ERA upgrading Harrar-Jijjiga road with over 346mln birr

Harrar, November 26, 2006 (WIC) - The Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA) disclosed that it has launched a project to upgrade the Harrar-Jijjiga gravel road to a tarmacked road with over 346.2 million birr.

Diredawa District Manager with the Authority,Yeneneh Assefa,told WIC that the work which has been underway since last month is 106kms long.

The road expected to meet international standards would go operational by 2009,he added.

Yeneneh further stated that the construction of the road would significantly contribute to the growth of the import-export trade of the country.

It would also alleviate the transportation problem of zonal and woreda towns of Somali and Oromia states,he said,adding that farmers could also easily supply their produces to market.

He said that ERA would extend the necessary assistance to finalize the execution of the roads as per the schedule.

The district is also maintaining 937kms roads with more than 23 million birr,according to the manager.
(c) Walta Information Center, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Accused Police Killer Sentenced To Death

Office conducting study to identify, popularize investment options

HARAR - A study instrumental in identifying investment options and popularizing them to investors is underway in Harari State at a cost of over half a million birr, the State Investment Office said.

Office Head Abdu Selam told WIC Thursday that the study underway since the last fiscal year would enable to sort out investment potentials in all sectors of the state.

The study is particularly helpful to identify investment potentials in the agriculture sector and provide proper information for investors who would like to engage in the sector, he said.

The study would also enable to locate investment friendly sites in the state, Abdu said, adding that it would be finalized by the middle of this fiscal year.

Besides, the office has prepared detailed project guideline, which incorporated major investment issues, so as to meet the growing investment demand in the state, he further noted.

(WIC)

Association to undertake dev’t activities in connection to Ethiopian Millenium

Addis Ababa - The Addis Ababa Youth Association announced plans to celebrate the Ethiopian Millennium by undertaking development activities enabling the youth contribute a significant role toward bringing about speedy economic development, building democracy, and fighting against HIV/AIDS.

Association Chairperson Tatek Kassa told ENA yesterday that the association has also decided to celebrate the Millennium by undertaking activities aimed at reducing poverty and curbing problems of the youth.

Tatek said the Millennium would be an opportunity to create jobs for the youth, as well as ensuring national unity and common understanding among the people of Ethiopia.

The participation of youth in building good governance was limited during the past years, he said, adding various programmes have been designed to improve youth participation in the future.

Lack of youth centres exposed the youth to various problems, he said, the association would exerted efforts toward reducing poverty and fight against HIV/AIDS.

A forum would be established soon with a view to familiarizing the concept of the Millennium among the youth, the chairman said, adding the forum would embrace civil society organizations and clubs operating in Oromia, Tigray, Amhara, Afar, Harari and Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples states as well as the Dire Dawa Interim Administration.

(ENA)

University gets new building block

Harar - A building block constructed on the premises of the Haromaya University in the Harari State with 17 million birr has reportedly begun providing services.

University Academic and Research Deputy Dean Dr. Tenaw Alamrew told ENA Thursday that the new building, which comprises various rooms, a laboratory, and a library with a capacity of serving over 3,000 people at a time, would help curb shortage of classrooms and administrative offices.

The university has finalized preparations to receive over 3,000 students as of the coming week for this academic year, he said.

Meanwhile, he said that the university, in collaboration with the Indian government has been undertaking preparations to provide satellite-backed educational programmes to experts in the the state.



(ENA)

Number of people undergoing VCT increases in Harari State

Harar - The number of people who are undergoing Voluntary Counseling and Test (VCT) has increased in the Harari State, the State HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Office said.

Office Head Dr. Abdurahman Ahmed told ENA recently that 577 more people underwent VCT this year than that of last year, which were 4,767.

He cited increase in the interest of people to have blood test and opening of VCT centres in six hospitals and health stations as the major factors for the rise in the number of people undergoing VCT.

Dr.Abdurahman said that PLWHA were also getting access to Anti-retroviral Drugs while treatment is provided against the transmission of the virus from mother to child.

He said the office has been offering training and undertaking HIV/AIDS intervention with 5.2 million birr provided by the World Bank, Global Fund and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

It is also providing financial and material support to AIDS orphans through Dawn of Hope, the national association of people living with HIV/AIDS and the Organization for Social Services of AIDS, he said.

Dr. Abdurahman said that the office has also been engaged in HIV/AIDS intervention activities at a cost of 14.3 million birr this year.



(ENA)

Irrigational dam readied for service

Harar - An irrigational dam constructed in Harewe Kebele of Harari State was readied for service, the State Agriculture and Rural Development Bureau said.

Water, Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation Sector Head with the Bureau, Afendi Ahmed said the irrigation dam, which can develop 160 hectares, benefit over 200 farmers.

Afendi said more than half a million birr was spent on the construction of the dam, and added that it would enable the farmers develop various fruit and indigenous trees in the area.

Some of the farmers in the kebeles commented that construction of the dam would enable them develop their area and conserve natural resources.

(ENA)

EEPCo expresses readiness to provide electric power supply for entrepreneurs in eastern Ethiopia

Diredawa, November 20, 2006 (WIC) - The Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCo) disclosed that there is sufficient hydro-electric power supply in the eastern part of the country for entrepreneurs interested in building cement and other factories as well other ventures.

East Region Department Director with the Corporation, Daba Kelbesa, told WIC that there is enough power supply in the area to meet the demands of entrepreneurs in the region.

There is no shortage of power supply in the area as the corporation has finalized power upgrading on Diredawa-Harrar, Harrar-Jijjiga and Diredawa-Chelenko lines, he said.

Hence, the corporation would give prompt response to entrepreneurs who need additional power supply to launch cement and other factories in Oromia, Somali and Harrari states as well as Diredawa Provisional Administration, Daba explained.

He further indicated that the corporation has provided five mega watt additional electric power supply for the expansion of Diredawa Cement and Lime Factory. It was also providing 12 mega watts power for an entrepreneur who wants to establish a cement factory in the Diredawa town, it was learnt.

The region has electrified 15 towns last fiscal year, the director said.
(c) Walta Information Center, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Office conducting study to identify, popularize investment options in Harrari State

Harrar, November 17, 2006 (WIC) - A study instrumental in identifying investment options and popularizing them to investors is underway in Harari State with an outlay of over half a million birr, according to the regional Investment Office.

Office Head, Abdu Selam, told WIC today that the study underway since the last fiscal year would enable to sort out investment potentials in all sectors of the state.

The study is particularly helpful to identify investment potentials in the agriculture sector and provide proper information for investors who would like to engage in the sector, he said.

The study would also enable to locate investment friendly sites in the state, Abdu said, adding that it would be finalized by the middle of this fiscal year.

Besides,the office has prepared detailed project guideline, which incorporated major investment issues, so as to meet the growing investment demand in the state, he further noted.
(c) Walta Information Center, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Primary School Coverage in the Harari State …….

Police Commissioner Removed From Post

Harari Millennium Park

ERA Diredawa District undertaking road maintenance works with over 23mln birr

Harrar, November 08, 2006 (WIC) - The Diredawa District of Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA) disclosed that it has launched the maintenance of over 900kms asphalt and gravel roads with over 23 million birr this fiscal year.

District Manager Yeneneh Assefa told WIC that the authority has been undertaking the maintenance in Oromia,Harrari and Somali states as well as Diredawa administration since the middle of last month.

The roads under maintenance include the Diredawa-Dewele, Harrar-Jijiga, Alberekete-Gelemso-Mechara, Jijjiga-Teferi Ber, Harrar-Jarso, Jijjiga-Togo Chale and Awash-Asebe-Hirna and Dengego, among others, the manager said.

Of the 937kms roads to be executed in the budget year with the stated sum earmarked by the Road Fund, 575km is asphalt and the remaining gravel.

The distinct has finalized preparations to complete the maintenance work by coming June, according to Yeneneh.

The maintenance of the roads would help farmers to take their produces to market and alleviate transportation problems, he said, adding that the maintenance of the Jijjiga-Togo-Chale and Diredawa-Dewele roads in particular have great importance in beefing up the export trade.

The authority has repaired 876kms roads in the district with an outlay of 20 million birr last fiscal year, the manager recalled.
(c) Walta Information Center, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Harari State Donated 100,000 birr for flood victims in Somali State

EEPCo electrifying 47 towns

Dire Dawa - The Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCo) has reportedly been installing lines and transformers with over 86 million birr so as to electrify rural towns in three states and one administration.

EEPCo East Region Department Head Daba Kelbessa told WIC Friday that the work would benefit 47 towns in Oromia, Harari, and Somali states as well as Dire Dawa Administration.

Accordingly, the corporation would electrify the towns by the end of June, he added.

Daba said the corporation is electrifying woreda and rural towns in the states in accordance with its programme to expand services to the rural parts of the country.

EEPCo also envisages undertaking maintenance works to step up provision of services apart from installation of new lines, he added.

It is also replacing old electric lines in Jijiga town in collaboration with the district so as to avoid the occasional power interruption.

Meanwhile, the head said that the installation of seven diesel power-generating plants is being finalized and they would commence rendering services soon.



(WIC)

Youth centre inaugurated in Harar

Harar - A youth centre constructed with 1.2 million birr in Harar Town was inaugurated here Tuesday.

The centre would provide a 24-hour service to the youth and other segments of the society, the Harari State Public Organization, Culture and Social Affairs Burea said.

The Centre has various service facilities, including internet and a library, according to Youth and Sports Affairs Head Amir Yusouf.

(ENA)

Haromaya University finalizes preparations to enroll over 3,000 new students

Harar, November 06, 2006 (WIC) - The Haromaya University disclosed that it has finalized preparations to commence the academic year by enrolling over 3,000 new students.

University Academic and Research Vice President, Dr. Tena Alamirew, told WIC that the University is ready to admit 3,500 new regular students to Health Science, Economics, Management, Law, Engineering and Animal Medicine faculties in the Main, Harrar, Diredawa and Jijjiga campuses.

As the construction of dormitories, classrooms and various service-rendering buildings in the premises of the university has been finalized, it would commence the academic programme in the middle of this month, he added.

The Vice President recalled the disruptions of the past academic year due to various reasons, adding that the university has made preparations to avoid repeat of same problem.

Additional buildings were built and furnished to alleviate congestions in libraries, laboratories as well as computer and information technology centers, Dr. Tena stated.

The university would reportedly train a total of more than 12,500 regular students in the academic year.
(c) Walta Information Center, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Hararis celebrate “Shewal Eid” in Jeddah

Addis Ababa - Some 500 members of the Harari nationality celebrated “Shewal Eid” in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

In a press release it sent to ENA yesteday, the Ministry said Ethiopian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Yousuf Abdullahi and Ethiopian Consulate General, Ambassador Tekle-Ab Kebede were invited as honourable guests at the celebration.

Speaking at the celebration, Ambassador Yousuf said the celebration of the holiday was a manifestation of the respect of individual and collective rights of people as enshrined in the Ethiopian Constitution.

Speaking on his part, Ambassador Tekle-Ab said the celebration of the Shewal Eid is one of the victories of Ethiopian nations and nationalities.

Harari Development Association Chairman in Jeddah, Abdulwase Ra’is said the celebration is the manifestation of the Harari identity.

(ENA)

Modern Hotel Inaugurated In Harar