TheMonthly Publicat ionfromthe EthiopianEmbassyin London

Ethiopian News

July 2018

Inside this issue PMAbiy’sfirst100daysinOffice………………………………..………………………………..……………………….2Ethio-EritreanEmbassiesresumediplomaticrelations………………………………..……………………….4ProfessorSebsebebecomesfirstAfricanForeignMemberoftheRoyalSociety…………………….5UKlauncheslargesttaxpartnershipprogrammetohelpEthiopiatransitionfromaid………….7EthiopiabidsfarewelltoEngineerSemegnewBekele…..………………………………..……………………...9UKgroupdiscovertheLandofOrigins………………………………..………………………………..……………..14EthiopianAirlines’winsSkytrax’sBestAirlineinAfricaaward………………………………..…………17InternationalCoffeeDaytobecelebratedinEthiopiaforthefirsttime……………………………….18EthiopianDiasporaTrustFundaccountoperational……………………………..…………………………….18CircusAbyssiniareturnstoEdinburghFringe………………………………..……………………………..…….20

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Ethiopian News

July2018

Spurredbythemandatehehadreceivedfromtheruling coalition, Ethiopian People's RevolutionaryDemocratic Front (EPRDF), to embark on arectification course of action and to usher inreforms, Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed wentstraight into action. Since his election by thecustomaryparliamentaryvoteon2ndApril,hehasmotivated Ethiopians with his catchphrase,“Medemer,” which soon became the mantra ofmillions of Ethiopians who espouse the cause ofthe revitalisation of Ethiopian unity. “Medemer” –Amharic for togetherness - is not so much anideology as an attitude, which holds that it ispossible to change human nature; it offers theopportunity for Ethiopians to forgive pastmisdeeds,forthesakeofthecommongood.

Inamannerandstyleseldomseenandmuchlikedby the public, the Prime Minister embarked on awhistle-stop tour to Regional States where hecalled on Ethiopians to close ranks so that“Ethiopia’s unity in diversity can flourish in anenvironment of durable peace and stability.” Intandemwithhisspeakingengagementsinregionalcapital cities, the Prime Minister was quick toimplement one of EPRDF’s recent pledges. Therelease of hundreds of prisoners was welcomedwarmly by the people of Ethiopia as well asEthiopia’sinternationaldevelopmentpartners.

No sooner had the Prime Minister completed hisspeakingtourofEthiopia’sRegionalStatesthanheset out to visit Ethiopia’s neighbours: Sudan,

PM Abiy’s first 100 days in Office

3July2018

Kenya, Djibouti, Egypt and Somalia, where heapprised the leaders of the smooth transition ofpowerwhichhadtakenplaceinEthiopiaaswellashis administration’s commitment to furtherenhance bilateral and regional relations. AtUganda’s National Heroes Day on 9th June,President Yoweri Museveni made Prime MinisterAbiyaMemberof“TheMostExcellentOrderofthePearlofAfrica.”

PM Abiy with Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta

AtmeetingsattheOfficeofthePrimeMinisterwithbusinessmen,youngpeopleandalargecontingentof Ethiopia’s academics, Dr Abiy expressedEPRDF’s regret for past errors, and echoed theruling party’s renewed commitment to usher in arectifyingcourseofaction, so that themomentumofgrowthandtransformationismaintained.

In a significant departure from EPRDF’s previousstand,thePrimeMinisteralsoannouncedEPRDF’scommitment to part-privatise state-ownedenterprises such as Ethiopian Airlines, Ethio-Telecom and Ethiopian Electric Power. Thiseconomic policy has already attracted greatinterest nationally and internationally. An ad hoccommittee of the wise has been set up to ensurethat the process of part-privatising state-ownedenterprises is carried out above-board and in atransparentmanner.

The Government’s declaration to unconditionallyaccept the Algiers Agreement on the borderbetween Ethiopia and Eritrea, and Dr Abiy’shistorical visit to Eritrea in early July, which wasreciprocated by President Isaias Afewerki’s Statevisit to Ethiopia a week later, must surely be theapogee of the Prime Minister’s first 100 days.

Road and air transport, and telecommunicationlinkswere restored between Ethiopia and Eritreaafter 20 years, and Eritrea has expressed itsreadiness to allow Ethiopia access to the Port ofAssab.

PM Abiy and President Isaias sign the historic Joint Declaration of Peace and Friendship between Ethiopia and Eritrea

Next in Prime Minister Abiy’s speaking itinerarywas the United States of America – home to thelargest Ethiopian diaspora – where he borrowedone of former-President John F. Kennedy’sphraseologies: “Asknotwhatyourcountrycandoforyou,butwhatyoucandoforyourcountry!”toencourage thousandsofEthiopians inWashingtonDC, Los Angeles and Minneapolis to be part ofEthiopia’srevival.

PM Abiy holds discussions with leaders of US-based Ethiopian political parties in Washington DC

ThePrimeMinister’s first 100 days in office havebeen hectic and peripatetic, but they have surelyushered in a rapprochementwithEritrea after20years, and hope of a bright future for Ethiopiansafter nearly three years of unrest in parts ofEthiopia.

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Following the historic rapprochement betweenEthiopiaandEritrea,Ambassadors,diplomatsandstaff from the respective embassies all over theworldhavebeenpayingcourtesycalls.HereinLondon,on3rdAugust,adelegationledbyAmbassador Hailemichael, senior diplomats andstaffpaidacourtesyvisit to theEritreanEmbassyinLondon,tofurthercementthepeaceagreement.

The Eritrean Ambassador, H.E. EstifanosHabtemariam, diplomats and staff, warmlywelcomedthedelegation.

Ambassador Hailemichael, echoing PM Abiy’smessageof loveand forgivenesson theoccassion,said: “We are here today in the spirit of love andtogetherness...to make up for lost time and uniteour two nations and peoples in the pursuit ofpeace.”Similarly, on 6th August, a delegation from theEritrean Embassy, led by Ambassador Estifanos,paidacourtesyvisittotheEmbassy.Welcoming Ambassador Estifanos and hisdelegationtotheEmbassyontheoccasionmarkingthe historic resumption of the brotherly andsisterly relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea,Ambassador Hailemichael said, “We are delightedto have come to this stage in our relations andthankourtwoleadersforthehardworktheyhaveput into getting us to this stage.What remains isfor us to strengthen our cooperation and traderelationsbetweenthetwocountries.”

ETHIOPIA IN UK

Ethiopia and Eritrea resume diplomatic ties

Photo: Ethiopian Ambassador (l) H.E. Dr Hailemichael Aberra Afework with his Eritrean counterpart, H.E. Mr Estifanos Habtemariam

5July2018

“It isnowup toallofus,whereverwemaybe, tostrengthen these bilateral relations between ourtwo governments as well as our people,” theAmbassadorconcluded.

Ambassador Hailemichael with Ambassador Estifanos and Eritrean diplomats In related news, the governments of Ethiopia andEritrea appointed Ambassadors to the respectivecountries for the first time in 20 years, afterreopeningEmbassies.H.E. Redwan Hussein has been appointedEthiopia’s firstambassador toEritrea.MrHusseinwasformerlyEthiopianambassadortoIrelandandhaspreviouslyservedascommunicationsminister.Similarly,EritreaappointedH.E.SemereRussomasitsAmbassador toEthiopia.He isEritrea's formerambassador to the United States and currenteducationminister.FormerSudanesePMcongratulatesPMAbiyA delegation led by former Prime Minister ofSudan, Sadiq Al Mahdi, paid a courtesy call onAmbassador Hailemichael Aberra Afework toextend congratulations to Ethiopia's new PrimeMinister,DrAbiyAhmed.

Mr. Al Mahdi also expressed his delight over therecent rapprochement between Ethiopia andEritrea.

Professor Sebsebe becomes first African Foreign Member of the Royal Society

Leading Ethiopianbotanical scientist,Professor SebsebeDemissew, has beenelected as a ForeignMember of the RoyalSociety, becoming thefirst ever Sub-SaharanAfrican scientist to beelectedintheSociety’s357-yearhistory.

On 13th July, the Professorwas formally admittedto the Society at the Admissions Day ceremony,where he signed the Charter Book and theObligationoftheFellowsoftheRoyalSociety.

This follows an announcement, inMay 2018, thatsixty eminent scientists from around the worldhavebeenelectedasFellowsandForeignMembersof the Royal Society, in recognition of theirexceptionalcontributionstoscience.

Professor Sebsebe has been made a ForeignMember for his lifelong work on promotingEthiopian biodiversity and the direct benefit thishasdailyforpeopleinhiscountry,andrightacrossAfrica,andjoinsthelikesofElonMuskandJimAl-Khalili.

“I see my election as an honour for all African Scientists and

collaborators. This is a sign that the quality of our work is being

recognised internationally.”

Speakingontheoccasion,ProfessorSebsebesaid:

“Iamhonouredanddelighted tobecomeaForeignMember. I hope that I will be able to use mymembership of the Royal Society to furtherstrengthen links between scientists in the UK andAfricaingeneral,andthosethataspiretobeFutureLeaders of African Independent Research, inparticular. I am also inspired to contribute to theimprovement of the quality of education andscientificresearchinEthiopia”.

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Venki Ramakrishnan, President of the RoyalSociety,said:

“Our Fellows are key to the Royal Society’sfundamentalpurposeofusingscienceforthebenefitof humanity. From Norwich to Melbourne toEthiopia, this year’s newly elected Fellows andForeignMembersoftheRoyalSocietyaretestamentthat science is a global endeavour and excellentideas transcend borders…For their outstandingcontributions toresearchand innovation,bothnowand in the future, it gives me great pleasure towelcometheworld’sbestscientistsintotheranksoftheRoyalSociety.”

Sebsebe is Professor of Plant Systematics andBiodiversity in Addis Ababa University andExecutiveDirectoroftheGulleleBotanicGardeninAddis Ababa. His research has documented theplant resources and vegetation of Ethiopia andEritrea and their use by indigenous communities.HeledtheEthiopianFloraProjectfrom1996toitssuccessful completion in 2009, involving 91scientistsfrom17countries.Hehaspublishedover50 new plant taxa and a species is named in hishonourAloeweloensisSebsebe.

ProfessorSebsebe isa recipientof theprestigiousKewInternationalMedal,anannualawardgiventoindividuals for distinguished, internationally-recognised work aligned with the mission of theRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew (RBGK), where he isanHonoraryResearchFellow.HealsoreceivedanhonorarydoctoratefromNottinghamUniversityin2010 and is an Honorary Professor at theUniversity’sSchoolofBiosciences.

Professor Sir Martyn Poliakoff CBE FREng FRS,formerForeignSecretaryof theRoyalSocietyand

ResearchProfessorofChemistryat theUniversityofNottingham,added:

“I am absolutely delighted by Professor Sebsebe’shonour.Ihaveknownhimnearly15years.Heisanoutstanding scientist and is an Honorary Professorat our University. I’m sure that his ForeignMembership will be a huge boost for science inEthiopiaandacrossthewholeofAfrica”.

Over the years, Professor Sebsebe has hadsuccessful collaborative research projects with anumberofUniversities inEuropeandAfrica.Withthis recognition, he hopes to advance the linksbetween Ethiopian and UK universities andinstitutions, aswell as between the Royal SocietyandtheEthiopianAcademyofSciences.

Ethiopian students on a mission to transform farmers’ lives in Ethiopia

The founders of Enpov, an emerging socialenterprise, recently had an audience withAmbassador Hailemichael and the Head ofDiasporaAffairs,MrFekaduBeyene, to talk abouttheirprojectthathasbeenenteredintothisyear’sHultPrize,andtheirjourneyinmakingitareality.

Ambassador Hailemichael and Head of Diaspora Affairs, Mr Fekadu Beyene, with Enpov cofounders Ikram Zakir (l) and Hanny Semere.

Outof100,000applications,TeamEnpov,hasbeenselected as one of 40 finalists for this year’s $1million Hult Prize, the world’s largest studentcompetitionforsocialgood.

Hult Prize is a start-up accelerator for impactentrepreneurship which brings together thebrightest university students from around the

7July2018

world to solve the world’s most pressing issues,such as food security, water access, energy, andeducation, through pitching ideas and launchingcompanies. It is the biggest and most prestigiousstart-upeventintheworldandawardsmillionsofdollars in investment capital to young buddingentrepreneurs. This year’s Hult Prize Challenge isHarnessing thePowerofEnergy toTransformthelivesof10millionpeopleby2025.

Enpov was founded by three students, two ofwhom are Ethiopian, from Hult InternationalBusiness School, who share a strong vision intransforming the lives of smallholder farmers inSub-Saharan Africa, particularly Ethiopia, bydeveloping rural mobility vehicles that run onrenewableenergysources.

The team visited Ethiopia in November andDecember 2017 where they met more than 20farmersandwithregionalbureauxaspartoftheirfieldresearchfortheproject.Touchedbythestoryof one farmer in the Oromia Region who had towalk forhours to gethis crops to themarket, theteam decided to make a difference by bringinghybridtransportationtoscale.

Prototype Transport for Enpov

The team is now in Ethiopia to conduct somefurtherfieldresearchbeforesubmittingtheir finalproposals and research findings. In August, thebest teams are invited to take part in theacceleratorprogram, followingwhich thewinnersofthe2018HultPrizeChallengewillbeannouncedat the United Nations in New York in September2018.

Ambassador Hailemichael and Mr Beyene wishedtheteamthebestofluckinthecompetitionnotingthat such initiatives taken on by young peoplecannotgounnoticed.

UK launches largest tax partnership programme to help Ethiopia transition from

aid

International Development Secretary, PennyMordaunt, during her visit to Ethiopia, launchedthe UK’s biggest ever tax partnershipprogrammetohelpEthiopiageneratemoretax.The Ethiopia Tax Transformation Programme,worth £35million, will transform Ethiopia’s taxsystembyhelpingittoharnessthepotentialofitsbooming economic growth. This new partnershipwillalsohelpEthiopiageneraterevenueso that itcan better finance its own services anddevelopment,becominglessreliantonaid.In addition to the tax programme, Ms Mordauntalsosignedthepreviouslyannounced£80millionEthiopian Jobs Compact, which is aimed atcreating over 100,000 jobs for Ethiopians andrefugees in Ethiopia over the next six years.Ethiopiaiscurrentlyhosttoover900,000refugeesfromacrosstheregion.MsPennyMordauntsaid:“Ethiopia’s security, development and prosperitymatter for the UK – which is why we’re workingwiththecountrytohelpitgeneratemoretaxfromits rapid growth. This will help Ethiopia fund itsown development – and ultimately transitionbeyondaid.”

UK IN ETHIOPIA

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“We’re also helping the most vulnerableEthiopians, including refugees who have fledneighbouring countries, to find jobs and rebuildtheir lives, creating the stability which will allowEthiopiaandtheregiontoprosper.”“This is a win for Ethiopia and a win for the UK,includingBritishbusinessessuchasHelawhicharethrivinginEastAfrica.”During her visit to the country, Ms Mordauntvisited UK garment factory, Hela, located inEthiopia’sflagshipHawassaIndustrialPark,toseehow Ethiopia’s industrialisation is opening upopportunities for UK business, trade andinvestment. She announced new support toimprove thewelfare and security of employees attheIndustrialPark.She also had the chance to visit a camp forinternallydisplacedpeopleinEthiopia,whereovertwo million people across the country have beenforced to leave their homes. She saw first-handhow the UK’s flexible response is currentlyproviding an uplift in basic lifesaving support foralmostamillionpeople.Amidhistoricchangeandoptimisminthecountry,Ms Mordaunt also launched a £9 million CivilSocietySupportprogrammetoempowersomeofthemost vulnerable people in Ethiopia, includingthose with disabilities, to have their say in thechangeshappeningintheircountry.…meetswithPMAbiyWhile in Ethiopia, Ms Mordaunt met withEthiopia’s new Prime Minister, Dr Abiy Ahmed,becoming the first UK Government Minister todoso.

TheydiscussedbilateralissuesincludingEthiopia’sthrivingeconomyandpovertyreduction.

MsMordaunt commended theongoing reforms inEthiopia andpledged theUK’s strong cooperationwiththeEthiopiangovernment.

“Ethiopia enjoys strong and robust partnershipwith the UK. DFID’s development support toEthiopia is dynamic, demand driven andmultifaceted the government is grateful for thepartnership,”MrFitsumArega,ChiefofStaffatthePrimeMinister’sOffice,saidinastatement.

UK’s Defence Secretary visits Ethiopia Defence Secretary, Gavin Williamson MP, duringhisEastAfricatour,visitedEthiopiawherehemetEthiopia’s new Minister of Defence, MotumaMekassa, for the first time to discuss Ethio-UKareasofcooperationandpartnership.

Mr Williamson saw first-hand some of the workBritish Defence is doing to improve lives in theregion. By visiting the Peace Support TrainingCentre, he saw the work that the UK is currentlysupporting in theAfricaUnionMission inSomalia(AMISOM).“From tackling terrorist threats to ensuring agreater role forwomen inpeace and security, theUK isdetermined tohelpourpartners inEthiopiaand thewiderHornofAfricawhen theyneedus,”hesaid.“Ihavebeendelighted,notjusttoseesomeaspectsof the support we are providing to Africanpeacekeepingeffortsbutalsotohear,first-handofsomeoftheexcellentworkourmilitaryisdoingto

9July2018

help make our vision of a secure and unitedcontinentareality,”headded.“Wewill not let up in our efforts to achieve this.MakingbetteruseofpartnershipsbetweentheUKandother countries – inparticularEthiopia–willallowustoensuretheHornofAfricaandtheworldin general is a safer and more stable place,”Williamsonfurtheradded.The UK is working with Ethiopia to train Africantroops deploying to United Nations and AfricanUnionmissions,includingAMISOM,onanumberof

key issues including international human rights,theprotectionofciviliansandpreventionofsexualviolence.Ethiopia’s a key partner for UK defenceengagement in the Horn as the country whichcontributes the most troops to peace keepingmissionsinAfrica,andinparticular,Somalia,SouthSudanandSudan.During his visit, Mr Williamson also met UKpersonnelandrepresentativesofagenciesworkingtocombatviolenceagainstwomen.

The project manager of the Grand EthiopianRenaissance Dam, Engineer Semegnew Bekele,was given a hero’s farewell on 29th July asthousands gathered to pay their respects at hisfuneral.

Simegnew Bekele's funeral procession in Addis Ababa

Among officials who attended the funeral werePresident Mulatu Teshome and Deputy PrimeMinisterDemekeMekonnen. Asasignofrespectandsorrow,PresidentMulatu,Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed through hisrepresentative, Deputy PM Demeke Mekonnen,and other federal and regional officials laidflowers on the coffin and expressed theircondolencestohisfamilyandotherrelatives.EngineerSemegnewcametothepublic’sattentionin 2011whenhewasput incharge of theGrandEthiopian Renaissance Dam, to which hededicatedhislife.TheDamiscurrently65%completeandoncefullyoperational,itwillbethelargestinAfrica.Hehas led twootherdamprojects - GilgelGibe IandGilgelGibeIIdams.Engineer Semegnew, 53,was found shot dead inhis car in Meskel Square on 26th July. Aninvestigationiscurrentlyunderwaytodeterminethecircumstancesaroundhistragicdeath.He was born in north Gondar zone, AmharaRegionalState, in1958Ethiopiancalendarand issurvivedbyhiswife,daughterandtwosons.MayHeRestinEternalPeace.

LOCAL NEWS

Ethiopia bids farewell to Engineer Semegnew Bekele

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July2018

PM Abiy and President Isaias given UAE's highest honour

PrimeMinisterAbiyAhmedandEritreanPresidentIsaias Afewerkiwere honouredwith the Order ofZayed, UAE's highest honour, in recognition oftheir work in promoting peace following thehistoricsigningofthepeaceagreementthatendeda 20-year state of war between Ethiopia andEritrea.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed AlNahyan,theCrownPrinceofAbuDhabipresentedhonours during a tripartite meeting held in AbuDhabi.SheikhAbdullahbinZayedsaid,“TheUAEsupportssoundinternationalrelationsthatseektopromotepeace and prosperity, with respect forinternational law.TheUAEcongratulatesEthiopiaand Eritrea on this historic agreement and hopesthatthismovewillopenfurtheropportunitiesanddevelopment across economic, cultural and socialsectorsbetweenthetwonations." Swedish UN Ambassador commends PM Abiy; calls for prime spot at the General Assembly The Swedish Ambassador to the United Nations,H.E.OlofSkoog,whosecountry heldthePresidencyof the UN Security Council in July, said thatEthiopianPrimeMinisterAbiyAhmeddeservesthemost prominent speaker's place at this year'sGeneralAssemblyVIPdebateinSeptember.AtamediabriefingmarkingtheconclusionoftheirPresidency,AmbassadorOlof said: "When there isthis very bold, historic leader coming in - in thiscase in Ethiopia - just changing the paradigm infavour of peace, shouldn't we just devote this

General Assembly to giving him the mostprominentspeaker'splace?"

Ambassador Olof was referring to the historicpeaceagreementbetweenEthiopianandEritrea.Under the leadership of PM Abiy, the Ethiopiangovernment announced that it fully accepts theterms of a 2000 peace agreement with Eritrea.Ethiopia also announced that it would accept theoutcome of a UN-backed boundary commissionrulingthatawardeddisputedterritoriestoEritrea.PMAbiythentravelledtoEritreaandsignedaJointDeclarationofPeaceandFriendshipwithEritreanPresident Isaias Afewerki on 9th July, formallyending the state ofwar andnormalizing relationsbetweenthetwocountries.The example that PM Abiy is setting isextraordinary given the fact that so many othercountries are investing so much time in justdefining why they need to be opposed to theirneighbour,AmbassadorSkoogtoldreporters.

“Abiy's success can be an inspiration for other leaders.”

Ambassador Skoog added that the UN SecurityCouncil should consider lifting sanctions againstEritreagiventhebreakthrough."We believe that the council should seize thismoment to firmly recognize peace and normalizetherelationsbetweentheinternationalcommunityand Eritrea by deciding to review the sanctionsregimeassoonaspossible,"hesaid.

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“What is happening in the Horn of Africa is truly historic…It is very important that we support

those historically positive developments in any way we can." TheSecurityCouncilimposedsanctionsin2009onEritrea, includinganarmsembargo, for its role indestabilising neighbouring countries, particularlyits alleged support for al-Shabaab militants inSomaliaanditsterritorialdisputewithDjibouti.

Ethiopia to use drones to deliver medical supplies

The Ministry of Health announced plans to usedrone technology (UAVs) to deliver medicines,vaccines, blood supplies and other medicalequipmenttovariouspartsofthecountry.

Dr Amir Aman, Ethiopia’sMinister ofHealth, saiddiscussions on ways to begin the drone deliverysystemhavebeenheldwithstakeholders.The drones, which Ethiopia is considering usingnext Ethiopian fiscal year, could operate in allweather conditions and can carry 5 kilograms ofmedicalsupplies.DrAmirsaidhisministrywouldinvestalleffortstosavelivesbybuildinginfrastructureandpreparingpolicy frameworks that allow the country to usenewtechnologies.

Abune Merkorios returns to Ethiopia The 4th Patriarch of the Ethiopian OrthodoxChurch,AbuneMerkorios,hasreturnedtoEthiopiaafter 27 years in exile, following reconciliationspearheaded by PM Abiy while he was in theUnitedStates.

Uponarrival,AbuneMerkorioswasgreetedbyhisfollowers,whosangandululatedinwelcome.TheChurchsplitintheearly1990safterMengistuHaile Mariam's Communist regime wasoverthrown. Abune Merkorios has since beenleadingtheHolySynodintheDiaspora.With two patriarchs heading the Church, AbuneMerkorios will be responsible for the spiritualaspectsof the church,whileBishopAbunewillbeinchargeoftheday-to-dayaffairs.

Five to be charged over attack at PM Abiy rally

Federalprosecutorsaretofilechargesagainstfivepeople suspected of being involved in a grenadeattackonapoliticalrallyinJuneforPrimeMinisterAbiy Ahmed. Two people died and scores werewoundedintheexplosioninMeskelSquare.

Ethio Telecom gets new female CEO Ethiopia’sstate-runtelecommunicationscompany,EthioTelecom,hasanewChiefExecutiveOfficer-Frehiwot Tamiru who replaces AndualemAdmassie who led the company for the last fiveyears.

NEWS IN BRIEF

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Ethiopian News

July2018

Advisory council set up to oversee privatisation of state-owned enterprises

Following the announcement that Ethiopia willpartiallyliberalisetheeconomybyallowingmixedownership or full privatisation of state-ownedenterprises, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmedannouncedtheformationofa21-memberadvisorycouncil thatwill oversee theprivatisationof largestate-ownedenterprises.ThecouncilbringstogetherseniorfinancialsectorexpertsfromEthiopia'sprivateandpublicsectors.The PrimeMinister’s Chief of Staff, Fitsum Arega,said that the council will ensure the process ismanaged with utmost transparency andaccountability.

$81.6 million earned from electricity to neighbours

Ethiopia made $81.6 million from the sale ofelectricity to Djibouti and Sudan in the justconcluded financial yearwhich runs from 8th July2017-7thJuly2018.

According to theMinistryofWater, IrrigationandElectricity, $47.5millionwasearned fromelectricpower sales to Sudan, while export to Djiboutigenerated$34.1million.

According to the World Bank, Ethiopia has thesecond highest available energy generationcapacity in Sub-Saharan Africa, with nearly 100percentcomingfromrenewableenergygeneration(mostly hydro power), and vast and mainlyuntappedsolar,wind,andgeothermalcleanenergyresources.

TRADE AND INVESTMENT

Ahigh-leveldelegationfromthenewEthiopiangovernmentwillcometoLondonthisautumnforitsfirstsignificantoverseasTradeandInvestmentSummit.TheUK-EthiopiaTradeandInvestmentForumwillshowcasethehugeopportunitiesthatEthiopiaoffersandencourageinwardinvestmentfrominvestorsandbusinesses.TheForum’sagendawillinclude:-

• Economicoverviewandbusinessdiplomacysession,tobechairedbyLordSheikh• Spotlightontradeandinvestment• EnergyandInfrastructuresession• Spotlightontourismandagriculture• MiningandMineralssession,tobechairedbySirHenryBellingham

The Forum will also offer delegates opportunities to network with the officials and strengthen therelationshipbetweenEthiopiaandtheUK.Forfurtherinformationandtoregisteryourinterest,visittheDMAwebsite:bit.ly/InvestEthiopia

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Ethiopiaplanstoreach17,300MWofenergybytheend of 2020, a major leap from the current4,280MW.

Major projects such as the 6,450MW GrandEthiopian Renaissance Dam are currently underconstruction to achieve the target. Other projectsinclude the 254MW Genale Dawa I hydropowerprojectandthe120MWAyshaWindfarmproject.

Ethiopiaalsoexpects togenerateenergy from theunder-construction50MWReppiewaste-to-energyproject,thefirstofitskindinAfrica,andthe70MWAlutoLanganogeothermalenergyproject.

53rd Session of the International Sugar Council held in Addis

The 53rd Session of International Sugar Councilwas successfullyheld inAddisAbaba from26th to28th June, at the kind invitation of the EthiopiangovernmentandtheEthiopianSugarCorporation.

Themeetings were well attended byMembers ofthe International Sugar Organization (ISO) andrepresentativesfromthenationalsugarindustry.The week started with a field trip toWonji ShoaSugar Factory outside Addis Ababa for a guidedtourofthefactoryandthecanefields.On 26th June, the international workshop on“DevelopmentsandOpportunitiesinSugarandBy-products” was held. Delegates listened to bothnational and international speakers addressingissues pertinent to Ethiopia and the wider sugarworld.AttheofficialISOmeetings,Memberswereabletodiscussbilateralandmultilateralissuesofcommoninterestandconcern.

In a statement, the International SugarOrganizationsaiditsMemberswouldliketothanktheEthiopianSugarCorporationandtheEthiopianEmbassy in London for the practical andsupportivecollaborationwhichledtoanextremelysuccessful and dynamic few days of debate. TheISO Members and Secretariat very much enjoyedtheirtimeintheLandofOrigins.

Ethiopia to host Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week

The global cotton, textile, apparel, leather,technology,andhomedecorindustrywillconvergeinEthiopiaforthefourtheditionofAfricaSourcingandFashionWeek(ASFW)whichwillbeheldfrom1stto4thOctober.

Over250 globalmanufacturers from25 countrieswill showcase their products and innovations toover4,000tradeprofessionals.ThethemeoftheConferencewillbe‘SustainabilityinProduction’and‘TransformationinTechnology’.Therewillbea special conferenceon ‘ContinentalFree Trade in Africa’. In addition, an investmentpanel will highlight investment opportunities inMauritius,Madagascar,Kenya,andEthiopiawhosegovernmentswill give information on the currentsituationandtheirsupport.ASFW is organised in partnership with MesseFrankfurt Exhibition GmbH, Ethiopia TextileDevelopment Institute (ETIDI), and EthiopiaTextile and Garment Manufacturers Association(ETGAMA) and is endorsed by the EthiopianGovernment.

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July2018

Ethiopia hosted a group of journalists, bloggers,travel writers and tour operators who visitedEthiopia as part of a FAM (familiarisation) triporganised by Ethiopian Airlines, the EthiopianTourismOrganisationandtheEmbassy.The trip saw the group visit Ethiopia’s famousNorthern Historical Circuit with world wonderssuch as the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela andTigray, UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Aksumand Gondar and the breath-taking landscapes ofthe Simien Mountains. All while experiencingEthiopia’s unique traditions and hospitality. Hereisasnapshotoftheirtrip:

Upon landing in Addis Ababa, the first stop wasvisitingEthiopianAirlines’headquarters,includingtheirworld-classAviationAcademy, the largest inAfrica,whichprovidescomprehensive training forpilots, aircraft maintenance technicians, cabincrew,marketingandleadershippersonnel.

In a meeting with the Management Team, thegroup learned of Ethiopian’s momentous growth,from the humble beginnings in the 1940s, tobecomingthefastestgrowingmultiaward-winningairlineinAfrica.

NextstopwastheGheraltaMountainsintheTigrayregion,famousfortherock-hewnchurchescarvedintothemountains,someofwhichdatebacktothe

TRAVEL & TOURISM

UK group discover the Land of Origins

Part of the group at Gheralta Mountains

15July2018

4th century. The undisputed jewel of Gheralta isAbuna Yemata Guh, a small but very beautifullypainted church, carved into a tall verticalsandstone and accessed by a cliff face suited onlytothosewithaheadforheights.Onceupthere,theviewsaredefinitelyworthit!

InAksum,theoldestcontinuously-inhabitedcityinsub-Saharan Africa, a guided tour of the AksumStelae Park, St. Mary Tsion Cathedral (Ethiopia'soldest church) and Chapel of the Tablet (home toBiblical Ark of the Covenant), was followed by avisittotheruinsoftheQueenofShebaPalace.

Aksum Stelae Park

Aksum was founded more than 3,000 years agoandservedasthecapitaloftheAksumiteKingdom,whichwasthedominanttradeentityintheHornofAfrica for over a millennium, prior to the rise ofIslam. The group also took part in a special earlymorning procession, known asmihila – Prayer oftheWorld.

DubbedtheCamelotofAfrica,thecityofGondarisfamous for its architectural centrepiece, the FasilGhebbi - a stone-walled royal compoundcontaininghalfadozen fairy-talecastles includingthethree-storeyoriginal,builtbyEmperorFasilinthe 1630s. The Church of Debre Berhan Selassie,with itsbeautifullypainted interior, ispopular forthe annual colourful celebration of Timkat(Ethiopian Epiphany) that takes place on 19thJanuary.

TheSimienMountains,Ethiopia’spremiertrekkingand walking destination, has one of the world’smost spectacular landscapes. In addition to thescenery, an encounter with the friendly Gelada

baboonswouldnotgoamiss.Geladasareendemicto Ethiopia. The SimienMountains are also hometo an alluring wealth of endemic plants andanimals,includingtheWaliaibexandtheEthiopianwolf. However, on this trip the Walias and thewolveswerehiding!LunchattheSimienLodge,thehighestlodgeinAfricaat10,700ft,wasawelcomebreakfromthecoldrain.

Savingthebestforlast,thefinallegofthetripsawthe group in Lalibela, home to eleven rock-hewnchurches dubbed the ‘New Jerusalem’. Excavatedby King Lalibela in the 12th century and still inactive use today, Lalibela has been dubbed the"EighthWonder of theWorld” and represents anEthiopianchurch-excavatingtraditionthatdatestothearrivalofChristianitycirca350AD.

Ethiopia’s historic city of Lalibela

BackinAddisAbaba,theworld’s third-highestcapital city and thediplomatic capital ofAfrica, the grouprounded off the tripwith a visit to theNational Museum ofEthiopia, which housesthe 3.2-million-year-oldskeleton of ‘Lucy’, thegrandmother ofhumanity, and a quickstop at Churchill Roadforsouvenirs.

A farewell dinner at a traditional Ethiopianrestaurant was held in the presence of theEthiopian Tourism Organisation’s Deputy CEO,beforethegroupdepartedfortheirreturnflighttoLondon.

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The18th July saw the first commercial flight fromAddis Ababa to Asmara, dubbed the “Bird ofPeace”, following the historic peace agreementbetweenEthiopia andEritrea.On board the fully-booked flight were 456 passengers, includingformer PM Hailemariam, government officials,diplomats and Eritreanswho had been separatedfromtheirfamilies.

AccordingtotheAFPnewsagency,demandwassohigh that a second flight departed Addis Ababawithin15minutes.

Passengers on board the historic flight were inhighspiritssinginganddancingintheaisles.Flightattendantsalsohandedoutrosestoallpassengersandservedchampagne.

Passengers pose for a selfie onboard a flight from Addis Ababa to Asmara

Upon arrival at Asmara International Airport, thedelegation was received by Eritrean ForeignMinisterOsmanSaleh,aswellasrelativeswhohadbeenanxiouslywaitingtomeettheirfamilies.

Photos of families and loved ones reuniting afteryears of being apart are being shared widely onsocialmedia.

Ethiopian journalist Addisalem Hadigu reunited with his daughters Asmera and Danait in Eritrea for the first time in 16 years.

Ethiopian Airlines currently operates daily flightstoAsmarawiththemosttechnologicallyadvancedcommercialaircraft,theBoeing787.…EritreanAirlinesmakesfirstflighttoEthiopiaSimilarly, the national airline of Eritrea made itsfirst commercial flight in two decades to AddisAbaba on 4th August. Among those onboardwereEritrea’stransportandtourismministers.

Theywerewelcomedby seniorEthiopianofficialsat Bole International Airport, including the StateMinister for Foreign Affairs, Hirut Zemene, StateMinister for Transport, Eshete Asfaw, EthiopianAirlines CEO, Tewolde Gebremariam andDirectorGeneral of Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority,ColonelWosenyelehHunegnaw.

Ethiopian Airlines’ ‘Bird of Peace’ lands in Asmara

17July2018

Ethiopian Airlines rolls out stop-over packages to promote tourism

From 1st August, transit passengers travellingthrough Addis Ababa with an onward journey toone of the destinations on Ethiopian Airlines’network, can now take advantage of the newstopover packages without incurring anyadditionalairfare.

The new packages from Ethiopian Holidays werelaunchedwith the aim of promoting tourism intoEthiopia. Passengers will be able to discover andexperience the many historical, cultural, religiousand natural treasures of Ethiopia, the Land ofOrigins.The packages range from sightseeing in AddisAbaba, thediplomatic capitalofAfrica, tovisits tothe pre-Christian era obelisks of Axum, thestunningmedievalrock-hewnchurchesofLalibela,the amazing 9th century mosques of Harar, themajestic castles ofGondar, the stunning source oftheBlueNile,thejaw-droppingSimienMountains,the splendour of the lakeside resorts of Hawassaand Arba Minch, or the unique coffee farms ofKaffa,birthplaceofcoffee,andmuchmore.CEO of EthiopianAirlines, Tewolde Gebremariam,said:“Ethiopianisworkingwithallstakeholdersinthe tourism chain to make Ethiopia a tourismdestination of choice. With its many riches, theworld has yet to truly discover Ethiopia andtourism has the potential to become the mainforeign currency generator for the country and amass jobcreator for theyoung.With thestopoverpackages,weaimtoattractasignificantportionofour transit customers in Addis as tourists and toconsiderablyenhance the flowof tourism into thecountry.”

‘Best Airline in Africa’ and more accolades! EthiopianAirlineswasnamedthe ‘BestAirlineinAfrica’ for the second year in a row, at the 2018SKYTRAXWorldAirlineAwards.

CEO, Mr Tewolde GebreMariam and UK Country Manager, Michael Yohannes (centre), together with Ethiopian Employees InagalaceremonyattheiconicLanghamHotel inLondon, airline leaders and top airlinemanagement from across the globe gathered toreceivetheir2018WorldAirlineAwards.Referredto by the media as the “Oscars of the aviationindustry”, the World Airline Awards are held inhigh esteem for the clarity of process andindependence, with no outside sponsorship orexternalinfluence.In addition to the ‘Best Airline in Africa’ award,Ethiopian also won ‘Best Economy Class inAfrica’and‘BestBusinessClassinAfrica’.Also announced in the eveningwere theWorld’s Top100Airlines for2018, as voted forby airlinecustomersaround theworld.EthiopianAirlines istheBestAirline inAfrica, rankingat40th,up fromthe48th position last year. SingaporeAirlineswasnamed the World’s Best Airline, with QatarAirwaysranked2ndandANAin3rdplace.Regarding the airline’s improved rank and theawards it won, Mr Tewolde Gebremariam, said,“We are glad to be named the ‘Best Airline inAfrica’, ‘Best Business class in Africa’ and ‘BestEconomy Class in Africa’...These recognitions areallastrongvoteofconfidencebyourcustomers.Asa customer-focusedandmarket-drivenairline,wewill always strive tomeet and exceed customers’expectations through differentiated servicedelivery. I wish to take this opportunity tocongratulate my colleagues at Ethiopian for theirexceptional commitment and hard work to keepourairlineflyinghighintheskies.”

Stopover packages are accessible on the airline’s website, www.ethiopianairlines.com, or on the Ethiopian Holidays website: www.ethiopianholidays.com. e-visas for all nationalities can be applied for at www.evisa.gov.et

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CommentingontheAwards,EdwardPlaisted,CEOof Skytrax said, "Passengers have votedEthiopianAirlines, Africa's premier carrier, for a secondsuccessive year and this is a simply fabulousachievement for the airline management andfrontlinestaff."EthiopianAirlinesisamulti-awardwinningairlineand has previously received SKYTRAX WorldAirlineAwardforBestAirlineStaffinAfrica,twice.International Coffee Day to be celebrated in

Ethiopia for the first time

International Coffee Day will be celebrated inEthiopia,thebirthplaceofcoffee, forthefirsttimein November 2018 under the theme “CelebrateInternationalCoffeeDayintheLandofOrigins.”

Ethiopia has someof themost diverse andhighlysought-after premium coffees in the world. Thecelebration will bring together coffee producers,roasters,exporters,researchers,writersandcoffeelovers fromallover theworldandwill includeanexhibition,aconferenceandacoffeetourtoKaffa,theregionwherecoffeefirstoriginatedandspreadaroundtheworld.

Ethiopian Holidays has prepared special coffeetourpackages forparticipants in the InternationalCoffeeDayCelebration.

Initiated by Ethiopian Airlines and organized bymajor stakeholders in the coffee and tourismsectors, including Ethiopian Coffee & TeaAuthority, EthiopianCoffeeExportersAssociation,Ethiopian Tourism Organization, Ministry ofForeign Affairs, and Ministry of Trade, theInternational Coffee Day will bring togethermultiplestakeholders fromallover theworldandserve as an ideal platform for experience-sharingandnetworking.

PM Abiy calls on Ethiopian Diaspora to take

part in activities at home PrimeMinisterAbiy travelled to theUnitedStateson a three-stateDiasporaoutreach tourwherehemet with Ethiopians living in Los Angeles,Washington and Minnesota. The meetings wereheldunderthetheme:“BreaktheWallandBuildaBridge”.The Premier called on the Ethiopian Diasporacommunity todirectly takepart in all activities intheir country of origin, saying efforts of theDiaspora are vital to take Ethiopia to a greaterheight.The Ethiopian Diaspora should support theirfellow compatriots at home through building andexpandinginfrastructures,schoolsandothersocialservicedeliveryinstitutions,hesaid.We should unite to fight against malpractice andcorruption, and support efforts to alleviatepoverty,thePremiersaid.

Ethiopian Diaspora Trust Fund account operational

FollowingPrimeMinisterAbiyAhmed’srecentcallfor the Diaspora to contribute $1-a-day to thetransformation and development of a betterEthiopia, abankaccount to support theoperationof the “Ethiopian Diaspora Trust Fund” is nowactive.

DIASPORA CORNER

19July2018

TheAccount,operatedbytheCommercialBankofEthiopia, has been launchedwith the express aimofconnectingtheDiasporawiththeirhomelandbyfacilitating the secure collection of their financialcontributions.

Moneycanbesenttothenewlyopened“EthiopianDiaspora Trust Fund” account via the followingmethods:

• By accessing the soon-to-be-launchedofficial website of the Ethiopian DiasporaTrustFundor;

• By sending contributions to the accountusing the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia’sSWIFTCode:CBETETAAor;

• By using the officially authorisedinternational money transfer servicescurrently working with the CommercialBankofEthiopia

Forthefulllistofmoneytransferservicesavailableand for further information, please visit ourwebsite at http://bit.ly/1-dollar-a-day or contactour Diaspora Affairs Team on 0207 838 3873 or02078383886.…AdvisoryCouncilformedtooverseefundPM Abiy’s call has been enthusiastically acceptedbyEthiopiansworldwide.Adiversegroupofwell-known Ethiopian scholars, business executives,and other professionals have volunteered tocoordinatethediasporaeffortsfortheFund.Ina statementon9thAugust, thePrimeMinister’sOffice announced the formation of a 15-strongEthiopian Diaspora Trust Fund Advisory Councilthatwillfacilitatethefund.The Council is expected to undertakecomprehensive plans for the Fund including

mechanisms for high-level accountability andtransparency,projectselectioncriteriaforfundingand identification of practical means to generatepublicsupportfortheFund.TheCouncilplanstoseekinputfromtheDiasporacommunities worldwide in order to ensure thattheir voices are heard in the establishment andadministrationoftheFund.

Awash Bank partners with WorldRemit for digital money transfers to Ethiopia

Leading digital moneytransferserviceWorldRemithas joined forces withAwash Bank for onlinemoneytransferstoEthiopia.

The new partnership further increasesWorldRemit’s footprint in the country and allowsthe Ethiopian diaspora to send money homequicklyandsecurely.

Andrew Stewart, Regional Director of Africa andthe Middle East atWorldRemit, said: “Ethiopia isoneof our fastest growingmarkets inEastAfrica,and this key partnership will further support thecountry’stransitionfromcostlyofflineremittancesto safer, faster and lower cost online transfermethods.”

TadesseGemeda, ChiefWholesaleBankingOfficerat Awash Bank, said: “Awash Bank has beenworking with numerous international moneytransfer agents. The current partnership withWorldRemit will undoubtedly boost ourremittance service quality. We have a strongconviction that partnering with WorldRemit willnot only give beneficiariesmore options, but alsomake digital money transfers more efficient byofferingflexibleandaffordableoptions.”

Remittances play an important role in Ethiopia’seconomy, with estimates suggesting that Ethiopiamayhavereceivedover$3billioninremittancesin2015,accountingforover7%ofitsGDP.

In the past year, transactions to Ethiopia viaWorldRemit grew by 160%. Top remittancesending countries to Ethiopia via WorldRemitinclude Australia, the United States, Canada andtheUnitedKingdom.

The account details are as follows: Account Name: Ethiopian Diaspora Trust Fund Account Number: 1000255726725 Bank Name & Address: Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. P.O. Box 255. Tel: +251 (0)11 5515004, +251 (0)11 5515000

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July2018

FreshfromaglobalhighlyacclaimedtourincludingaspecialappearanceonBluePeterandITV’sRoyalVariety Performance, as well as the UnderbellyFestival in London’s Southbank, the CircusAbyssinia Troupe brings Ethiopian Dreams toenchantEdinburghFestivalFringeaudiencesagainthissummer.

The show that captivated audiences of all ages in2017returnswithnewactsandanexpandedcastto the Edinburgh Festival Fringe from the 4th to25thAugust2018.Surrealist and joy-driven, accompanied by asoundscape that draws on Ethiopia’s richmusicalpast and present, Circus Abyssinia: EthiopianDreams is a transformative celebration of circusitselfand tells the inspiring life storyofEthiopianbrothers, Bibi and Bichu, who dreamed as littleboys of joining the circus, through breath-takingskillsandjubilantensembleperformance.The multi-talented and incredibly versatile 17-strong Circus Abyssinia Troupe celebrates thebirth of a new Ethiopian tradition through abreath-taking range of circus skills including;human juggling, fire juggling, hand-vaulting,contortion, cloth spinning, hula-hooping and theirsignatureastonishingdoubleChinesePoleact.

Fusing theatrical storytelling with astonishingstunts,theshowcombinestheartsandinnovationsof contemporary circus with Ethiopia's artisticheritage to create one of the world's first full-blownEthiopiancircuses.

Circus Abyssinia: Ethiopian Dreams runs from4thto25thAugustattheUnderbellyCircusHub.For tickets and information, visitwww.underbellyedinburgh.co.uk.

EVENTS

Circus Abyssinia returns to Edinburgh Fringe

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