The Monthly Publication from the Ethiopian Embassy in London Ethiopian News Summer 2019 Inside this issue EDITORIAL: Historic 2020 Elections Represent Hope on the Horizon……………………………………….2 Ethiopia unites in record-breaking tree-planting campaign…………………………………………………….4 Prime Minister Abiy to receive Hessian Peace Prize…………………………………….…………………………...7 New International Development Secretary in debut visit to Ethiopia…………………………………….…8 National plan to end child marriage, FGM by 2025 launched…………………………………….………………9 Malala visits Ethiopia…………………………………….…………………………………….…………………………………10 Ambassador Fesseha to speak at ODI…………………………………….…………………………………….…………12 Ethio Lease becomes first foreign-owned company to obtain a financial service licence…………13 Ethiopia develops national coffee brand for international market…………………………………………15 Lalibela churches among Rough Guides’ 100 Best Places on Earth………………………………………….16 Ethiopia to host World Tourism Forum…………………………………….……………………………………………17 “I Appreciate You” – solo exhibition by Catherine Chambers…………………………………….……………20 CONNECT WITH US @EthioEmbassyUK #VisitEthiopia Lalibela churches one of the ‘Best Places on Earth’ to visit
Ethiopia, with a population of over 105 millionpeople, has a fixed-term parliament system withelectionsheldeveryfiveyears.AbicameralsystemconsistingoftheHouseofPeople’sRepresentativeswith 547 constituency members (MPs), and theHouseofFederation,ensurestherepresentationofminorities from all constituencies based onpopulationsize.
Significant reforms undertaken over the last 18monthshaveseengovernmentcriticsreleasedfromjail and armed opposition movements in exile,previously designated as ‘terror’ groups, allowedback home,wheremany have already engaged in
Encouraged by this broadening of the politicalspace,donorshaveheraldedtheirsupport.On18thJune,theUnitedNationsDevelopmentProgrammesigned a $40 million project document tostrengthentheinstitutionalcapacityoftheNationalElectoralBoardofEthiopia(NEBE)todeliveronitsmandatetoenhancepublictrustandconfidenceinthe election process. This multi-partnerprogramme, “Supporting Elections for Ethiopia’sDemocracy Strengthening” (SEEDS), this month,received a $3million donation from the Japanesegovernment for the procurement of transparentballot boxes and indelible ink markers to avoiddouble voting, thereby enhancing credibility andtransparency.
Historic 2020 Elections Represent Hope on the Horizon
3 Summer 2019
BackinMay,whenJeremyHuntMP,theUK’sformerSecretaryofState forForeignandCommonwealthAffairs,was in Ethiopia forWorld Press FreedomDay,heannounced£15.5millionofUKsupporttohelp Ethiopia “run transparent, free and fairelections.” InJune,CanadianPrimeMinisterJustinTrudeau expressedhis appreciation forEthiopia’sgrassrootsapproach,welcomedsignificantreformsandpraisedtheplanstoholdanelection.$1millioninfundinghassincebeenapprovedtosupportthe2020electionsandwillbeprovidedthroughUNDP.
Onthetechnicalside,formeroppositionleaderandoutspokencritic,BirtukanMideksa,nowheadingupthe NEBE, following her appointment by PrimeMinister Abiy Ahmed, commands the highestesteemfromEthiopiansocietyandwillbetrustedtoensurethattheelectionprocessisfullyfreeandfair.
Birtukan Mideksa (right) is sworn in as chairperson of NEBE in November 2018 Ethiopia has more than 110 political partiesrepresenting the diverse interests of millions ofEthiopians across the length and breadth of thecountry.
Over a hundred parties have been engaged in successive
consultations with the Government and the Electoral Board in anticipation of next
year’s polls. This is testament to the widening political space
and appetite for democratisation felt across society since the coming to
power of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in April 2018.
Politicalpartiesarefreetoexpresstheirviewsandoutlinetheirpolicieswithoutcensorship,and,inaneffort to ensure a level playing field, will benefitfrom the provision of election funding from theGovernmentandguaranteedaccesstostatemediato broadcast their manifestos. In fact, manyopposition parties have already engaged infundraising and campaigning, holding town hallmeetingsandconsultationsaspartoftheirwarm-upforthevotenextyear.
The Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary DemocraticFront(EPRDF),therulingcoalitionheadedbyPrimeMinister Abiy, in a recent regular meeting of itsExecutiveCommittee,outlineditsowncommitmentto hold the vote next year, whilst welcoming thecontinuationofconsultationswithpoliticalpartiesonthefinerdetailsofthepoll.
Furthermore, the Ethiopian House of People’sRepresentatives intheirextraordinarymeetingon24th August 2019 approved a proclamation onelectoralandpoliticalparties.TheBillisexpectedtobetter facilitate the conductof future electionsbysupporting the development of robust politicalpartiesinthecountry.
With preparations afoot across the politicalspectrum,thishistoricelectionholdsthepromiseofembedding a truly inclusive and participatorydemocracyinEthiopiaforthelonghaul.However,to meet these aspirations, all stakeholders mustcapitalise on the public’s appetite for change andreformtodriveEthiopiaforwardtowardsthehopeonthehorizon.
4 Summer 2019
In an unparalleled move to go greener, Ethiopiamade history by planting 353,633,660 milliontrees in the space of just 12 hours, on 29th June,settinganewworldrecord.
Spurredonby thePrimeMinister,whokickedoffthedaybyplantingtreesinthesouthofthecountry,Ethiopians from all walks of life, young and old,came together as part of a nationalmovement torestore forests, and to combat effects of climatechangeandenvironmentaldegradation.
In addition toordinaryEthiopians, thediplomaticcorps,variousinternationalorganisations,andthebusinesscommunityalsojoinedinthetree-plantingcampaign.Publicofficesandschoolswereclosedinordertoallowmaximumparticipation.
Prime Minister Abiy plants a tree in Southern Nations, Nationalities and People’s Regional State, Ethiopia
Thetree-plantingchallengeinitiallyaimedtoplant200 million trees across identified sites in nine
LOCAL NEWS
Ethiopia unites in record-breaking tree-planting campaign
regional states. Ethiopia’s Minister of Innovationand Technology, Dr Getahun Mekuria, tweetedestimates of the number of trees plantedthroughout the day. By 11.22am local time,morethan 67 million trees were planted, breaking theworld record held by India. And by 3:00pm localtime,the200milliontargetwassurpassed.
The British Ambassador to Ethiopia, Alastair McPhail plants a tree. The UK has been supporting the planting of an estimated 95 million trees through its contribution to the Productive Safety Net Programme. Thisambitioustree-plantingdriveispartofPrimeMinister Abiy’s #GreenLegacy Initiative whichaimstoplant4billiontrees(40treesperperson)acrossthelengthandbreadthofEthiopiabytheendtherainyseasoninOctober.SincethelaunchoftheprogrammeinMay,almost3billiontreeshavebeenplanted.
Ethiopian Airlines staff plant trees at their headquarters in Addis Ababa
This tree-planting exercise is a step in the rightdirection,goingalongwayinthebattletorestoreEthiopia’s forests. While similar nationwidecampaignshavetakenplaceinthepastonanadhocbasis, this year’s meticulously planned andexecuted campaign epitomises the best of massparticipationforasacredcause.
“Great Things Happen When We Work Together.”
6 Summer 2019
“Well done Ethiopia, an inspiration to the world.”PhilipMarks
If every country can break records for planting trees like Ethiopia — we can counter the effects of deforestation and climate change. Every one of our actions, big and small, count for people and for planet. AminaJMohammed,DeputySecretary-GeneraloftheUnitedNations
This is Leadership from Ethiopia. If they can do it then so can your
government. ExtinctionRebellion
This truly impressive feat is not just the simple planting of trees, but part of a huge and complicated challenge
to take account of the short- and long-term needs of both the trees
and the people.DrDanRidley-Ellis,HeadoftheCentreforWood
ScienceandTechnology,EdinburghNapierUniversity
What an incredible piece of world leadership on the single most important
issue of our generation. BillBritten
It's brilliant that you are taking the lead and showing the rest of the World what is required to halt serious Climate Change. I
just wish that every country in the World would follow your amazing example and
do likewise. Congratulations to your Prime Minister for showing great
leadership and for taking this responsible and concerned initiative. Congratulations
to all those of your population who planted trees too. They will, I'm sure, all
be rewarded in years to come. JuliaPage
I would like to say how impressed I was to hear the news that your country had
planted 350 million trees recently. This is a fine example to set for other countries to follow. Congratulations.
JohnBeaven
7 Summer 2019
PrimeMinisterAbiyAhmedhasbeenannouncedasthis year’s recipient of theHessianPeacePrice inrecognitionofhisindispensableroleinachievingahistoric peace agreement between Ethiopia andEritrea following a 20-year state of “no war nopeace”.
“Aprocessofreconciliationbetweenthetwostatesoffersopportunitiesforthesocietiesofbothstatesand the East African region. These importantdevelopmentsandtheresultingopportunitiesforapeaceful future are worthy of recognition,” theAlbertOsswaldFoundationsaidinastatement.The domestic changes introduced by the PrimeMinisterarealsonoteworthy.Inthelastyearanda
half, Ethiopia has made significant progress inpolitical and economic liberalization. In his firstyear in office, PM Abiy released thousands ofpoliticalprisoners,welcomedthereturnofpoliticalgroupsfromexileandappointedagender-balancedcabinet.Freeelectionsarealsoscheduled forMay2020.The Hessian Peace Prize was established on 16thOctober 1993 by former Hessian Prime MinisterAlbertOsswaldandthefoundationheestablished.It is awarded to people who have renderedoutstanding services to internationalunderstandingandpeace.TheHessianPeacePrizewill be awarded to the Prime Minister on 23rdSeptember2019.
Prime Minister Abiy to receive Hessian Peace Prize
“Abiy Ahmed Ali is one of the great hopes on the African continent. We want to honour his commitment to peace
with the Hessian Peace Prize and at the same time continue to promote it.”
Nicole Deitelhoff,Head of PRIF and member of the Board of Trustees.
8 Summer 2019
UK’snewInternationalDevelopmentSecretary,TheRt Hon Alok Sharma MP, made his debut trip toEthiopia in August, where he met with variousGovernment officials and British investors todiscusstheopportunitiesandchallengesofworkinginEthiopia.While meeting Prime Minister Abiy, the twodiscussed issues of mutual interest includingEthiopia'spoliticalandeconomicsituation,itsrolein the region and ways to strengthen therelationshipbetweenthetwocountries.
Appreciating the homegrown reforms underwayunderthePrimeMinister,Mr.Sharmaaffirmedthecontinued support of the UK Government toEthiopia.ThePrimeMinister,onhispart,expressedhis gratitude to the UK Government for itscontinued engagement in Ethiopia’s developmentendeavours.…Ethiopia,UKsign£120mgrantsTwograntagreementstotalling£120millionweresigned by the visiting International DevelopmentSecretaryandMrAdmasuNebebe,StateMinisterattheMinistryofFinanceandEconomicDevelopment.AccordingtotheMinistryofFinanceandEconomicDevelopment, £95millionwill be used to financethe Strengthening Climate Resilient System forWater,SanitationandHygieneService(SCRS-WaSH)programme, which aims to improve access toclimate-resilient water, developing sanitationservicesandgoodhygienepractices.
Theremaining£25millionwillbeusedto financephase 4 of the Ethiopian Productive Safety NetProgramme(PSNP),whichaimstoincreaseaccesstosafetynetanddisasterriskmanagementsystems,complementary livelihoods services and nutritionsupport for food insecure households in ruralEthiopia.…SupportforBritishbusinessesDuringhisvisittoEthiopia,MrSharmacalledfortheUK to lead theworld inmobilising private sectorinvestment to create jobs and to build thesustainableeconomicgrowththatwill liftmillionsoutofpoverty.AccompaniedbytheDeputyChiefAdministratoroftheOromiaRegionalState,MrShimelisAbdisa,MrSharmavisitedtheUnileverEthiopiafactory,agreatexample of a British investor benefitting frominvestmentsinEthiopia.There,hemetwithfemaleentrepreneurs working in partnership withUnileverwhich,alongsideUKaid,isprovidingvitaltraining and expertise to help women start theirownretailbusinessessellingaffordablehouseholdproducts.Mr Sharma also heard how UK aid is supportingoperations at Modjo Dry Port. Aid at Modjo isimprovingsystemstoreducethecostsandtimeittakes forgoodstomovethroughcustoms,makingthe flow of trade through the Dry Port moreefficient.
New International Development Secretary in debut visit to Ethiopia
9 Summer 2019
In meetings with British businesses, discussionsfocussedonhowUKaidcanmakeiteveneasierforBritishbusinessestoinvestandtradeinEthiopia.…new Commission to boost qualityinfrastructureprojectsDuring his visit to Ethiopia Mr Sharma alsoannounced a new International DevelopmentInfrastructureCommissionthatwillbemadeupofUK and international business leaders. TheCommissionwill leverage the very best of Britishexpertise,andmakerecommendationsto improvethe planning, delivery and financing ofinfrastructure projects. This shouldhelp makeinvestment in infrastructure in developingcountriesmoreattractivetoglobalbusinessesandinvestors.TheCommissionwill help facilitate private sectorsupport to build more sustainable and resilientcitiesandimproveaccesstocleanenergyandwater.InternationalDevelopmentSecretaryAlokSharmasaid:“Anextra$2.5trillionisneededeveryyeartoendpoverty in developing countries and theUKmustmobiliseprivatesectorinvestmenttoovercomethischallenge.”“AlongsidethelifesavingworkofUKaid,weneedtoboost infrastructure projects that form thebackboneofeconomicgrowth.”“This Commission will aim to turbo-chargeinvestment in green, sustainable infrastructure,leadingtomorejobs,betteraccesstobasicservicesandopportunitiesforbusinesses,creatingtheUK’sfuturetradingpartners.”Alongsidemobilisingprivatesectorinvestment,MrSharmaalsoannouncedextraUKaidspecificallyforEthiopia as it builds more sustainableinfrastructure,helpingcitiestogrowinagreenwayandprovidingaffordablecleanenergy.Mr Sharma’s visit comes ahead of the UK-AfricaInvestmentSummitin2020whichwilllooktobuildon futureopportunities for tradebetween theUKandAfricanbusinesses.Asof2018,tradebetweenthe Continent and the UK was worth over £33billion.
National plan to end child marriage, FGM by 2025 launched
The new national roadmap will cost around $94millionand is in linewithEthiopia'saspiration toachieve global and continental commitments oncounteringthehealthandsocioeconomicimpactsofchildmarriageandFGM.Back in2014,duringthefirst Global Girl Summit held in London, EthiopiamadeapledgetoeliminatechildmarriageandFGMby2025.
The newly launched national roadmap will beimplementedbyaconsortiumofnationalactors,ledbytheEthiopianMinistryofWomen,ChildrenandYouth,incoordinationwiththeNationalAlliancetoEndChildMarriageandFGM,MinistriesofHealth,Education, Finance, Labour & Social Affairs, UNagencies,NGOsandothersectorstakeholders.
According to figures from theUNChildren'sFund(UNICEF)oneineveryfivegirlsbelowtheageof18ismarriedinEthiopia.Inthelastdecade,however,Ethiopiahasmadesubstantialprogressinreducing
10 Summer 2019
the number of girls exposed to these harmfulpractices.
"The establishment of a National Alliance to EndChildMarriageandFGMisanothersignificantstrideintheefforttoendchildmarriageasithasbeenkeyincoordinatinginterventions,"UNICEFhadsaid.
Malala visits Ethiopia
MalalaYousafzai,aUK-basedPakistaniactivist forfemaleeducation,visitedEthiopiainJulywhereshemet with various government officials includingPrime Minister Abiy, President Sahle-Work andyoung Ethiopian activists to learn more aboutEthiopia’s progress on education and equality, aswellasthechallengesandthechangestheywishtoseefortheircountry.
Malala with President Sahle-Work During hermeetingswith government, the youngNobel Prize laureate exchanged views on theempowermentofwomenandgirlsandencouragedtheEthiopiangovernmenttomakefurtherstepstoaddress the challenges to girls’ education. MalalawasaccompaniedbyherfatherZiauddin,U.K.BoardChairMabelvanOranjeandMalalaFundstaff.
In an exclusive interviewwith Fana BroadcastingCorporation,shesaid“ImetthePrimeMinisterandthe President, and they are passionate inempoweringgirlsandwomeninEthiopia.Theyarealsoworkingtoimplementpoliciesthatprotecttherightsofwomenandgirls.”
When asked about her Ethiopia visit, she said “InEthiopia,therearesomanythingstocelebrateandenjoy.IreallylikeEthiopianculturalfood.Imetwithgirlsandtheywanttobecomeleaders.”
As part of Prime Minister Abiy’s reforms sincetaking office in April 2018, Ethiopia has reachedhugemilestonestowardsgenderparity.
School enrolment for girlshasdoubled in the lastquartercenturyandforthefirsttimeinEthiopia’spoliticalhistory,womenhavebeenelevatedtotopgovernmentposts:acabinetreshufflesawagender-balanced cabinet with women taking up half theministerialposts,thefirstfemalepresidentandfirstfemalesupremecourtpresident.
Former Ethiopian Prime Minister new AGRA chair
The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa(AGRA) has announced the appointment ofHailemariamDessalegn,FormerPrimeMinisterofEthiopia,asitsBoardChair.
“IreceivedtheinvitationtochairtheAGRABoardasan opportunity to continue influencing AfricanleaderstoacceleratetheimplementationoftheAU’s
11 Summer 2019
Malabo Declaration to ascertain that food isavailable, accessible and affordable to all,” saidHailemariam.
Hailemariam will be leading an AGRA Boardcomprising global leaders with a passion totransformthelivesofamajorityofAfricanslivinginruralareasthroughinvestmentinagriculture.
Establishedin2006,AGRAisanAfrican-led,Africa-based and farmer-centred institution which putssmallholderfarmersatthecentreofthecontinent’sgrowing economy by transforming their farmingfromasolitarystruggletosurvive,toabusinessthatthrives.
Hailemariam served as the Prime Minister ofEthiopiabetween2012-2018and is creditedwithsustaining the country’s rapid double-digiteconomic growth and laying the groundwork forkeystructuralreforms.
He also served as the Chairperson of the AfricanUnion from2013 to 2014 andwas appointed theAU’s champion of the Comprehensive AfricaAgriculture Development Programme (CAADP), acontinental leadership role that required him torally fellow African leaders behind policies andstrategiestoendhungeronthecontinentby2025.HejoinedtheAGRABoardinSeptember2018.
Ancient humans lived high in Ethiopia’s mountains
Scientists have discovered what is said to be thefirstevidenceofhumanpresencehighinEthiopia’sBaleMountains,datingasfarbackas45,000yearsago.
The Fincha Habera rock shelter in the Bale Mountains where numerous signs of human settlement were found Despitetheharshconditionssohighup,researcherssayourancestorsmadetheirhomeinarockshelterroughly4,000metresabovesealevel(13,123feet),where theyhadenoughwaterandcouldhunt thenativegiantmoleratforsustenance.
Theevidenceshowsancienthumanspopulatedthesite at least twice, with the most recent beingaround10,000yearsago,neartheendofthelastIceAge.
It is long been thought that the inhospitableconditions would have prevented humans fromsettling in this location. But, the new researchshowsthatthiswasnotthecase.
ThefindingsarepublishedinthejournalScience.
Construction of state-of-the-art children’s hospital to start soon
AmbassadorFessehaShawelisamongspeakersatan upcoming event at the Overseas DevelopmentInstitute(ODI)entitledFinancingthefutureoftheBeltandRoadinAfrica.
Chaired by Financial Times Africa editor DavidPilling,theeventwilltakeplaceon20thSeptemberandwill focusonChina'sinvestmentinAfricaandexplore the future of Sino–African developmentrelations. Inparticular, lookingat the implicationsof the opportunities generated by Chineseinvestmentpractices, suchasChinesestakeholderlendingpractices.
The event will also focus on the Belt and RoadInitiativeintheEastAfricancontext,lookingathowit is financed by both state actors and privateinvestors who seek access to Belt and Roadopportunities.
Joining Ambassador Fesseha will be DeborahBrautigam, Director of the China–Africa ResearchInitiative at Johns Hopkins University; LindaCalabrese,ODIResearchFellowandJinnyYan,ChiefChinaEconomistattheICBCStandardBank.Thisisapublicevent.Registertoattendorwatchonlineat:http://bit.ly/ODIxBRI.
On 25th July, Ambassador Fesseha and diplomatsfrom the Political Affairs Department paid acourtesy call on the ODI, where they discussedissues ofmutual interest, includingODI'swork inEthiopiaandtheHornofAfrica.On the occasion, Acting Executive Director, SaraPantuliano, affirmed the ODI's commitment tocontinuingtheirworkinEthiopia.
Dr Tedros receives honorary degrees
from Newcastle and Nottingham universities
In July, Ethiopia’s former Foreign AffairsMinisterand current World Health Organisation (WHO)Director-General,DrTedrosAdhanomGhebreyesusreceivedtwohonorarydegreesfromtheUniversityofNewcastleandtheUniversityofNottinghaminasingleweek!
Dr Tedros wasconferred the title ofHonorary Doctor ofMedicinebyNewcastleUniversity.
Dr Tedros said: "I amespeciallyhonouredtoreceive this awardfrom NewcastleUniversity,whichremainsoneof theUK’s leadingmedicalschools.ItscurrentresearchinIVF,cancer,diabetes, ageing and dementia are making aninvaluablecontributiontosomeoftheworld’smostpressinghealthproblems."
On19thJuly,theUniversityofNottighamrecognisedDr Tedros’ outstanding contribution to worldhealthcare,byawardinghimanHonoraryDegree.DrTedrosisanalumnusofNottinghamUniversity,havingreceivedaPhDinPublicHealthMedicinein2000.
Professor Shearer West, Vice-Chancellor of theUniversitysaid:“IamdelightedthatDrTedros,oneofourmostinspirationalandsuccessfulalumni,willaccept an Honorary Degree. His career is trulyinspiringtoeveryonehereattheuniversity.”
Dr Tedros was elected WHO Director-General in2017, becoming the first African to lead theorganisation. Prior to his role there, Dr Tedrosserved as Ethiopia’s ForeignMinister from 2012-2016andasHealthMinisterfrom2005–2012.Hiscomprehensive reform of the country’s healthsystemsawchildmortalityreducedbytwothirds,HIV infections by 90%,malariamortality by 75%andmortalityfromtuberculosisby64%.
ETHIOPIA IN UK
13 Summer 2019
Ethio Lease becomes first foreign-
owned company to obtain a financial service licence
As part of government efforts to liberalise theeconomyandcreatemorejobs,theNationalBankofEthiopia (NBE)granted the first financial serviceslicencetoforeign-ownedcompany,EthioLease.
Increasing foreign direct investment is acentrepieceofPrimeMinisterAbiy'sreformagendatoincreaseprivatesectorgrowth.
Ethio Lease will provide local businesses withaccess to high-quality equipment, allowingbusinessestogrowtheiroperationsandcreatejobs,increasing productivity throughout the country.Ethio Lease is awholly owned subsidiary of NewYork-based equipment leasing firm, Africa AssetFinanceCompanyInc.(AAFC).
"As the first company to provide equipment leasing
services, Ethio Lease promises to be a game
changer in Ethiopia, with huge potential to boost the
economy, providing significant financial gains
for the country." DrYinagerDessie,Governor,NBE
FransVanSchaik,ChairmanandCEOofAAFC,whowillserveasViceChairofEthioLease,commented,"Ethiopia is poised for growth as the governmenttakessignificantstridestocreatejobsandimprovethequalityoflifeforitspopulationofmorethan100million.Byproviding leasing solutions togrowingbusinesses, we believe our capital will helpstimulate economic activity while generatingattractiverisk-adjustedreturnsforourlendersandinvestors."
Investment and Jobs Creation National
Committee established
PMAbiyAhmedhas launched the InvestmentandJobs Creation National Committee with a view tounlockingthefullpotentialoftheprivatesectorandcreatingsustainableanddecentjobs.
The committee, chairedby thePM, comprises theDeputyPM,presidentsof thenineregional states,the mayors of Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa, tworepresentatives from the Prime Minister’s officeand10Federalministries.
Thenationalcommitteewillensurethecreationofsustainableanddecentworkbyaligningpolicyandinstitutional systems. Itwill play a leading role insecuring and expanding investments and ensureimplementation of plans to increase investmentsandjobcreation.
The committee is also set to coordinate effectiveoutputs,theworkofFederalandRegionalentitiesand other stakeholders, in creating a conduciveinvestmentenvironmenttoacceleratejobcreation.
Everyyear,2-3millionyouthsreachemployabilityage and add to Ethiopia’s human resource andtalentpool.WhileEthiopia’seconomicperformanceisprogressive,morejobsareneeded.
TheDoingBusinessInitiativeandCommitteeledbythePrimeMinisterhavemarkedkeymilestonesinthe goal of creating an enabling businessenvironmentinwhichtheprivatesectorcanplayacriticalroleinjobcreation.
Key sectors given special focus to accelerate jobcreation nationwide include agriculture, mining,tourismandIT.
The National Committee will meet every twomonthstoevaluateprogressandfollowuponissuesrequiringimmediateactiontounlockperformance.
TRADE AND INVESTMENT
14 Summer 2019
New $300m industrial park to be built in Adama
Anew$300mindustrialparkwillbeconstructedinthecityofAdama,99kmsoutheastofAddisAbaba,before the end of the year. The park, which willfocus on equipment manufacturing, will be thesecondinAdama.
The 100-hectare project is expected to create25,000jobsandispartofEthiopia'sgrandplantotransform its largely agrarian economy into anindustrialisedoneby2025.Chinawillcover85%ofthe fund and the remainder will come from theEthiopiangovernment.
…Fourmoreindustrialparks
The Ethiopian Industrial Parks DevelopmentCorporation (IPDC) said four additional industrialparks will be built in the new financial year thatcommencedinJuly2019.
Industrial parks in Ethiopia exported productsworth$110millioninthelastfiscalyearalone,up35%onthepreviousyear,creatingemploymentfor50,000 people. In the fiscal year to 7th July, threeindustrial parks were inaugurated and are nowoperational.
$20 million secured from train services
TheEthio-DjiboutiRailwaysecuredmorethan$20million in revenue from its freight and passengertrainservicesoverthepasteightmonths.
The750kmEthio-Djiboutistandardgaugerailway,which was built jointly by Ethiopia and Djibouti,started operation on 1st January 2018 and isacceleratingits impactontheeconomy.Duringitsfirst year of operation in 2018, the corporationmanaged to move some 800 trains and earn $35million.
“We see this railway not only as a line oftransportation, it is the lifeline and the economiccorridor. This railway is related to the country’sindustrialisation and development,” Director-Generalofthecorporation,TilahunSarka,said.
…Passenger,FreightCapacitytobedoubled
The Ethio-Djibouti Railway Corporation (EDR) isplanningtodoubleitsfreightandpassengerservicetrips to match the fast-growing demand on theEthiopia-Djiboutiroute.
Tilahun Sarka, EDR Director-General, said therailway isregisteringremarkableachievements inboth freight and commuter services and willcontinuescalingup.
TheRailwayaimstoachieveEthiopia’s85%freightfacility. “Transporting commodities on time andavoidingdemurragehaspaidoff,”theD-Gsaid.
“We areworking to transport 40-50% of what isnow being transported by trucks. Thatmeanswewill have four daily freight train trips fromAddisAbabatoDjiboutiinsteadoftwo,asundercurrentpractice,”headded.Whileittook100trucksthreedaystotransport212containers,thesecannowbehandled in one 11-hour trip with the two freighttrains. This, Mr Tilahun noted, "is of paramountimportance" since Ethiopia imports about 13milliontonsofcommodities[eachyear]viaDjibouti.
In 2018, the passenger train transported 150,000passengers.
Built with an outlay of $4.2 billion, the Ethio-Djibouti Railway has reduced the travel timebetweenAddisAbabaandDjiboutifromthreedaystojust12hours,orless.
15 Summer 2019
Over $1.2 billion worth of commodities traded
TheEthiopianCommodityExchange (ECX) tradedover $1.2 billion worth of commodities in theEthiopianfinancialyear,whichendedon7thJuly.
Atotalof681,845tonsofcommoditiesweretraded,surpassing the targetof673,057 tons,with coffeeand sesame the major commodities with arespectiveshareof45%and34%.
Twoe-Tradecentresbuiltatacostofover$700,000in the city of Hawassa and Humera were alsoinauguratedduringthattime.
ECX is a nationalmulti-commodity exchange thatbrings together buyers and sellers of agriculturalcommodities who trade spot contracts thatstandardise the quality, quantity, payment anddeliveryofagriculturalgoods.
Ethiopia develops national coffee brand for international market
The Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority isdeveloping a national umbrella coffee brand toboost the country’s share of coffee exports to theinternationalmarket.
Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority Director-General, Adugna Debella, said the new brand,Ethiopian Coffee, will enhance the weak brand
The Ethiopian Coffee brand will have paramountimportance for developing the coffee sector as ithelpsthecountrytodecideandnegotiatethepriceofcoffeeintheinternationalmarket.
IntellectualPropertyAssetDevelopmentDirector-General, Tadesse Worku said the brand willincreasethe limitedknowledgeaboutEthiopia forthemajorityglobalconsumer.
It will also enable the nation to transform theconsumption, value chain and competitive set ofEthiopian coffee through enhancing customerloyalty and recognition, he added, allowing thecountrytochargeapremiumandopenthegatefornewproducts.
Ethiopia is Africa's largest coffee producer andcoffeeproductionisthebackboneofthecountry'sagriculture-ledeconomy.
EthiopiaexportsthebulkofitsbeanstoEuropeandtheU.S., and is trying to tapnewmarkets inAsia,especiallyChina,SouthKoreaandJapan.ChinahasthepotentialtotakehalfofEthiopia’sshipments.
Ethiopia's famous rock-hewn churches ofLalibela are among Rough Guides 100 BestPlacesonEarthtovisitin2020.
In their brand-new guidebook to the mostspectacular spots in the world, the travelpublisherandtailor-madetripproviderwantsto encourage and inspire people to traveloutside their comfort zone. The list reacheseverycorneroftheglobeandincludesfamousdestinationsaswell as those thatareup-and-coming, underrated, or have been previouslyoverlooked.
Thebook’seditor,HelenFanthorpe,said, “Wepooledtheknowledgeofourmanyexperiencedand well-travelled authors and editors andtogether we decided on the spots the worldover that are undiscovered, underrated, orsimplyspectacular.We’vemadesurethereisageographical mix, as well as a mixture of(justly)famousplacesandmoreoff-the-beaten-trackspots.We’vealsomadesuretocelebratealltypesoftravelbyincludingamixoftypeofattractions:urbanandrural,atmosphericruinsandglitteringcityscapes,biodiversityhotspots,culturalgems,andarrestingarchitecture.”
TRAVEL AND TOURISM
Lalibela churches among Rough Guides’ 100 Best Places on Earth
“We hope this list inspires people to get out there and see
what the world has to offer.”
17 Summer 2019
Someof therecommendations featured in thebookincludetheSunkenChurchesofLalibelainEthiopia, the ‘alternativeGrandCanyon’ inFrance,thefamouslybeautifulandsymmetricalTajMahalandVictoriaFalls’enormouscurtainofwaterbetweenZambiaandZimbabwe.
“An enigmatic and utterly beguiling country,Ethiopiahasendlessintrigue.Fromitsunique,highly sociable cuisine– thebasisofwhich isinjera,aspongysourdoughpancake,piledhighwith piquant curries and stews and sharedbetween friends– to its ancient languageandcurly Amharic script, there’s very little that’sfamiliaraboutthisplace,andyourtripwillbeallthebetterforit.”
“[Ethiopia’s] religious festivals and structures are
something to behold. The sunken churches of Lalibela,
hand-carved out of the red rock below ground some nine
hundred years ago, are an astonishing feat of
engineering. Come January, the network of tunnels and staircases that connect all
eleven churches fill up with thousands of worshippers
dressed in white, celebrating the birth of Christ with a
twelve-hour mass.”
Thenewbook,"TheRoughGuide to the 100 BestPlaces on Earth 2020",whichwillbepublishedon1st September, reveals 100of the most extraordinaryplacestovisitintheworld–the ultimate travel bucketlist.Forasneakpeekofthe
book,gotohttp://bit.ly/RoughGuides2020List.
Ethiopia to host World Tourism Forum
On16thAugust,AmbassadorFessehametwiththePresidentoftheWorldTourismForum,BulutBağcı,followinghisrecenttriptoEthiopiawhereheheldmeetings with various stakeholders including theMayorofAddisAbabacity,EngineerTakeleUma.
Ambassador Fesseha with the President of the World Tourism Forum, Bulut Bağcı (right)
Briefing theAmbassador about his visit,MrBağcısaid that the 2020World Tourism Forumwill beheldinAddisAbaba.
EstablishedunderBulutBağcı’sleadershipin2014,theWorldTourismForumisaglobalorganisationholding tourism events in different parts of theworldtofurtherboostglobaltourism.
FurtherinformationabouttheAddisAbabaForumwill be available on the World Tourism Forumwebsiteatwww.worldtourismforum.netsoon.
…Addis Ababa’s rising profile for globalmeetings
Ethiopiahas,inthepastfewmonths,hostedmajorinternational meetings, increasing the diplomaticand hospitality profile of its capital Addis Ababa,which is the seat of the African Union and otherUnitedNationsoffices.
InMay,AddisAbabahostedUNESCO’sWorldPressFreedom Day, which brought together majorstakeholdersoverathree-dayperiod.Ethiopiawillalsohostthe2020WorldEconomicForumonAfricaand in June, Addis Ababawas chosen to host thenextFIFACongressin2020.
18 Summer 2019
…Prime Minister Abiy awarded “Leader inTourism”
Mr Bagci alsoannounced that theWorld Tourism Forumboard has chosen thePrime Minister ofEthiopia, H.E. Dr AbiyAhmed,astherecipientof the 2019 WorldTourism Award for"LeaderinTourism".
Seleshi Girma has been named the new CEO ofTourismEthiopia,replacingLensaMekonnen.Priortotakingupthenewpost,SileshiservedasChiefofStaffattheAddisAbabaMayor'sOffice.Hewasalsoanadvisor to theMinisterofCultureandTourismand deputy head of the Addis Ababa TourismBureau.
Addis Ababa airport sees record number of passengers
Arecordnumberofinternationalpassengershavebeen travelling through Addis Ababa BoleInternational Airport, the major gateway intoAfrica,thissummer.
Wednesday,17thJulywasoneofthebusiestdaysfortheAirportwith310 flights and29,528 travellers(21,028 departing and 8,500 arriving passengers,respectively) which marked a record number ofdailypassengersservedattheterminal.
CommentingontheAirport’spreparednessforthepeak season, Mr Getaneh Adera, Director of BoleInternationalAirportandActingCEOofEthiopianAirportssaid,“Withthepartialopeningofthenewterminal,whichwillmorethandoublethecapacityoftheairport,weareveryexcitedtoserverecordnumberofpassengersthissummer.”
As the home base of Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’slargestflag-carrier,servingover120citiesaroundtheworld,AddisAbabahas turned intoabustlinghub handling hundreds of flights each day. TheAirporthasseenamajorexpansionrecentlywhichwillboostitscapacitytocaterforupto22millionpassengersannually.
Upongoingfullyoperational,theexpandedterminalwill feature state-of-the-art airport facilities,elegant and spacious check-in, arrival anddeparture halls, various duty-free shops andrestaurants, taking the entire passengers’experiencetoawholenewlevel.
It is to be recalled that last year Addis AbabasurpassedDubaiasthetoptransithubforlong-haulpassengersintoAfrica.
19 Summer 2019
Team Ethiopia at the London
Anniversary Games
The2019MullerAnniversaryGamestookplaceinLondonfrom20th–21stJulyandfeaturedbigwinsforsomeofEthiopia’supandcomingtalent.OnDay1atthemen’s5000m,three-timeglobal5k-medalist Hagos Gebrhiwet, held off Norway’s 18-year-oldJakobIngebrigtsen,winningin13:01.86.
Hagos Gebrehiwet winning the men’s 5,000m OnDay2SamuelTeferaprevailedinafiercelastlapbattleagainstFilipIngebrigstentoaddhisnametothelistofwinnersoftheEmsleyCarrMile.Pulling ahead in the waning stages, the youngEthiopianathletefoughtofftheNorwegiantotakethewinin3:49.45,thefastestintheworldthisyear.…1,500mworldrecordratifiedSamuel Tefera's 3:31.04 world indoor 1500mrecordhasbeenratifiedbytheIAAF.
Back in February at the IAAFWorld Indoor Tourmeeting in Birmingham, Tefera, theworld indoor1500m champion, upstaged Ethiopian compatriotYomif Kejelcha to take 0.14 off the long-standingrecord set by Morocco’s Hicham El Guerrouj in1997."Ican'tbelievethat,"saidTeferaaftertherace."I'mdelightedwiththeoutcomeandtohavetheworldrecordisaspecialfeeling." Tsgabu Grmay competes for 3rd time in
Spain’s Vuelta a Espana
On 24th August,Ethiopia’sUCIWorldTour cyclist andreigning nationaltime-trial championTsgabuGrmaybeganhis 7th Grand Tourwhenhecompetedatthe 2019 Vuelta aEspanainTorrevieja,Spain.ThisisTsgabu’sthirdtimetakingpartinintherace,havingcompetedtherein2015and2016.Hehasalsopreviouslyparticipated three times intheTourdeFranceandonceattheGirod’Italia.Tsgabu is the only Ethiopian rider ever to havecompeted inGrandTourcompetitionsandwillberacingwith220oftheworld’stopcyclistsfrom22teamsinSpain.He is competing for the Mitchelton Scott racingteam,andwillhopetocontinuehisexcellentform,having recently finished 29th in the GeneralClassificationatthe2019TourdePologne.GrmayisleadingthewayforcyclinginEthiopia.InhishometownofMekelle,he isbuildinga teamofyoungridersand inNovember,heplans tohostanew cycling sportive which aims to bring manyinternationalcyclingtouriststoEthiopia.
SPORTS
20 Summer 2019
The Embassywill be hosting a solo exhibition byCatherine Chambers, from Friday 20th Septemberfortwoweeks.
Catherine, a London-based artist, has inrecentyears,developedstrong ties withEthiopia. Since 2015shehassharedhertimebetween Lalibela andLondon and this hasstrongly influencedherwork. Last summer,Catherine’s portrait ofan Ethiopian friend‘Girma’wasexhibitedatthe Royal Academy ofArtsSummerShow.
Thetitleof theexhibitioncomesfromhearingthephrase “I appreciate you” being used often inLalibela,whichsparkedCatherine’s interest inthevariationsinmeaningthatcanoccurbytranslationfromonelanguagetoanother.
Catherine’s attempts to learn and speak Amharicrely on translations and interpretations of wordsand phrases by friends, together with her owninterpretationsleadingtosomeoftenamusingandconfusingmisunderstandings.
Catherine’s exhibited paintings, she hopes, willcommunicate“Iappreciateyou”ofherrelationshipwithLalibelainbothlanguages.
“I Appreciate You” – solo exhibition by Catherine Chambers
The2019PENPinterPrize is tobeawarded topoet,performer,playwright,artist and broadcaster Lemn Sissay, who will deliver an address for theoccasionattheBritishLibrary.
A limited-edition booklet of the lecture published by Faber& Faberwill beavailabletotheaudienceattheevent.
Venue: TheBritishLibrary96EustonRoad,LondonNW12DB
Date: 10thOctober2019,From7pm
Tickets+information:http://bit.ly/LemnSissayBL
2019 PEN Pinter Prize: Lemn Sissay
21 Summer 2019
Ethiopian shoemakers stepping in the
right direction
Forget Made in China, Germany orItaly...Ethiopiaisfastbecomingthego-toplaceforshoemakers,suchasBritishbrand Pittards UK, providing jobs inindustryforlocalcraftmanship.
GreenPath taps into Ethiopia’s burgeoning organic farming market
GreenPath Food is small start-up andEthiopia’s first certified organic fruitandvegetableproducer.
In exchange for growing fruit and vegetables onbetweenathirdandhalfoftheirplots,thecompanytrains more than 150 smallholder farmers tocompleteEuropeanUnionOrganicCertification.In
addition, the farmersreceivecredit for inputs likeseeds,and,mostimportantly,marketaccess.
The company ships fresh produce to markets inplaces like London, Amsterdam and Dubai, andherbalteasandbotanicalingredientstoBritainandthe US. One day, they hope to see the ‘Grown inEthiopia’ label on supermarket shelvesworldwide.
Readmoreathttp://bit.ly/GreenPathFood
Where Does the World's Best Coffee Come From?
Coffee,thatmagicalbeveragethat gets millions of peoplegoing in the morning. Theintimate relationship we
havewith coffee calls for better knowledge of itsorigins,whereitcomesfrom,andwhodoesitbest. Justlikewiththegrapesthatareusedtomakewine,the properties of the beans that make coffee aremostly determined by the conditions in whichthey’regrown,suchassunlight,rain,soil,altitude,andeventhemechanismoftheirpicking.
Ethiopia
You may have already heard that Ethiopia is thebirthplaceofcoffee,wheresomeofthebestbeansare grown. There is aguide to coffee fromEthiopiathat tells the story of how an Ethiopiangoatherder,Kaldi,was the first todiscovercoffeeand its benefits as early as 850 AD, when heobserved their energizing effects on his goats.Thankstothehighaltitudegrowingconditions,the
ETHIOPIA IN THE NEWS
22 Summer 2019
countryisknowntoproducethebestcoffeeintheworld.ThecountryisespeciallyfamousforitsHararcoffee, which is grown in the highlands of theEastern part of Ethiopia on small farms. Hararusuallyhasawineaccent,withalittleastringency.Depending on the growth conditions, it may alsohaveaspicyorfruitflavour.
Readmoreathttp://bit.ly/BestCoffeeET
Incredible footage shows a traveller swimming in a stunning natural pool
in the middle of a salt desert - renowned for being one of Earth's
hottest places
A jaw-dropping clip showing anintrepid traveller swimming in anaturalpoolinoneofthehottestplacesintheworldfeaturedintheDailyMail.
Bridget Thackwray is one half of New ZealandtravellingduoExpeditionEarth,andinJune,the25-year-old and her partner, Topher Richwhite, 33,discovered this phenomenon at the DanakilDepression-aneye-poppinggeologicalwonder inEthiopia.
The Danakil Depression was formed from thedivergence of three tectonic plates in theHorn ofAfrica. It has been referred to as 'the cradle ofhumanity' following the discovery there of ahominin fossil - named Lucy - dating back 3.2millionyears.
The volcanic landscape also has huge green andyellowacidandsulphurlakes-andispopularwithtourists.
Readmoreathttp://bit.ly/DanakilDesert
Top 10 Prettiest Destinations in Africa
A land of immense reddesert, picturesquecoastal villages, breath-
taking mountains, and other natural wonders,Africahassomethingtooffereverykindoftraveller.Thelandscapeisvast,lookingcompletelydifferentin some countries than in others, and there areseveralsightsherethatyou’llnevergetthechancetoseeanywhereelse.
The continentboastsopportunities for adventure,learning,culturalimmersion,relaxationandrespite,andofcourse,someofthemostastoundingviewsintheworld.
10:OMORIVERREGION,ETHIOPIA
Ethiopia’s OmoRiver Valley is truly something toaddtoyourbucket list ifyouwanttoget intouchwiththeAfricanwilderness.Largelyuntouched,thesurrounding landscape is breathtaking and awelcomechangeforthosewhoaretiredofcrowded,touristydestinations.
23 Summer 2019
Becausetheareaissoremote,thelocaltribeshavebeen able to maintain many of their traditionalcustoms,accordingtoTripSavvy.Notonlywillyougetthechancetoenjoythestunninglandscape,butyou’llalsohavetheopportunitytohaveaninsightintothelocalculture.
Readmoreathttp://bit.ly/OmoValleyET
Exploring Ethiopia’s wildlife and ancient monuments
Ethiopiaoverflowswithexperiencesyou just can’t find anywhere else,fromrarewildlife in themountainsto the churches of Lalibela, hewnfromsinglechunksofrock.
BecauseEthiopiaissovast,anescortedtourmakessense, especially for first-time visitors. Severaloperators offer small-group trips led by localguides,exploringthecountry’sculturalandnaturalhighlights.
Naturalwonders
Frommountainpeaksandplateauxtocloudforests,lakesand fieldsofwheatand teff (agrainused tomake the ubiquitous injera flatbreads), Ethiopia’svariedlandscapemakesitdifficulttopindown.Thedramatic natural beauty is a big draw for manyvisitors,whocometocombthelandscapeandspynativebirdsandwildlife.
SuggeststartingattheNationalMuseumofEthiopiaforanoverviewofthecountry’shistory.Foramoremodern dose of culture, the sprawling open-airMerkato is a hectic hodgepodge of stalls sellingleathergoods,fruitandveg,honeyandmattresses.
Manypeople come toEthiopia for its palaces andreligioussites,includingsomeoftheworld’soldestChristian churches. Gondar’s Royal Enclosurehouses several grand emperors’ palaces, andvisitors can wander around the well-preservedremainsofbanquethalls, librariesandceremonialsites.
Fromthere,Lalibelaisashortflightaway.Andthejourneyprovidesahintofwhat’stocome,withtheplane swooping above incredible rose-hued rockchurches. Even those not especially interested inreligiousmonumentswillfeeltheireyeswidenandtheirbreathcatchwhentheyseethestructuresupclose.
Mountainretreats
The best accommodation in Ethiopia blendsbeautifullywithitssurroundings–whichishowitshouldbe,withsurroundingsasincredibleasthis.
Limalimo Lodgeis one of the country’s mostmodern hotels, and perhaps the best choice forclientslookingtorelaxalittlebetweenadventures.
Thewooden chalets atBaleMountain Lodgearescatteredaroundaforestclearing,withafewstonehutsnexttothemainbuildingandrestaurant,idealfor clients who might struggle with the narrow,windingpaths.
Readmoreat http://bit.ly/ExploreET
A Network of hidden churches could be Ethiopia's most adventurous hiking
trail
A new tour takestravellers to areas fewWesterners visit. But
scalingtheGheraltaMountainsrequiresstrengthoffaith,saysSarahMarshall. Famous for itselaborateplacesofworshipcarvedinto the earth's core, Lalibela, a small town innorthern Ethiopia, is the heartland for religious
WitnessingGennaisundoubtedlyaspectacleandanalternative way to spend the festive period; butyear-round, Ethiopia's churches are open forbusiness,andevenagnosticscan'tfailtobemovedby an enthralling ancient culture criminallyoverlookedinWesternhistorybooks.
HometotheArkoftheCovenant(achestcontainingtablets inscribed with The Ten Commandments),EthiopiahasbeenshapedbyChristianity,andmanyofthecountry'selaborate,historicandoftenhard-to-reach churches are still a focus for thecommunitytoday.
Lalibela is already a popular stop on the touristcircuit, but further north in the region of Tigray,which borders Eritrea, the Gheralta Mountainsconcealnumerousfrescoedcavernssculptedmorethansixcenturiesearlier…veryfewWesternersgotothesemountainchurches.
Readmoreathttp://bit.ly/HiddenChurches
Ethiopia opens up banking sector to its diaspora
As part of economic reforms initiated by PrimeMinister Abiy, Parliament passed a bill in July toopenupEthiopia’sfinancial/bankingsector,whichwasclosedtoforeigninvestment,toitsdiaspora.
“ThelawwillenabletheEthiopianborndiasporatotakepart in theeconomicgrowthof the country,”saidLemlemHadgo,chairoftheRevenues,BudgetandFinanceCommitteeofparliament.“Itwillalsoaddressthegrievancesraisedovertheissue.”
The changes mean that an estimated five millionEthiopianswhohavetakenothernationalities,willnowbeabletobuysharesinlocalbanksandstartlendingbusinesses.
ThefirstDiasporaFestivalsincetheestablishmentof the Ethiopian Diaspora Agency that wasscheduled to takeplace inAddisAbaba from27th-29thAugust2019hasbeenpostponeduntilfurthernotice.Newdateswillbeannouncedatalatertime.
Please follow the Embassy on social media(@EthioEmbassyUK)andsubscribetoourmailinglist at http://bit.ly/ETHDiasporaUK for the latestupdates.
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Published by the Public Diplomacy Department, Embassy of Ethiopia, London SW7 1PZ
To receive a copy by email, please send an email to [email protected]. A copy is also available online on our website: www.ethioembassy.org.uk.
