By Hayal Alemayehu

The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MoFED) has accepted a budget proposal for a new airport project planned be constructed in Jimma, it was learnt.

A detailed budget report prepared by the ministry and released this week indicated that the ministry had endorsed the airport project budget requested by the Ethiopian Airport Enterprise.

Officials at the enterprise, however, said the organization had not so far been officially informed of the endorsement.

"This has probably been settled at a higher-level talks. Nonetheless, the enterprise has yet to be officially informed about it," a senior official at the enterprise told The Reporter anonymously.

The new airport project is expected to be ideal for flight services en route to eastern Africa ports and the Far East. Besides, according to the construction plan, the airport will serve as a temporary alternative landing strip when the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport gets congested.

"Considering its strategic advantage, the airport project is accepted by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development," the detailed budget report said.

The amount of project, however, was not disclosed. The Reporter's attempt to get the budget allocation was not successful either.