Content: Radar

Only 20pc of the lease financing proposals submitted to the Development Bank of Ethiopia (DBE) has been approved, according to the Federal Small & Medium Manufacturing Industry Development Agency. This is despite applications for financing for over 10 billion Br worth of lease had been received. Delay in machinery purchase and that the initiative is […]

World Food Program (WFP) Office in Ethiopia gets Steven Were Omamo (PhD) as its new head. Omamo joined WFP in 2006, as chief of Social Protection & Livelihoods. He later served as director and representative to the African Union and the UN Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Abeba. He has also previously served as […]

After prolonged debates, Ethiopia has agreed to cultivate genetically modified cotton crops (BT-Cotton). The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change approved the cultivation of scientifically engineered cotton to address the challenges of the textile industry. In 2015 Ethiopia amended a biosafety proclamation, which opened door to genetically modified organisms (GMO). The proclamation was drafted […]

Seventy-one mining companies with registered capitals of more than 73 billion Br have joined the mining industry in the first half of the second edition of the Growth & Transformation Plan (GTP II), according to the Ministry of Mines, Petroleum & Natural Gases. The government supported the mining companies mainly by giving them tax incentives, […]

Twenty-eight million Birr worth of foreign currency notes were confiscated last week. They were caught being smuggled from Addis Abeba to Adama. The monies were seised while two individuals were trying to smuggle them out of Addis Abeba. The two individuals were arrested. The currencies included 765,234 dollars, 144,650 Durham, 908,167 Saudi Riyals and 7,538 […]

Ethiopia is soon to partially privatise Ethio Telecom, Ethiopian Airlines, Ethiopian Shipping & Logistics Services Enterprise and the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation. The list also includes state-owned railways, sugar factories, industrial parks, hotels and manufacturing companies. The Executive Committee of the Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) unanimously voted to partially privatise these enterprises last […]

Performers garbed in different traditional outfits, to reflect the nation’s cultural diversity, played a song at the 27th year anniversary of the Downfall of the Dergue, a.k.a Ginbot Haya. At the ceremony held at the Sheraton Addis Hotel, seated left to right, were Muferiat Kamil, speaker of parliament, President Mulatu Teshome (PhD) and Ahmed Shide, […]

It has been three years since the Addis Abeba Light Rail Transit (LRT) became operational, having since transported millions of passengers. Its use has diversified though, with its columns also being used for promotions. At Mexico Square, the ads are predominately for Coca-Cola drinks, often with a female holding a bottle passionately or pensively.

Street vendors, early in the day, are going from Ledeta to parts of Addis Abeba to sell their merchandise. They are carrying round plastic water containers, which are usually used for washing clothes. Although the vendors make a living out in this business, it has been a headache for the city government as they are […]

The Council of Ministers (CoM) has approved a draft bill which will lift the state of emergency that was imposed in February for a six-month period. The Council passed the bill to the parliament for consideration. The state of emergency was reinstated after months of widespread protests and political unrest across the country. “The Council […]

The Federal Judicial Administration Council requested for the parliament to dismiss two junior judges from the Federal High Court and First Instance Court. Seid Gudeta, a judge from the Federal High Court and Kidist Tsige, a judge at First Instance Court are the two judges accused of disciplinary issues. Seid worked for seven years, while […]

Ethiopia gets an additional 375 million dollars of financial assistance to finalise work of the electrification program. The parliament has legislated the loan agreement that signed between the Ministry of Finance & Economic Cooperation (MoFEC) and  International Development Association (IDA). The IDA made the pledge into two schemes; a regular loan of 250 million dollars […]

The Oromia Regional State has handed over the mining query at Yayu Coal Deposit to the local youth. The site was under Metals & Engineering Corporation (MetEC), which has been extracting and generating revenue from it. MetEC’s right of extracting the site was suspended a year ago. The military-industrial complex has been mining the site […]

Ethiopia is starting an online issuance of  visas for tourists and other visitors across the world without restriction, effective June 1, 2018. “A relaxed visa regime will enhance both Ethiopia’s openness and will allow the country to harness the significant stopover transit traffic of Ethiopian Airlines,” twitted Fitsum Arega, chief of staff the Office of […]

Meridiam, a global investor in public infrastructure, has inaugurated its East Africa regional office in Addis Abeba at the beginning of last week. Specializing in the development, financing, and management of public infrastructure projects, Meridiam was founded by Thierry Deau in 2005. It has been investing in more than 60 projects managing assets of 6.2 […]

The Ministry of Labour & Social Affairs (MoLSA) tabled a draft proclamation to the parliament on a domestic employment agreement Ethiopia signed with Saudi Arabia. The duo has signed the agreement on May 25, 2017, in Jeddah. After reviewing the draft proclamation on May 31, 2018, the parliament sent it to the standing committee of […]

Airbus A350-900 jetliner, which has a capacity of carrying 325 passengers, is displayed at the Ethiopian Maintenance Repair & Overhaul Centre of Bole International Airport, headquarters of the aeroplane’s owner Ethiopian Airlines. A Japanese firm called JOLCO provided the financing for Ethiopian to make the acquisition. The jetliner arrived in Addis Abeba on May 19, […]

Two traffic police are huddled over a car parked close to Medhanialem Church. The car was being washed, with the windshield wipers upended, which is not allowed on main streets. The car washer has fled the scene, leaving behind his buckets. The traffic polices wait for the owner of the car, with one of them […]

It is not uncommon to see Addis Abeba’s streets under maintenance. This crossing at the roundabout on Airport Road is no different. The ground is being readied for laying of cobblestones. Meanwhile, pedestrians either share the roads with vehicles or tread a path that does not disrupt the cobblestone work.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) handed over the newly constructed Kuni Health Center to the Amhara Regional Health Bureau. For the health centre, the USAID invested 1.3 million dollars obtained from the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The health center is expected to serve 25,000 people in Kuni […]

Midroc Gold Mine has requested the Ministry of Mines, Petroleum & Gas (MoMPNG) for a fast track investigation on its gold mining site after being accused of releasing cyanide, a chemical that affects human health and the environment. In its letter to the Ministry, the company stated that the chemical discharged from its mining site […]

The Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) is working to open a branch in South Africa by next year. The Bank has been undertaking research and other necessary studies to open a branch in South African, according to Bekalu Zeleke, president of the Bank. According to the president, the Bank has also planned to open another […]

A new Provision of Adequate Tree Seed Portfolios (PATSPO) project was launched with the primary aim of enhancing forest landscape restoration and realise Ethiopia’s target of building climate resilient green economy. The World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) launched the project along with the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MEFCC) with financial assistance from the […]

The government has revised the educational strategy for the pastoralist areas by designing a mobile school as an alternative method for better access to education. The Ministry of Education (MoA) designed the system for students in Afar, Somalia, Benishangul Gumuz, Gambella and Oromia regional states. The professional survey was done by the special support and […]

The Ministry of Education (MoE) has invested five million Birr in publishing sign language textbooks for preschool and high school students. The Ministry has finalised the preparation of the books in collaboration with representatives from the nine regions and two city administrations. The books feature a comprehensive text in sign language and illustrations with descriptions […]