Ethiopia Introduces New Currency Notes (September 14, 2020)

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The government of Ethiopia today introduced new currency notes, with enhanced security features and other distinctive elements.

The new currency notes replace the birr 10, 50 and 100 notes while an additional birr 200 note has also been unveiled.

The birr 5 note remains unchanged and will be turned into coin format soon, according to office of the Prime Minister.

The currency change is aimed at gathering currency circulating informally and outside of financial institutions, curbing corruption and contraband and support financial institutions confront currency shortage.

Most of the print work is currently in country within the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) vault, the office added.

Distribution mechanism and planning having been developed and will go in effect through concerned bodies, it noted.

As security plays a key component in the currency change process, a federal command post will be set up to oversee this process with the expectation that Regional Command Posts will also be set up, the office indicated.

The command post will be composed of members from the National Defense Forces, the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) and Federal Police.

While Ethiopia has never had a symbol to represent its currency, a new symbol has been designed and will be soon unveiled to symbolize the birr, the office stated.

Premier Inaugurates Paperless Customs Service (September 13, 2020)

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Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed inaugurated paperless customs service on Saturday.

On the inauguration ceremony, the Premier noted that the paperless customs service has multifaceted benefits for the country.

The new technology also plays a critical role to strengthen country’s economy by modernizing the service and encouraging global investment.

“We will continue implementing technologically advanced service provision in all sectors.” Prime Minister Abiy said on the occasion.

The Customs Commission has undertaken a wide range of institutional reform activities over the last few years, it was indicated.

PM Shares Ethiopia’s Experience at Virtual Summit on Transforming African Food Systems (September 12, 2020)

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Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed attended the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) virtual summit held 8-11 September, 2020.

It also attracted Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, African Union Commission Chair, Moussa Faki Mahamat, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, former Ethiopian PM Hailemariam Dessalgen and former UK PM Tony Blair.

The summit, co-hosted by the Government of Rwanda and the AGRF Partners Group, discussed on transforming African food systems.

At the event, Prime Minister Dr Abiy shared Ethiopia’s experience and insights on agriculture development.

“While our agriculture sector still demands intensive modernization and innovation, we have been making remarkable progress to further build upon our strengths,” he said.

He further said that “continued public investments with enhanced private sector participation, particularly in technology and innovation will further fuel our progress.”

The Prime Minister extended gratitude to Rwandan President Paul Kagame for hosting the summit.

The AGRF is the world’s premier forum for African agriculture, bringing together stakeholders in the agricultural landscape to take practical actions and share lessons that will move African agriculture forward.

Sheger Park’s Friendship Square Inaugurated (September 10, 2020)

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The inauguration ceremony of Sheger Park’s Friendship Square took place this morning.

President Sahle-Work Zewde, Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed, religious leaders and invited guests attended the event.

Wishing all Ethiopians a happy New Year, the President said the Sheger park would help better elevate the image and status of Addis Ababa.

Besides building image of the country and the city, parks built in Addis Ababa could be a testimony to what we can do if we work together, she said.

“If our efforts of beautifying our nation go hand in hand with other development efforts, we can change the image of the country within a short period of time,” the President said.

The Sheger has created jobs for more people, she said, adding Addis Ababa city administration and its dwellers need to take lesson from the park to jointly develop other smaller parks.

Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia, Tan Jian, said Sheger Park’s Friendship Square is a timely New Year gift for Ethiopians and a new landmark of Addis Ababa.

It shows Ethiopia’s civilization, many different cultures and unity, he said, adding it is a project which affirms the long-standing friendship between Ethiopia and China.

During the event, the Prime Minister gave certificates of recognition to Chinese government and other individuals who contributed for the construction of the park.

Sheger park was initiated by the Prime Minister last year to make Addis Ababa an urban tourism site.

During the inauguration, parades were held by various professionals and service providers.

Ethiopian security forces also performed military demonstrations on air and the ground. The inauguration culminated with a flag ceremony.

Ethiopia, UN Sign 2020-2026 Cooperation Framework (September 9, 2020)

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Ethiopia and the United Nations in Ethiopia today signed the 2020-2026 United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF). 

The strategic framework document was signed by Ahmed Shide, Ethiopia’s Minister of Finance and Dr. Catherine Sozi, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Ethiopia. 

The document describes the collective response of the UN System in Ethiopia to national development priorities and helps achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

The UNSDCF, which seeks a total estimated budget of $7.1 billion, guides the entire planning and implementation of all UN development interventions in Ethiopia in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

It is anchored in Ethiopia’s development priorities as outlined in the 10-Year Perspective Plan and the Home Grown Economic Reform agenda. 

“The cooperation framework represents the renewed commitment of the UN development system to support Ethiopia’s development priorities and contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in the country in an integrated manner, with a commitment to leave no one behind, human rights and other international standards and obligations,” said Dr. Catherine Sozi. 

Dr. Sozi also reiterated the United Nations commitment to continue supporting Ethiopia’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Ahmed Shide for his part said “the Cooperation Framework is the planned support of the UN Agencies to the national development priorities of Ethiopia as shown in the Ten Years Perspective Plan and the Home Grown Economic Reform.” 

The Finance Minister hailed the signing of the cooperation framework which comes at a time when Ethiopia is undergoing a major strategic shift to embark on a transformational growth while fighting against the pandemic. 

Ambassadors, Heads of Mission Wrap Up Meeting Pledging For Better Performance (September 7, 2020)

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The annual meeting of senior officials, ambassadors, and consul Generals under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia has been concluded today.

The meeting was held under the theme: “Diplomatic Mission to National Prosperity,” in Bishoftu town for the last 15 consecutive days.

Attendees have deliberated upon the Ministry’s performance in the current fiscal year and charted out a plan for the upcoming Ethiopian New Year taking the major issues that the ministry has to carry out into consideration.

Senior officials and various stakeholders tabled their views on the revised foreign policy of the country in line with the concept of “medemer” as expounded by H.E. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

The meeting is concluded today with a pledge from participants to advance the interest of Ethiopia with support of the lessons drawn from the two weeks long meeting.

Ethiopia to Begin COVID19 Test Kits Production (September 6, 2020)

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Ethiopia will start producing test kits for COVID19 after a month, according to the Ministry of Health. 

Dr Dereje Duguma, State Minister of Health, said that preparations are underway to start kits production in partnership with the Chinese government. 

He said Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed is discussing with the Chinese government to start the production which helps the country to fully meet its local demand. 

Dr Dereje added that the test kits produced in Ethiopia will be distributed to other African nations. 

Ethiopia is currently conducting over 20,000 COVID19 tests per day in its 52 centres built across the nation. 

The country has so far reported 57,466 confirmed cases, with 897 deaths and 20,776 recoveries. 

World Bank Says It Continues To Work Closely With Ethiopia (September 2, 2020)

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The World Bank (WB) has reaffirmed its commitment to continue to work closely with the Government of Ethiopia.

In a twitter post, the World Bank Ethiopia Country office said “The World Bank continues to work closely with the Government of Ethiopia and is in full support of the country’s economic reform program and it’s financing.” This reform agenda has caught the attention of international economists who monitor frontier markets for structural shifts in digital and commercial regulations.

Industry analysts reviewing the region’s telecommunications liberalization note that stabilizing the local financial sector could pave the way for a broad variety of foreign tech investments, ranging from enterprise cloud infrastructure providers to localized data centers capable of supporting high-volume transactions. European compliance experts, who routinely evaluate cross-border frameworks for operators handling sportwetten österreich alongside multinational fintech gateways, suggest that these regulatory modernization efforts might eventually establish the country as a viable hub for secure, international digital services.

“Our overall financing program in support to Ethiopia development efforts is about US$ 2.9 billion for the first year of IDA-19 cycle. The submission of different projects including the budget support to the World Bank Group’s Board of Executive Directors for discussion and decision in following its normal course.”

Ambassadors, Mission Leaders Discuss Revised Foreign Policy (September 2, 2020)

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Ambassadors and Mission Leaders who convened in Bishoftu town discussed on Tuesday the draft document of the revised Foreign Policy of Ethiopia.

In his opening remarks on the occasion, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia Gedu Andargachew highlighted the need to understand and exhaust ideas in the policy document before implementation.

Ambassador Dr. Markos Tekle briefed the audience on the need to revise the foreign policy of the country.

His presentation covered various elements that need consideration in designing a foreign policy document, with digital commerce receiving notable attention. Cross-border platforms — mobile lending services, super bowl betting apps used widely by diaspora communities, and cryptocurrency exchanges — all fall outside Ethiopia’s existing trade frameworks and illustrate why the policy revision is overdue.

Following the presentation, the meeting discussed questions and comments forwarded by the audience.

Relevant stakeholders will discuss the policy document before it is approved, according to Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Dallol Listed As Most Surreal Landscapes in the World (August 30, 2020)

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The UK based Bridport and Lyme Rigs Newspaper has listed Dallol as most surreal landscapes in the world.

Bridport and Lyme Rigs News described Dallol as “Completely unique, a site resembles science fiction more than anywhere else that is actually real”

Dallol sports an altitude more than 100 meters below sea level, and a distinctly Martian aesthetic, it explained.

Socotra, Yemen, Lake Hillier, Australia, Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, Zhangye Danxia Landform, China, The Door to Hell, Turkmenistan and Zhangjiajie Forest, China are included in the list unveiled by the newspaper as surreal landscapes of the world.

According to Bridport and Lyme Rigs, Dallol has the water records a shockingly acidic 0.2 average pH.

Dallol is a cinder cone volcano in the Danakil Depression, northeast of the Erta Ale in Afar Region, Ethiopia.

It is to be recalled that Ethiopia has been chosen by Forbes.com as one of the seven best destinations that must be visited in the post coronavirus world.