Day: June 17, 2023

Posted on

AU Chairperson Condemns “Brutal, Cowardly Terrorist Attack” on Ugandan Students

African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat has condemned the brutal and cowardly terrorist attack by suspected ADF terrorists, killing 42 Ugandan students.

He twitted today that there are no words for the shock nor condemnation strong enough to express my horror at the brutal and cowardly terrorist attack by suspected terrorists, which targeted a school in western part of the country.

“My sincere condolences go to the loved ones of the victims, and in full solidarity with President Kaguta Museveni, the government, and the people of Uganda during this painful period of national loss.”

According to the latest reports from Uganda, more than 40 people, mostly pupils, have been killed at a school in western Uganda by rebels linked to the Islamic State group (IS).

A further eight people remain in a critical condition after the attack on Lhubiriha secondary school in Mpondwe.

Several others, mostly girls, have also been abducted.

The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), which are based in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), have been blamed for the horrendous attack.

Survivors told local media that the attackers used machete against the students before throwing a bomb into a dormitory.

The Ugandan forces are pursuing the enemy to rescue those abducted and destroy the group, it was learned.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Posted on

Conducive Situations Created For Businesspersons Investing in Industrial Parks: Corporation

Favorable conditions have been created for investors in all the eleven industrial parks in Ethiopia, according to the Industrial Development Parks Corporation (IDPC).

In an exclusive interview with ENA, Corporation Marketing and Communication Department Head Zemen Jonedi, said efforts have been exerted to create conducive situation in the global standard industrial parks.

More investors in various sectors have shown interest in engaging in the parks, following the Pretoria peace agreement, he added.

Accordingly, some 20 investors with over 407.42 million USD have signed agreements to engage in the industrial parks in the past 9 months.

Zemen further said electric power supply, infrastructure, and one-window service for all kinds of services is made available in the parks.

“The Industrial Development Parks Corporation is providing one-window service for both foreign and local investors who invest in the parks. The industrial parks have essential and adequate electric power and have market access as well,” he stated.

According to the head, there are various monetary and non-monetary incentives for both foreign and local investors that operate in the industrial parks and the Dire Dawa Free Trade Zone.

For instance, Zemen said that an investor who works in industrial parks is allowed an income tax relief of up to 10 years on average, and companies developing industrial parks are given income tax relief of up to 15 years.

Investors in industrial parks are also exempt from tax on export products and other taxes, and they have the right to import products to be used as raw materials duty free.

Being a member of the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), Ethiopia has signed various international investment protection and guarantee agreements, he pointed out.

Foreign investors can remit their income from profit and other incomes in foreign currency. Investors who export their products are not subject to any export price control on the export product, he added.

Zemen further pointed out that “industrial in industrial parks are working in areas of textile, apparel, agro-processing, manufacturing, and pharmaceuticals. Following the peace agreement, the investment interest and flow is increasing and the corporation is providing essential services to the investors.’’

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Posted on

Ethiopian Embassy Participates in Conclave on India-Africa Growth Partnership

The Ethiopian Embassy in New Delhi has taken part in the Exim Bank Conclave on India-Africa Growth Partnership organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry from 14 to 16 June 2023.

In his opening remarks, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stated that India’s development partnership with Africa will have a strong focus on digital, green economy, healthcare, food security and water, in tune with the pressing needs and priorities of Africa.

“For India, and it is important that our African partners appreciate this, the rise of Africa is key to global re-balancing,” he added.

According to the Ethiopian Embassy in New Delhi, the Ethiopian delegation briefed Indian investors on trade and investment opportunities.

Ethiopia’s Ambassador to India, Demeke Atnafu, also conferred with CEO and Founder of IRIS Business, S. Swaminathan, on the current status of FinTech Initiative in Ethiopia and its opportunities.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Posted on

Germany, Ethiopia Partnership Growing Steadily: Ambassador Stephan Auer

The partnership between Germany and Ethiopia has been growing steadily since the beginning of the relationship of the two countries, Ambassador Stephan Auer told ENA.

The German Ambassador to Ethiopia said efforts have been exerted to further strengthen the partnership in political, social and economic sectors.

He pointed out that Germany’s development cooperation in capacity building, agricultural productivity, social development and good governance has been growing.

According to the ambassador, Germany has for example provided capacity building, especially through the International Development Cooperation Agency, capacity building for thousands of citizens who play crucial role in the development of industry.

On the other hand, he stated that professional support has been provided for the Human Rights Commission and the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia, and to also boost agricultural productivity, are being provided.

Moreover, humanitarian aid and rehabilitation activities are undertaken to support vulnerable citizens through people-centered projects, Ambassador Auer stated.

For example, through programs “like Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP), we have donated 16 million Euros. We also doubled our humanitarian assistance to 82.5 million USD. So, we are the second biggest humanitarian donor. We are also contributing to the Response Resilience Recovery Program of the World Bank by contributing additional 30 million USD. Also, when we come to the transitional development programs, we are also trying to address drought and inflation crises by supporting the WFP and UNICEF with 30-35 million USD, respectively,” he elaborated.

Ambassador Auer furthermore noted that there are favorable conditions for strengthening the trade and investment relationship between Germany and Ethiopia, and the two sides are working to make this a reality.

Germany has the desire for the continuity of the peace agreement in Ethiopia, particularly in the northern part of the country. For this to succeed, Germany has been providing the necessary support, he said.

The ambassador, who pointed out that the Ethiopian government’s effort to ensure transitional justice is encouraging, stated that Germany will provided support to make the process successful.

Ethiopia and Germany established diplomatic relations in 1905.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Posted on

NIPDB to host forum on green hydrogen

Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte are expected in Namibia this coming week, amongst others to discuss green hydrogen and energy transition at a forum scheduled for Monday.

NIPDB in a media statement on Friday said their visit will coincide with the forum which will feature speakers that include President Hage Geingob.

The forum will provide a platform for back-to-back meetings and exchanges between Namibian companies and their Dutch and Danish counterparts in the green hydrogen sector, enriching shared interests, insights and strategies.

“This forum will also provide a significant opportunity for local investors to engage with international players, further reinforcing the essence of multilateral cooperation and global developments,” the statement read.

The statement said the event will underpin Namibia’s vision of becoming the sustainable energy capital of Africa.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

Posted on

Swapo to pronounce itself on same- sex marriage court ruling after CC meeting

President Hage Geingob today announced that the Swapo Party, will after the Party’s Central Committee meeting, pronounce itself on the same-sex marriages court ruling, which recognises same-sex marriages involving Namibians conducted abroad.

Geingob during the opening of the meeting, here said the ruling has been widely misunderstood which has caused an uprising in the public and the meeting will address it.

“Misunderstandings can cause war. There was an uprising and evolution. You can misunderstand something and you can cause war. Churches were trying to call me to stop this, how do I do it? I don’t have that power,” he said.

Geingob said that marriage has been well defined in the country’s constitution and the court ruling didn’t abolish this law.

“First thing we must know in Swapo is that in 1970 we already had a constitution, a law drafted to define what family is. We said family will be a man and a woman. Our national constitution is equally explicit. It defines marriage to be between a man and a woman. The ruling has not abolished that,” he noted.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

Posted on

Namibia marks World day to combat desertification and drought

Women in Namibia make up a huge percentage of the agricultural labour force, hold a vital stake in the health of the land, and are the major actors in the country’s efforts to combat desertification and reverse land degradation.

This was said by President Geingob on the occasion of the Commemoration of the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, under the theme ‘Her Land. Her Rights.’

This year’s theme is gender-focused and recognises the rights of women to land and their significance in achieving the interconnected global goals of gender equality and land degradation neutrality by 2030.

Geingob in a media statement availed here today stated that the climate change emergency has accelerated desertification and droughts, which have profound impacts on nations’ agricultural output, risking food production and pushing many families into poverty.

“Regrettably, Namibia is anticipating drought in the current year due to poor rainfall in the previous rainy season and floods in some northern parts of the country. To deal with the adverse effects of droughts, the Government has redirected resources to mitigate the impacts of drought in affected communities,” he said.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency