agriculture sector.

The Premier said Ethiopia is desirous to enable other countries draw lessons from its practices, which enabled it to register growth in the sector. Meles made the statement in Addis Ababa while discussing with French Agriculture Minister Bruno Le Maire.

Meles said the recent visit of French President Nicolas Sarkozy contributed to further enhance existing relations between Ethiopia and France, according to a higher level government official.

The Premier is invited to take part at the G-8 and G-20 Summits organized by France.

UNECA: Africa shows encouraging growth (March 24, 2011)

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) said Africa grew on average by 4.5 per cent in 2010 up from 2.3 per cent in 2009 and will most likely maintain steady growth of about 5 per cent in 2011.

UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ECA, Abdoulie Janneh said this relatively strong performance was helped by a good showing in agriculture and natural resources sectors, the rebound of tourism and the use of countercyclical policies in some countries.

Janneh was speaking in Addis Ababa at the opening of the 4th Experts' Meeting of the 4th Joint Annual Meetings of the AU Conference of African Ministers of Economy and Finance and the ECA conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.

Ban Ki-Moon addresses AU Summit (January 30, 2011)

UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon said the African Union Peace and Security Council will create a High Level Panel to find an urgent solution for Cote d'Ivoire.

He made the statement while addressing the 16th African Union Summit that opened here on Sunday.

The Assembly of African Union 16th Ordinary Session of Heads of State and Government here on Sunday opened at the United Nations Conference Center under the theme: "Towards Greater Unity and Integration through Shared Values.

16th Ordinary Session AU Opens (January 30, 2011)

Opening the summit, Bingu Wa Mutharika, AU outgunning Chairperson, said in cementing relations with Africa’s strategic partners, the year 2010 was yet another busy year for Africa.

Three summits were held between Africa and France, Africa and the Arab nations, and Africa and the European Union (EU).

France advocates for Africa to have permanent seat in UN: President Sarkozy (January 30, 2011)

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said his country will advocate for Africa to have a permanent seat in UN. President Sarkozy called on UN to take swift action to consider Africa to have representation in the UN Security Council.

Sarkozy, who is the guest of honor of the 16th AU Summit, is the first French head of State to address at AU Summit since 1963.

He said Africa has not occupied the rightful place at international forums.

Hence, Sarkozy noted that as Africa is a home for one billion people it is entitled to have a permanent seat in the UN.

5th International Conference Concludes in Addis Ababa (December 16, 2010)