Day: March 8, 2024

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said Ethiopia’s partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB) continued to be productive.

The premier received and held discussions with African Development Bank’s East Africa Regional Deputy Director General, Abdul Kamara on AfDB’s projects in Ethiopia this morning.

Additionally, PM Abiy congratulated the President of the AfDB Akinwumi Adesina, on receiving the Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership.

Prime Minister Abiy stated on social media that Ethiopia’s partnership with AfDB continued to be productive.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

The half-year government performance of Ethiopia’s current fiscal year in the economy, social, and administrative sectors has been evaluated today in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Tiruneh.

It was stated on the occasion that there are indications observed over the past months that the 7.9 percent economic growth forecast for the current fiscal year, can be achieved in the agricultural, industrial and service sectors.

The Deputy Premier said at the conclusion of the evaluation meeting that encouraging achievements have been registered over the past months.

However, he stressed that there are issues which require a great deal of attention citing lack of institutional coordination and shared goal.

The Deputy Prime Minister stressed the need to strengthen institutional coordination with a view to realize national goals.

Temesgen revealed that the government is taking bold reform measures to expedite national development and underscored the importance of curbing illegal acts and theft in orde
r for the reforms to be successful.

He stressed the need for collaborative efforts to replicate the successes achieved in the agricultural sector on the industry and mining sectors.

In order to realize this, the Deputy Premier said enhancing productivity, supply of inputs, and promoting the consumption of local products will be government’s focus areas in the coming months.

He also mentioned about government’s efforts to address the challenges of inflation through monitory and fiscal policy measures.

Ministers, state ministers and head of several public institutions were in attendance at the evaluation meeting.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

At the 4th National Coffee Symposium, high-ranking officials converged to chart a transformative path for Ethiopia’s coffee industry.

Organized by the Coffee and Tea Authority, this convening catalyzed multi-stakeholder synergies under the theme “Stakeholder Alliance for Ethiopian Coffee Industry Rejuvenation.”

Education Minister Birhanu Nega articulated the pressing need for dedicated coffee excellence centers to spur quality and productivity gains.

Despite coffee being the bedrock of the national economy, he said that Ethiopia’s yield lags behind leading producers like Brazil, Colombia, Vietnam, and Indonesia, who have harnessed research-backed interventions.

“Our nation, in tandem with industry stakeholders, must establish specialized centers of excellence that spearhead pioneering research across the coffee value chain,” Birhanu stressed.

Modernizing production and marketing systems to elevate the sector’s value proposition and enshrine its preeminence, he added.

Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority
Director-General Adugna Debela underscored Ethiopia’s global standing, ranking 5th in production and 9th in exports.

However, he noted that 60 percent of exported coffee falls under the commercial grade, fetching meager revenues. “By augmenting our specialty coffee offerings, we can unlock exponentially higher returns across the value chain,” Adugna asserted.

Dilla University President, Chirotaw Ayele announced plans to establish the Yirgacheffe Coffee Research Institute Center on 15 hectares of land.

Highlighting coffee’s profound socio-cultural significance, he affirmed the university’s commitment to advancing the crop through research, teaching, and community engagement.

Construction Minister Chaltu Sani, also chairing Dilla University’s executive board, echoed the pivotal role of excellence centers in preserving Ethiopia’s global coffee prestige.

She envisioned these hubs as catalysts for innovation, skill development, and facilitation of the industry’s transformation.

The symposium spotlighted an i
mperative: scaling centers of excellence, especially in coffee-growing regions, to address bottlenecks, drive income growth, and position Ethiopian coffee as a formidable global contender through cutting-edge research and human capital development.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency