Month: April 2023

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Employment Opportunities Beckoning For Sironga Brick Makers

The President’s affirmation to support construction of a multi-billion Agro-Industrial Park (AIP) in Sironga, Nyamira County has excited brick makers in Sironga area for they are optimistic to instantly secure plentiful job opportunities from the mega County project. According to Abuga Ogeto, a brick maker at Sironga wetland, Government’s decision to construct the AIP at Sironga site will have a two-fold benefit to him in boosting his income source to comfortably fend for his family. ‘When construction for the industrial park will commence, I will sell bricks to the contractor who has been awarded the construction tender at the same time seek for work as a worker at the construction site which will consequently boost my income to enable me comfortably provide for my young family,’ Abuga excitedly commented. ‘Earnings from just selling bricks is not sufficient to meet my economic financial needs. We are very many brick makers in this area because of its proximity to the main highway and buyers are not as many in some seasons of the year. Besides the long period of brick preparation to the time they are ready for selling needs patience, and hard work before one can get to enjoy their hard earned profits,’ added Abuga. Another, Moriasi Alex, a driver who transports bricks to various places in accordance with their customer’s request said brick transportation has been his source of livelihood for the past five years. He is optimistic that with the construction of the industrial park he will have an opportunity to transport not just bricks but any other product to and from the park during the construction time and even when it will be operationalized. ‘I’m also requesting government to consider us for available job opportunities once the construction of the Park is complete because, despite the fact that we are doing manual jobs to earn a living, we have certificates for professional courses and technical skills which we will professionally execute when given that chance,’ Moriasi stated. Ms. Ann Kemunto revealed to KNA that she does jobs at the brick making site at Sironga. She said she makes bricks with other few resilient women who she is in a group with. She transports readymade bricks to the display place near the road, hawks food stuffs to brick makers during lunch break a routine cycle that has become her way of life. ‘I’m optimistic to get a stall at the park to put up my small fast food hotel to serve affordable meals to people who will be coming at the Park for various errands, brick making will soon be stopped because the same site is where the industrial Park will be constructed,’ said Kemunto. President William Ruto promised Nyamira residents that he will fully support the construction of the Agro Industrial Park at Sironga by giving Ksh 100 million. A feasibility study has already been done and validation. The park will benefit the larger Lake Region Economic Bloc.

Source: Kenya News Agency

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Central Bloc Pushing For 8 Crops Into Priority Value Chain

Governors from the Central Region Economic bloc (CEREB) have called upon the national government to include several crops key to their region into the priority value chain of the country due to their importance to the economy of the region. The governors from 10 counties that make up the bloc said they were going to engage the national government to include eight crops which comprise of; coffee, potatoes, pyrethrum, avocado, macadamia, wheat, maize, and bananas to the value chain priority list in terms of financing in order to spur economic growth of the region. The governors led by their chair Mr. Mutahi Kahiga said leaving these crops from the priority list of the value chain will make the bloc to lag behind in development, yet it produces 28 per cent of the country`s Gross Economic Product(GDP). ‘We plan to engage the national government to ensure the crops which are the mainstay of the region`s economy are included in the priority list of the value chain in terms of financing in order to help the region grow economically,’ Kahiga who is also the Nyeri County Governor said. The governors were speaking to the media at the end of their two-day meeting in Naivasha on Friday. The meeting was also attended by the County Executive Committee Members (CECs) from counties that make up CEREB. The counties include; Nakuru, Nyandarua, Kiambu, Murang`a, Laikipia, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Embu, Tharaka- Nithi and Meru. Kahiga revealed that their bloc had signed a legal framework with development partners to help develop the region and they intend to hasten to complete the 2013 CEREB economic bill in all their county assemblies which is an improvement from the one of 2019 which is yet to be approved. Tharaka – Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki said the bloc seeks to bring devolution from Council of Governors (COG) to the region to spur development. He also appealed to the office of the Controller of Budget (COB) and that of the Auditor General (AG) to allow the counties to set aside some funds from their budgets to fund the activities of the regional bloc in order to bring economic growth to the region instead of depending on donors.

Source: Kenya News Agency

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Deputy PM & FM Demeke Hosts Iftar Program for Diplomatic Community in Addis

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen hosted an Iftar program last night for the diplomatic community based in Addis Ababa.

The Iftar dinner program was organized at Skylight Hotel and brought together diplomats representing various countries and heads of the international organizations, it was learned.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

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Italy Sees Ethiopia As Strategic Partner in Horn of Africa: Italy’s Ambassador

Italy sees Ethiopia as its strategic partner in the Horn of Africa and the relations between two countries are growing very high, Italy’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Agostino Palese said.

Ethiopia and Italy have long standing relations in cultural, economic and political fields.

In an exclusive interview with ENA, Italy’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Agostino Palese said Italy sees Ethiopia as its strategic partner in the Horn of Africa. We believe that Ethiopia could play a role in the Horn of Africa.

The ambassador recalled that during Prime Minister Abiy’s visit to Italy, PM Abiy Ahmed and PM Meloni signed the new cooperation agreement about 180 million euro which runs from 2023-2025.

“I think the visit of Prime Minister Abiy to Italy was very important and very fruitful. Once again, we reaffirm our very close political views… with our strategic partner in the Horn of Africa, Ethiopia. We exchange political views,” he added.

Italy launched new strategy ‘Piano Mattei’ which seeks energy development in Africa, he said, adding that we want to attract private investment in order to improve the skills and training in many different sectors where Italy is one of the best countries in the world.

Regarding to development activities in Ethiopia, I have seen many improvements, the ambassador said, adding that we will work together in different spheres, particularly in the bank sector.

“We have to continue to work because if Ethiopia is to attract investment and to have more reform economic agenda, I understand it takes time, but the only way is to go forward and specially in the bank system and on custom,” he said.

The ambassador added: “we tried to bring here the best Italian technologies and the best Italian skills. As I said before, we could have mutual benefits for both countries in order to use for example, clean energy, we can transfer our skills and our training in many sectors…. agro industrial, modern technologies, all the things regarding green area like renewable resources, we are in the forefront in the world, so we can help Ethiopia in this and could have a mutual benefits even for our entrepreneur to come here and may be to invest here “

The ambassador stressed to further strengthen the relations between the two countries for mutual respect and benefits.

We respect the country’s policy autonomy, share common interest and should work on national and regional issues, the ambassador said.

“So we are going to deepen relation not only in economic sector, but also on regional integration where Ethiopia could play very significant role,” he noted.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

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Public Contribution for GERD Jumps over 1 Billion Birr in Eight Months

More than 1. 4 billion Birr has been raised by the public for the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), according to the Office of the National Council for Coordination of Public Participation in the Construction of Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.

Public Relations Director of the Office, Hailu Abraham, told ENA that efforts over the last three or four years to enhance public support for the dam have registered encouraging results.

Financial support was collected through bond sales and gifts, through the short text message 8100, and through the Ethiopian Electric Power Gift Account and other mechanisms.

The director further stated that a new one month-long campaign to collect over 100 million Birr from the public has started on 25 March 2023.

Hailu called on the public to actively participate in the program.

According to him, the office will work to strengthen the public’s support for the construction of the dam by organizing various programs.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

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GERD Benefits Riparian Countries in Many Ways: Former Sudanese Irrigation Minister

The former Sudanese Minister of Irrigation, Othman Al-Tom Hamad, noted that Ethiopia’s Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) benefits the riparian countries in controlling siltation, reducing flooding, and preserving their dams.

It is considered a safety valve in times of continuous drought, among other benefits, he added.

In an exclusive interview he had with Ethiopian News Agency, the former minister called for regional cooperation with respect to the dam and not focuses on GERD only, but in collective participation in development projects.

“Countries need to think broadly, not confine themselves to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam,” he added.

According to Hamad, the dam is an integrated project that connects the countries of the region and provides electric energy to neighboring countries like Sudan and Kenya.

Cooperating for mutual benefits is, therefore, essential.

“We need the political will of countries to work with each other and adhere to initial things on which to build joint projects, and to achieve economic, social and environmental integration.”

Hamad revealed that storage in the dam has no effect on climate and the storage in the Al Sad Alali Dam in Egypt in comparison holds almost double of the storage of the GERD.

“The Renaissance Dam does not reduce the amount of water reaching Egypt. On the contrary, it increases the water reaching Egypt. The High Dam can operate at lower levels and thus reduce the current amount of evaporation, which reaches 10 – 8 billion cubic meters from the present 14 billion cubic meters.”

As a water expert, Hamad urged the three countries (Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan) to benefit from the experiences of other countries that share the benefit of dams such as the Manantali Dam in Mauritania that includes three countries: Senegal, Mali, and Mauritania; as well as the cooperation between South Africa and Lesotho and the existing cooperation in the Niger River.

The former irrigation minister revealed that Sudan benefits a lot from the dam as it works to regulate the level of the Blue Nile River, protects it from annual floods, and works to expand the agricultural area in addition to facilitating river transport.

“The Renaissance Dam is built in an excellent engineering manner, its planning, design, and implementation as well. We can preserve it through optimal operation through monitoring.”

Furthermore, the former irrigation minister suggested the carrying out of other regional integrating projects to benefit the citizens of the region reduce poverty, fight migration, and where countries can speak with one voice to international institutions in financing other joint projects between countries in several fields.

Hamad finally expressed his hope that a satisfactory agreement will be reached through the tripartite negotiations in the interest of all.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

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Renaissance Dam Reached Final Stage Through United Efforts of Ethiopians, Says DPM & Foreign Minister

The construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) has reached the final stage through the united effort of the Ethiopian people, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonen said.

The National Council for the Coordination of Public Participation on the Construction of GERD, chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Mnister Demeke, held a consultive forum that discussed the implementation of the construction of the dam and assessed the preparations for the celebration of the 12th year founding anniversary of the dam.

Speaking on the occasion, Demeke noted that Ethiopians have been supporting the construction of the dam without any differences since the launching.

This public participation has brought about an encouraging result that will elevate Ethiopia, he added.

Some 18 billion Birr has been collected in various ways since the laying of the cornerstone of the Grand Renaissance Dam.

The all-round activities to complete the dam have been supported by citizens that are leading the project and doing a proud work that will pass on to generations, the deputy premier and foreign minister stated.

“This shows how capable we Ethiopian are when united,” he noted.

Demeke further called on all Ethiopians to participate in integrated watershed development, in addition to their support to the construction of the renaissance dam until its completion.

While celebrating the laying of the foundation of the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, we should also sustain the achievements registered in the diplomatic sphere, he said.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister stressed that the Great Ethiopia Renaissance Dam is a project that will benefit all the riparian countries.

According to him, Ethiopia is interested in continuing the tripartite talks that have started in Africa.

Demeke underlined that a backward approach that benefits only one party is not acceptable.

Prosperity Party Vice President, Adam Farah said on his part that the contribution of Ethiopians to the construction of GERD is “history that makes the next generation proud.”

Adam underscored the need to strengthen the all-round support to the construction until the dam is completed.

Chief Government Whip Tesfaye Beljige said that the current level of the dam is a historic victory that Ethiopia has achieved despite many challenges.

Tesfaye pointed out that the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is an African project that would connect the region through power.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency