Ethiopian Shipping Lines Share Company said it has bought a two-storey building and 1,520 sq.m. of land in Djibouti at a cost of six million birr that would serve it as guest house for Ethiopian ship navigators and their crew.

The purchase of the real estate would enable the company to save the badly needed hard currency that would have been spent on renting hotel rooms. Djibouti’s coordination office head with company, Nigussie Mengesha, told ENA that the building has residential units and a hall, among others. The company was founded in 1964 G.C. and started operation in 1966 G.C. with three newly-built ships (two general cargos and one tanker).

Authority launches construction of 871mln birr road

The Ethiopian Roads Authority said it has launched construction of an asphalt road covering 164.5 km with an outlay of 871 million birr. Public relations and information service head Samson Wondimu said the construction of the Mile-Chifra-Alewah Road is being undertaken by dividing it into two projects. The Mille-Chifra Road, the first project covering 85 km will be undertaken by a Chinese contractor, he said. The Second project, the Chifra-Alewah Road covering 79.5 km, will be carried out by a Nigerian contractor and a local contractor known as Sur, he added. The road links Afar with Amhara State, according to the Head. The project is expected to be finalized in a period of three years, Samson said. The project is expected to create dozens of jobs, he mentioned.

WMO to assist National Metrological Agency

The World Metrological Organization (WMO) is to implement two projects that would enhance the weather prediction capability and meteorological data management of the National Metrological Agency of Ethiopia (NMA), Representative of Sub-Regional Office for Eastern and Southern Africa with WMO, Steven Njoroge said. According to the bi-lingual quarterly bulletin prepared by the public relation services with the NMA Assistance Secretary -General of the WMO, Jeremiah R.D. Lengoasa, paid a working visit at NMA, recently. During the visit, Njoroge said WMO has allocated money to support two projects that would enhance weather predictability capacity and meteorological data management system of the agency. NMA Director General Kidane Assefa on his part expressed his gratitude for the support and said the realization the projects would be a great help in supporting the socio-economic activities of the country. Kidane said the agency has conducted a consultative meeting with consultants from the Finland government on the projects which would be financed by the Finnish government under the Volunteer Country Program (VCP).

Benishangul supplies 32,000 hides and skins to central auction

Close to 32,000 hides and skins top the central auction form the Benishangul Gumuz State over the past six months. A report presented during the 5th regular conference of the State recently held in Assosa town indicated that the State has supplied hides and skins that meet the desired standard. The hides and skins supplied during the half year exceeded that of the initial target by 7,000. It also showed a significant growth compared with same period last year. The report ascribed the success to the concerted efforts made by the public and professionals in the sector.

State allots 21.4mln birr loan to local farmers

Some 21.4 million birr loan, meant for procurement of agricultural inputs, is under distribution among farmers in South Ethiopia Peoples’ State during the current crop season, the state’s agriculture and rural development bureau said. The stated sum is under distribution among low-income farmers who are unable to buy agricultural inputs in cash, public relations department head with the bureau, Tesfaye Yigezu told ENA. In fact, local farmers are able to buy select seeds in cash owing to the ever-increasing income of farmers and due to the boost in agricultural production and productivity in the region during the last five years, he said.  Farmers are also able to reimburse the loans on time, he said, over 23 million birr loan provided to local farmers was reimbursed during the last six months.