The Addis Ababa City Administration on Thursday signed agreements with three international firms for the construction of six projects with a total cost of 10.7 billion birr.
The three firms are from China, Dubai, and Italy.
The construction of Adwa center, a car parking, a library, Pushkin Square-Gotera interchange road are some of the projects that were awarded to the firms.
The construction of Adwa center was unveiled on Wednesday with a view to commemorating the heroes and pass on the historical victory of the battle of Adwa to the next generation.
According to the city admin, China Jiangsu International Economic and Technical Cooperation Group will undertake the construction of the center on a land repossessed from MIDROC Investment.
The construction of the center, which will have a museum, meeting and cinema halls, library, gymnasium, green areas, cafeteria, restaurants, and parking areas, among others, is expected to take two years.
The Battle of Adwa was fought on March 1, 1896, near the town of Adwa in Tigray. (FBC)
UNICEF signs annual work plans worth 1.4 bln birr with Ethiopia
UNICEF on Wednesday signed the Ethiopian Fiscal Year 2012 annual work plans worth USD 49 million (1.4 billion birr) with the Government of Ethiopia under the umbrella of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF 2016-2020).
The work plans were signed by Admasu Nebebe, State Minister of Finance, Adele Khodr, UNICEF Representative to Ethiopia and Heads of Regional Bureaus of Finance and Economic Cooperation. UNFPA, represented by Bettina Maas, UNFPA Country Representative to Ethiopia also attended the ceremony, as one of the UN agencies signing annual work plans with the Government.
In his remarks, Admasu Nebebe said as part of the harmonization process of UN delivering as one, the annual workplans of the two UN agencies were developed and signed jointly under the UNDAF this year. He stressed the need for alignment and coordination at all levels among UN agencies to increase efficiency.
Adele Khodr appreciated the Ministry and all implementing partners for the collaboration and support provided during the preparation and quality assurance of the work plans. (Africa News)
Over 10 TIRET’s companies to be privatized
The Amhara Regional State on Tuesday announced its decision to privatize, fully or certain shares of 10 or more companies under the umbrella of the TIRET Corporate, a conglomerate run by the regional government.
Abate Sitotaw, TIRET’s Deputy CEO, speaking to Ethiopian News Agency (ENA), said they reached the decision with the intent to increase the efficiency and profitability of the companies. Comprised of nineteen companies, the TIRET Corporate conglomerate boasts of 12,000 permanent and casual jobs.
Established in 1995 as an endowment organization in the Amhara Regional State with an initial capital of 20 million birr, TIRET’s companies at the moment include Tikur Abay Transport, Ambasel Trading House, Bahir Dar and Kombolcha Textile Share Companies, Dashen Brewery and Gondar Malt Factory, among others.
It is to be recalled that Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) on its part recently announced a plan to make shares of the Endowment Fund for the Rehabilitation of Tigray (EFFORT), available for the public. (ENA)
PM’s security advisor elected new leader of Amhara region
The Amhara Democratic Party (ADP) on Monday named Temesgen Tiruneh the security adviser to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) as head of the Amhara Regional State on Monday after his predecessor was killed in a violent attempt to seize power.
Dozens were killed in fighting during the foiled coup by a rogue state militia in Amhara that claimed the life of regional president Ambachew Mekonnen (PhD) and other top officials. The same night, the army’s chief of staff and a retired general accompanying him were killed in the capital Addis Ababa in a related attack, the government said.
The ADP said that it had nominated Temesgen. The party controls the Amhara regional government and is also one of four in Abiy’s national governing coalition.
The Amhara violence was the strongest challenge yet to the rule of Abiy, who has rolled out ambitious political and economic reforms in what was once one of Africa’s most repressive countries since coming to power in April 2018. (Reuters)
