Addis Ababa, June 22, 2018 (FBC) - Ethiopia and Italy today signed a 30 million loan agreement.

The loan will be used to support the implementation of inclusive and sustainable development of agricultural value chain project in Oromia and SNNP regional states.
The agreement is part of the 2017-2019 Ethio-Italy framework which was signed between the two countries on September 15, 2017, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Cooperation (MoFEC).
The agreement was signed by State Minister for Finance and Economic Cooperation of Ethiopia, Admasu Nebebe and Italian Ambassador to Ethiopia, Arturo Luzzi.

Addis Ababa, June 22, 2018 (FBC) –Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed will attend the rally to be staged tomorrow to show support and recognize the changes brought about by him since he assumed office.

The Premier is expected to address the crowd at the Meskel Square, according to the organizing committee.
The committee called on all Ethiopians to participate in the rally to ensure peace and show their solidarity to the Prime Minister.
Residents on the outskirts of the capital Addis Ababa are also expected to join the rally, it was noted.
The rally will be held at 7a.m local time.
 

Addis Ababa, June 22, 2018 (FBC) –The Patriotic Ginbot7 announced today that it has unilaterally suspended all self-defense activities using arms.

“As of today June 22, 2018, Patriotic Ginbot 7 has suspended all self-defense operations using fire arms in all regions of Ethiopia,” it said in a press release.
“Our forces have received strict orders to refrain from any form of armed resistance,” it added.
The party stated the recent move by Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed as reasons for its decision to suspend all self-defense activities using arms.
“The steps being taken by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed have given us a ray of hope that peaceful transition to genuine democracy, our long-standing objective, is a real possibility.”
It further said that the decision is a self-initiated positive step that takes into full consideration the party’s preparedness and determination to foil any attempt to derail the current change process by anti-change elements.
“The unilateral step also considers our role in helping, guiding and encouraging the peaceful struggle underway in Ethiopia,” it added.
The Patriotic Ginbot7 is one of the groups designated as terrorist organizations by the Ethiopian parliament.
However, the soon to be approved pardoning proclamation allows to give a pardon for the party.
Posted by Amare Asrat

Addis Ababa, June 22, 2018 (FBC) - Officials from North and South Korea have met in the North's Mount Kumgang to discuss reunions for families separated by the 1950-1953 Korean War, as diplomatic ties between the rivals continued to warm.

According to South Korean media report, the talks, held on the North's scenic east coast, were part of the agreement reached at April's Inter-Korean summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in.
The two leaders agreed to hold family reunions on August 15, which is marked as National Liberation Day in both countries. The last time reunions were held was in October 2015.
According to South Korea's Yonhap news agency, the number of South Koreans seeking to meet their loved ones in the North totaled 132,124 as of end-May, of which only about 57,000 remain alive.
An estimated 86 percent of those individuals are in their 70s and older.
One of the challenges in the reunification process is the confirmation of the whereabouts of the lost families in North Korea, an issue which requires close cooperation with Pyongyang.
According to the Korean unification ministry, an overwhelming number of the separated families do not know if and where their loved ones are living in the North.
Since the reunification agreement in 2000, a total of 20 face-to-face family reunions have been held involving 19,800 people from both sides of the border, according to Yonhap.
North and South Korea remain in a technical state of war since 1953, when a ceasefire came into force.
Tensions over North Korea's nuclear weapons programme have eased since the beginning of this year following Pyongyang's surprising willingness to engage in diplomacy with South Korea and the United States.
The diplomatic thaw culminated in a landmark meeting between Kim and US President Donald Trump in Singapore on June 12.
Source: Aljazeera
Posted by Amare Asrat

Addis Ababa, June 22, 2018 (FBC) –Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed welcomed the resignation of top leadership of Wolaita zonal administrators in the SNNP regional state following the recent tragic incident in the region.

“I expect the Sidama, Gurage and Kebena leaders and city mayors to respect popular will, take full responsibility and follow suit,” he added.
It is to be recalled that about five senior leaderships of Wolaita zone submitted letters of resignations yesterday.
Among those who tendered their resignations include chief administrator of the zone and his deputy.
Posted by Amare Asrat

Addis Ababa, June 22, 2018 (FBC) –The Tigray regional state today observed Martyrs’ Day, commemorating the 30th year anniversary of the Hawzen market day massacre of June 22,1988.

Air strike on a market in Hawzen town in the regional state killed about 2, 500 people.
In a message issued yesterday, Prime Minister Abiy expressed his deep sorrow on the inhuman massacre of citizens.
Premier Abiy said the grief and sorrow on what has happened on that unfortunate day will remain with us.
 
 
 

Addis Ababa, June 22, 2018 (FBC) -The European Union (EU) has introduced retaliatory tariffs on US goods as a top official launched a fresh attack on President Donald Trump's trade policy.

The duties on €2.8bn worth of US goods came into force on Friday.
Tariffs have been imposed on products such as bourbon whiskey, motorcycles and orange juice.
European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said duties imposed by the US on the EU go against "all logic and history".
Addressing the Irish parliament in Dublin, he added that "we will do what we have to do to rebalance and safeguard" the EU.
Source: BBC
Posted by Amare Asrat

Addis Ababa, June 22, 2018 (FBC) – A high level U.S. business delegation will visit Ethiopia, Kenya, Côte D’Ivoire and Ghana later this month.

Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross will lead a delegation from the President’s Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa (PAC-DBIA) on a fact-finding mission to Ghana.
Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Gilbert Kaplan will head the delegation on stops in Ethiopia, Kenya and Côte D’Ivoire as well as accompany Secretary Ross in Ghana.
These visits provide an opportunity for the delegation to gather insight into market opportunities and challenges faced by U.S. businesses in these fast-growing economies.
The PAC-DBIA will use this information to provide President Trump with reliable and actionable recommendations to deepen commercial relationships in these countries.
"This mission underscores the Trump administration’s commitment to both advance opportunities and to eliminate trade barriers to strengthen the U.S.-Africa commercial relationship," said a statement the US Embassy in Addis Ababa sent to FBC today.

During the trip, PAC-DBIA members will gather country-specific information for use in making recommendations to the President to resolve issues related to underdeveloped capital markets, non-transparent and price-based procurement processes, and workforce development.
The delegation will be comprised of PAC-DBIA representatives from companies such as Acrow Bridge, Amethyst Technologies, APR Energy, Bechtel , Black Rhino, Caterpillar, Citi, Computer Frontiers Inc., Dow Chemical Company, DSC Dredge, GE, IBM, Insta-Pro International, Kosmos Energy, Shea Yeleen, Synnove Energy, UPS, Varian Medical Systems, Vermeer, Visa Inc. and Weber Shandwick
PAC-DBIA members have prioritized the four markets based on the potential to improve the U.S. trade relationship with each nation.
The government of Ethiopia is making significant investments in infrastructure and is open to foreign investment.
Posted by Amare Asrat