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Economic development in Ethiopia very impressive: UK Ambassador
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UK Ambassador to Ethiopia Greg Dorey said the consecutive economic development registered in Ethiopia over the past years is “very impressive”.
In an exclusive interview with ENA, the Ambassador said the development in Ethiopia is “very impressive” and “potentially sustainable” as well if the government continues to take the right decisions.
“I think it is very impressive whether you take the government’s figures or you take IMF figures … in terms of GDP growth. That is very very impressive and its potentially sustainable growth as well if the government takes the right decisions on the economy then that growth can continue into the future.”
The economic growth in Ethiopia has been accompanied by a huge social investment in human development.
The Ambassador appreciates the strides that have been taken in improving the health, education and social wellbeing of the people.
“Of course this has been accompanied by a huge social investment in human development which is equally important. And you can see the tremendous strides that have been taken in improving the health, education and social wellbeing of the people in Ethiopia really is very acknowledgeable; what has been done in a relatively small space of time.”
“Ethiopia is still a poor country so that work needs to continue.” he added.
“So I have to say everything is moving in the right direction; it just needs the right decision to be taken to continue those achievements.”
He expressed hope that the economic growth in Ethiopia will continue to benefit the people through job creation and sustainable development.
The bilateral relation between Ethiopia and UK is ‘very diverse, mutually beneficial and very good,’ according to the Ambassador.
“Our bilateral development cooperation is the biggest such program in the world for Ethiopia it has been for some years and I expected to continue to be.”
UK provides over 300 million pound sterling annually to Ethiopia in connection with development programs.
Trade and investment relationship is also taking off from a ‘low base’. UK imports of goods from Ethiopia have grown by 48 percent from 48 million pound sterling in 2009 to 70 million pound sterling in 2013.
In the same period UK exports to Ethiopia have also grown by 29 percent from 77 million pound sterling to 99 million pound sterling.
Climate change is one of the areas where the two countries are working together.
The Ambassafor recognizes the efforts of the government to create a climate resilient green economy by 2025 and achieving a middle income status with zero carbon emissions.
Ambassador Dorey said the Climate Resilient Green Economy Policy of Ethiopia can be a model to other countries.
“It is an absolutely adorable policy. I could recommend it highly enough not just for Ethiopia but it’s a model to other countries as well.’
The UK government is putting 45 million pound sterling into this area partly into creating or enhancing institutions which deal with climate change both public and private.
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Russia’s Gazprombank unit inks PSA for Ethiopian oil field
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MOSCOW, Jul 21 (PRIME) – GPB Resources, an affiliate of Russia’s Gazprombank, has signed a production sharing agreement for an oil and gas field in the Afar Region of Ethiopia and will invest at least U.S. $2 million in the development of the deposit, Kommersant business daily reported Monday, citing a GPB Resources representative Sergei Togashev.
GPB Resources will have seven years to explore the deposit and 25 years for the development, Togashev said.
The territory is mostly unexplored and its potential resources are unknown. The company will spend $2 million during the first three years of exploration and then decide whether it needs to prolong works, Togashev said.
Ethiopian authorities have proactively given licenses for local exploration. Large companies deem the region to be too risky, while independent Ireland’s Tullow Oil and Canada’s Africa Oil found signs of commercial reserves of oil in the country in 2013.
“The general geologic logic is the following: Ethiopia stands on the way of the Great Rift Valley, which starts in Mozambique and finishes in the Red Sea. Large oil and gas deposits have been found on the borders of the Earth’s surface fault in Mozambique, Tanzania and Sudan, and lately in Uganda and Kenya,” Togashev said.
http://www.1prime.biz/news/0/%7B12C75B07-D4EB-4E3D-A705-15D974EA5088%7D.uif
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Gates to receive honorary degree from AAU
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The Addis Ababa University (AAU) said on Saturday that it will provide an honorary doctorate degree to Bill Gates, the founder and owner of Microsoft.
In a statement, the university said that Gates will arrive in Addis Ababa on Tuesday to receive the degree.
Gates is selected to receive the degree “for his efforts to enable African students benefit from technology and the philanthropic works he is undertaking in Ethiopia through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation,” the University said.
The degree will be given to Gates in a ceremony to be organized at Nelson Mandella Hall in the University next Thursday.
Gates is an American tycoon and philanthropist, who stood first and second in the list of the world’s richest persons during the last ten years. This year, with over $79 billion, he stands second in the list.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Ethiopia Office undertakes programs in different areas including, family planning, maternal health, HIV, malaria, polio, and vaccination services.
The Foundation made its first program investment in Ethiopia in 2,000. On February 27, 2012, the foundation appointed an Ethiopian native to serve as the Foundation’s first representative to Ethiopia.
So far, Gates has received eight honorary degrees from different universities of the world.
http://www.waltainfo.com/index.php/explore/14237-gates-to-receive-honorary-degree-from-aau
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Ethiopia Determined To Intensify Campaign Against Terrorism, Says PM
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ADDIS ABABA, July 21 (BERNAMA-NNN-ENA) – Ethiopia would consolidate its campaign against terrorism so as to protect its growth and development from obstruction, Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn said.
In a press statement, the premier noted that Ethiopia has been working closely with its neighbours to fight terrorism in East Africa.
It is on this basis that one of the leaders of Guenbot 7, Andargachew Tsige, who was working in collaboration with Shaebia and other parties that do not wish to see the prevalence of peace and stability in Ethiopia, was apprehended.
Individuals engaged in terrorism under the disguise of journalism and memberships in political parties were also detained, he added.
Those terrorists are not individuals or groups that should be taken lightly as they are supported by governments which want Ethiopia to be in chaos, the PM said, adding that cutting to shreds the network is therefore the responsibility of the Ethiopian government.
Since terrorism is an international crime everyone engaged in terrorism, even if he or she changes citizenship or is a citizen of another country, is held accountable, the premier stressed.
The crackdown on those terrorists has nothing to do with the upcoming election in 2015, and efforts will be made to make the election peaceful, democratic, fair and credible, he elaborated.
With respect to peace keeping and other areas Ethiopia has been gaining acceptance by strengthening its role as a voice of Africa, Hailemariam noted.
Referring to the big projects underway in the country, the Prime Minister said the GERD, railway, sugar and other similar projects are progressing as per the schedule.
To solve problems related to infrastructure, the government has devised short, medium and long term plans. The completion of the projects would solve the problems, even if satisfactory results cannot be registered in the short and medium range, the PM indicated.
Efforts would also be exerted to gradually solve problems of governance witnessed in the country, according to Hailemariam.
Legal measures would be taken against merchants who try to create inflation following the salary increment made to civil servant this month, he concluded.
http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v7/wn/newsworld.php?id=1055077
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Ethiopia Establishes Modern Military – Premier
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Prime minister and Commander-in-Chief of Defense Forces, Hailemariam Desalegn said that Ethiopia has built a modern military having a capacity of accomplishing different missions at once.
The premier, graduating 58 military officers from Defense Command and Staff College, said that because of the Defense Forces and other bodies’ capacity to protect the national peace and security from internal and external enemies, Ethiopia can advance its development.
According to Hailemariam Ethiopia has built a military capacity being effective in peace keeping missions in the neighboring countries beyond assuring the national peace and security.
He noted that Eritrean government is continuing destabilizing the region, supporting anti-peace elements and terrorism ignoring the peaceful alternative Ethiopia has offered to settle the disagreements between the two countries.
The graduating military officers said that the training they got enables them to accomplish their missions in a better way scientifically.
Out of 58 masters’ degree and diploma graduates 10 are from South Sudan and Burundi.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201407210520.html
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Filed under: Ag Related, Economy, Infrastructure Developments, News Round-up Tagged: Business, East Africa, Economic growth, Ethiopia, Investment, Sub-Saharan Africa, tag1
