The factory handed over key of the houses to farmers who used to settle on 3,200 hectares of land in east Shoa and Arsi zones along the Awash River. According to ENA, Expansion project representative with the factory, Tariku Gebeyhu on the occasion said the expansion project is aimed at enhancing the existing sugar production capacity of the factory from seven hectares to 22,000 hectares. Hence, the factory would construct a crash mill with a capacity of crashing 125,000 sugar canes daily, he said. Construction of modern irrigation infrastructure, lanes in sugar farms has already been commenced, he said. Ethiopia Sugar Development Agency Director General, Belay Dechassa for his part said the government has paid the necessary attention towards making sugar industries more competitive.

Water Development Fund, company sign water development agreement

The Water Development Fund and Metaferia Consulting Engineers, a local company signed here on Monday an agreement that would enable the latter obtain the loan for the execution of first phase water development projects. ENA reported that Minister of Water Resources, Asfaw Dingamo said the projects would be carried out in Wolkite, Hossana, Butagira, Sebeta-Alemgena, Burayu and Assosa towns at a cost of more than 180 million Birr. He said the projects would benefit more than 330,000 people in the towns. The projects are aimed at alleviating shortage of potable water caused due to the ever increasing population of the towns. The projects are expected to be completed with in two year's of time.

Zone to launch 43mln birr worth clean water project

A clean water project is to be launched in Adigrat town of the Tigray State at a cost of 43 million Birr, the town’s water and sewage services office. Office head, Berhane Gebremedhin told ENA that the project comprises, among others, sinking of six water wells, extension of 30-km water pipelines, construction of a water reservoir, and building of 25 water distribution points. He said the three-year project, which is part of the safe water development project launched in 15 towns of the state, aims at curbing the shortage of potable water services in the town in a sustainable manner. According to the head, the fund for the execution of the projects was secured from the European Union (EU) and the World Bank in loans. The pure water service coverage of the town is expected to reach 98 percent, which stands at 85 percent at present.

Ethiopia likely to meet MDG in water sector ahead of 2015: Ministry

Ethiopia is likely to meet the Millennium Development Goal in the water sector ahead of three years, the Ministry of Water Resource said. High-level Malawian delegation, led by the Principal Secretary of the Economic Planning and Development Ministry of Malawi, Patrick Kamwendo is in Addis Ababa for a working visit. Speaking at a round-table discussion held with Malawian delegation, State Minister of Water Resource Adugna Jebessa said Ethiopia will be able to attain 100 percent clean water service coverage nationwide earlier than the set time, 2015. All regional states are performing well on this regard, he said, efforts were in progress to secure the necessary funding from various sources for the same cause. He said the country envisages executing cost-effective clean water projects at rural areas, while clean water projects at urban areas are budget consuming. ENA reported that Ethiopia is indeed in a better off compared to some African countries to attain the MDG in the water sector, Patrick Kamwendo said, adding the visit of the ten-member delegation is aimed at drawing experiences from Ethiopia, which is doing well in the sector. Kamwendo said his government is executing huge projects in the sector to improve supply of water with 50 million USD obtained from the World Bank.

Entrepreneurs to invest 1.6bln birr in Gondar town

Some 80 investors operating in Gondar town of the Amhara State received licenses to launch investment projects with a combined capital of 1.6 billion Birr over the past six months, the Gondar town industry and investment expansion office said. Office head, Muluken Belay told ENA that the investors are licensed to engage in, among others, industry, trade, agriculture, construction, and catering and tourism sectors. The investors have already received 37 hectares of land to launch the various projects, he said, adding the new projects would create jobs to 3,500 people upon going operational. The amount of investment inflow in the town has steadily been increasing every year owing to the on-going promotional activities and provision of swift services to entrepreneurs willing to invest in the town. More than 300 investors with an aggregate capital of 3.3 billion Birr are operating in Gondar town since 1994.