Ethiopia and China Sign Debt Relief Agreement

A Debt Cancellation Agreement amounting to 165 million birr ( 18.8 US dollars) was signed today May 25, 2007 between the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the People's Republic of China at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MoFED).

It was stated on the occasion that the Ethiopian government will use the saving drawn from the debt relief to finance the poverty reduction programmes of the country.

The agreement was signed by H.E. Ato Mekonnen Manyazewal, State Minister of MoFED and H.E. Mr. Wangchao, Assistant Minister in the Ministry of Commerce on behalf of their respective governments.

  Ethiopia Signs a 150 Million Euros Grant Agreement with the European Commission

A grant agreement amounting to 150 million euros (1.8 billion birr) was signed today May 16, 2007 between the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the European Commission at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development ( MoFED).

As stipulated in the agreement, the grant will be utilized to finance pro-poor basic services, such as primary and secondary education; health; and agriculture and natural resources including water at regional and woreda levles.

It was disclosed, on the occasion, that the grant will be implemented under Protection of Basic Services (PBS) programme which is supported by multi-donors including the European Commission managed by the World Bank.

Accordingly, the European Commission's contribution to the PBS programme is planned to be disbursed over a three years period commencing the current Ethiopian fiscal year. Out of the 150 million Euro Grant, about 80 million Euro (968 million birr) would be released in the current fiscal year.

The grant agreement was signed by H.E. Ato Mekonnen Manyazewal, State Minister of MoFED and H.E. Ambassador Timothy Clarke, Head of the European Commission Delegation to Ethiopia on behalf of the Ethiopian Government and the European Commission respectively.

Ethiopia Signs Financing Agreement with the World Bank

Financing Agreement to a US 100 million dollars (approximately 897.80 million birr) was signed today May 16, 2007 between the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the World Bank at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MoFED).

Out of the total Financing Agreement, 65 million US dollars is in the form of loan and the balance is in the form of grant.

As stipulated in the Agreement, the fund will be used to finance the Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Project aiming at increasing access to sustainable water supply and sanitation services in Addis Ababa and four Secondary Cities; namely Jimma, Gondar, Mekele and Awassa.

H.E. Ato Mekonnen Manyazewal, State Minister of MoFED, and Mr. Ishac Diwan, Country Director for Ethiopia and the Sudan signed the agreement on behalf of the Ethiopian Government and the World Bank respectively.

Ethiopia and Spain Sign Cooperation Agreements

A Basic Cooperation Agreement and an Agreement in the field of Culture, Education and Youth were signed today on January 30, 2007 between the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Kingdom of Spain at the ceremony held at the conference hall of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MoFED).

As per the basic cooperation agreement, the two parties have agreed to set up joint commission aimed at monitoring and evaluation of the status of on going programmes/projects; and chart out priority areas of future cooperation.

Accordingly, the kingdom of Spain would support Ethiopia in various areas that include, among others, provision of basic services particularly education, health, access to drinking water, food security; infrastructure; and development of scientific and technical research.

The Basic Cooperation Agreement is expected to lay the legal ground for development cooperation of the two countries.

The purpose of the agreement on Education, Culture and Youth is to promote and encourage activities which will contribute to mutual cooperation in the above stated areas.

H.E Ambassador Mohammed Dirir, Minister of Culture and Tourism and H.E. Ato Mekonnen Manyazewal, State Minister of MoFED signed the agreement on Culture, Education and Youth, and the basic cooperation agreement respectively,on behalf of the Ethiopian Government while H.E. Ms. Leire Pajin Iraola, State Minister for International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Spain, signed the two agreements, representing the Kingdom of Spain.

Ethiopia signs a 175 Million USD Grant Agreement with the World Bank

A grant agreement amounting to 175 Million USD (approximately 1.55 billion Birr) was signed today 11 January 2007 between the Federal Democratic republic of Ethiopia and the World Bank at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Finance and Economic development (MoFED).

As stipulated in the agreement, the grant will be used to finance the second phase of Productive Safety Net Programme the government is undertaking. The first phase, it was reported, has been implemented since 2005 with the support amounting to over 290 million USD obtained form the World Bank and other development partners that include, among others, the European Union, the United Kingdom and Ireland.

The grant agreement was signed by H.E. Ato Sufian Ahmed, Minister of MoFED and H.E Mr. Ishac Diwan, World Bank Country Deirctor for Ethiopia and the Sudan, on behalf of the Ethiopian Government and the World Bank respectively.

Ethiopia and China Sign Grant Agreement

A specific grant agreement amounting to 23 million birr (2.6 million US dollars) was signed to day December 18,2006 between the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the People's Republic of China at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MoFED).

The grant will be used for the implementation of project(s) to be agreed upon through consultations by the two governments.

The grant agreement was signed by H.E. Ato Sufian Ahmed, Minister of MoFED and H.E. Mr. Wang Chao, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China representing their respective governments.

Ethiopia and France Sign Grant Agreement

A five year partnership framework document for the provision of grant amounting to 37.35-49.05 million euros (410.85 - 513.55 million birr.) was signed today November 9, 2006 between the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the French Republic at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MoFED).

According to the agreement, the grant will be used to finance projects in different sectors that include, mainly in water and sanitation; urban development infrastructure; and support in other three cross-cutting sectors like justice, university research and cultural cooperation.

The agreement was signed by H.E. Ato Sufian Ahmmad Minister of MoFED and H.E. Mrs. Brigitte Girardin, Minister for Development Cooperation, on behalf of their respective governments.

Ethiopia and Japan Sign Grant Agreement

An Exchange of Note for the provision of a 1.72 Million birr grant was signed today November 6, 2006 between the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Government of Japan.

According to the Exchange of Notes, the grant will be used to finance the detailed design study of the Water Supply project in Afar National Regional State.

The Exchange of Notes was signed by H.E. Ato Mekonnen Manyazewal, State Minister of Finance and Economic Development and H.E. Mr. Kenjiro Izumi, Ambassador of Japan to Ethiopia, on behalf of their respective governments.

Ethiopia and the United States of America Sign Grant Agreement

A grant agreement amounting to 57.6 million US dollars (506.88 million birr) was signed today August 8,2006 between the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the United States of America (USA) at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MoFED).

The overall purpose of the assistance is to meet the strategic objectives under Human Capacity and Social Resiliency Increased Health, Aids, Population and Nutrition; Basic Services for Education; and Market Led Economic Growth programs set for the country.

The grant agreement was signed by H.E. Ato Mekonnen Manyazewal, State Minister of MoFED and Mr. Glenn Anders, Mission Director, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to Ethiopia, on behalf of their respective governments.

It was reported on the occasion that the afore-mentioned fund was part of the 233.2 million US dollars previously pledged in September 2004 by the USA.

Ethiopia Signs Loan and Grant Agreements with the World Bank

Loan and Grant agreements totally amounting to 289.7 million US dollars (equivalent to 2.5 billion birr) were signed today August 2006 between the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the World Bank at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MoFED).

Out of the total amount, 274.70 million USD is extended in the form of loan and the balance is in the form of grant.

As per the agreements, the loan and grant will be used to finance four different development projects.

Accordingly, 133.4 million US dollars is allocated for Rural Electricity Access Expansion project with the prime objective of supporting the establishment of a sustainable program for expanding access to electricity in rural communities; 87.3 million US dollars for Road Sector Development Phase II Project aimed at increasing the road transport infrastructure and improving its reliability, strengthen the capacity of road construction management and maintenance, and ensuring sustainability as well as creating more conducive conditions to private sector participation in the sub sector; 54 million US dollars for Rural Capacity Building Project to strengthen the agricultural technology system so as to make it more responsive to clients' needs and enhance the capacity of producers to select economically viable technologies and practices; and 15 million US dollars to support the Financial Sector Capacity Building Project which aims to assist the efforts in building the foundation for a more transparent, well governed, well-regulated and competitive financial sector.

H.E. Ato Mekonnen Manayazewal, State Minister of MoFED, and Mr. Ishac Diwan, Country Director of the World Bank for Ethiopia and the Sudan signed the agreements on behalf of the Ethiopian government and the World Bank respectively.

Ethiopia and France Sign Grant Agreement

A grant agreement amounting to 2 million euros (22.1 million birr) was signed to day July 26,2006 between the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the French Republic at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MoFED).

The overall purpose of the assistance is to strengthen higher education and research in the country. Accordingly, the grant will be used to reinforce the capacities of the Addis Ababa University (A.A.U.) in the service of the development process of the country by setting-up the multi disciplinary poles of excellence over four pilot priority domains, namely water development; information communication technology (ICT); food security; and management of urban development. The support will introduce new masters programme, PHD programme and developing applied research in the four priority domains.

The grant agreement was signed by H.E.Ato Mekonnen Manyazewal, State Minister of MoFED and H.E. Mr. Stephane Gompertz, Ambassador of the Republic of France to Ethiopia, representing their respective governments.

The debt cancellation was made, it was reported, as per the Enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative and the Fourth Paris Club Agreement. Accordingly, the Government of Japan has cancelled 100% of Ethiopia's outstanding debt.

As stipulated in the agreement, the Government of Ethiopia would use the saving drawn from the debt relief to finance projects related to poverty reduction programmes in the country.

The debt cancellation agreement was signed by H.E.Ato Sufian Ahmed, Minister of MoFED, and H.E. Mr. Kenjiro Izumi, Ambassador of Japan to Ethiopia, on behalf of their respective governments.

ETHIO –IRAN JOINT COMMISSION SESSION HELD

The fifth Ethio–Iran joint commission session was opened today May 24, 2006 at the conference hall of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MoFED).

The Joint commission session in its two-day deliberation would review the status of existing economic, scientific and technical cooperation and map out possible areas of future cooperation between the two countries.

The Ethiopian delegation was headed by H.E. Ato Sufian Ahmed, Minster of MoFED, and the Iranian delegation was led by H.E Mr. Mohammed Reza Eskandari, Minister of Jihad-e-Agriculture of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

At the end of the session the two sides are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding reflecting the consensus reached during the two-days meeting.

A 6.4 million birr specific grant agreement was signed today may 23,2006 between the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Republic of Hungary at the ceremony held at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MoFED).

According to the agreement the grant will be used to finance Kobo Girana Groundwater Design and Implementation project .The project is aimed at conducting a comprehensive study, design and implementation of water treatment plants, irrigation network s to fully utilize the ground water potential in Kobo Girana valley.

The grant agreement was signed by H.E Ato Mekonnen Manyazewal, State Minister of MoFED and H.E Mr. Andras Barasony, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary, on behalf of their respective government.

I t was reported on the occasion that the afore-mentioned grant signed today is the remaining 10% of the debt relief extended by Hungary to Ethiopia in 2005 which was agreed to be swapped into development cooperation by the two side.