Ethiopia and 14 coffee roasting and distribution companies have signed a licensing agreement aimed at marketing Ethiopia's new brand, unique and distinctive coffee products, the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Office said.

The office told ENA that the agreement was signed at the 20th annual conference of Speciality Association of America held in Minneapolis. Including the new ones the number of companies that have signed a similar agreement with Ethiopia so far has reached 80. According to the agreement, the companies are obliged to feature the new brand on their processed Ethiopian coffee products. The new brand identity comprises a central logo for Ethiopian Fine Coffee, which takes place its inspiration from the coffee bean itself, together with individual designs for each of the coffee designations, the office said.   

Gov't to import bulk cement, wheat flour

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has promised this week that his government is preparing itself to import one million tonnes of cement in order to mitigate shortage of cement in the country. He said that a big amount of wheat and flour would enter into the country soon. He made the statement here while holding discussions with members of the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations (ECCSA). Meles noted that the government, in collaboration with the business community, has been importing food items like wheat and edible oil with a view to curbing the increasing price of food grains. He announced that his government is working with banks to reduce the amount of money circulating across the nation. Meles called upon the business community to play an important role towards the success of the government's measures in particular and to the growth of the national economy in general.

Customs collects over 8.2bln birr revenue

The Ethiopian Customs Authority announced this week that it has collected over 8.2 billion birr revenue during the past nine months. Authority public relations head, Gebre-Medhin Gebre Yohannes, told WIC that the revenue was collected from tax and non-tax income titles. Though the revenue collected during the reported period is less than the set target by some 13 percent, it exceeds that of same period last year by over 2.4 billion birr, the official said. The authority envisages collecting 12.8 billion birr revenue this budget year, it was learnt.

Over USD 60mln obtained from precious metals export

The Ministry of Mines and Energy said the nation obtained over USD 60 million from The export of precious metals over the past nine months. Public relations head with the ministry, Sofia Mohammed, said various activities were undertaken in the country to coordinate the production, transport and sale of the metals. According to ENA, she said that the amount secured from the export of such metals during the stated period has significantly increased compared to that of the previous years. The stated sum was obtained from gold, tantalum, platinum and other precious metals legally exported through the National Bank of Ethiopia.

City licenses investors with over 12bln birr projects

The Addis Ababa City Administration Investment Authority said it has issued licenses to 1,450 investment projects with an aggregate capital of over 12 billion birr during the past nine months. Authority investment team leader, Abraham Fanta, told ENA that the projects are in the areas of industry, construction, real estate, education, health and hotel, among others. the plan was to issue projects are expected to create nearly 40,000 jobs when they fully go operational.