Day: May 4, 2023

Indonesia will share its best experiences to the tourism industry in Ethiopia to benefit from the sector, according to Indonesia’s Ambassador to Ethiopia.

In an exclusive interview with ENA, Indonesia’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Al Busyra Basnur said Ethiopia and Indonesia have huge potentials in tourism industry and sharing of experiences would help to benefit more from the sector.

The Ambassador noted that I focused on how Indonesians can share their experiences and best practices with their friends in Ethiopia, because every time goes to all regional states in Ethiopia, he witnesses the huge potential of tourism destinations in the country.

In its Homegrown Economic Reform Agenda and 10-year Development Plan, Ethiopia has identified the tourism sector as one of the next drivers of the national economy.

To this end, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has made milestones in the development of tourist cites, among which, the Sheger Project in Addis Ababa, can be mentioned.

Efforts are also being intensified to replicate the achievements made in tourist development projects in Addis Ababa to promote Ethiopia’s eco-tourism.

Over the week, it is noted that, the premier has inaugurated the Hallala Kella Resort, part of the ‘Dine for Nation’ of the Koysha project.

The ambassador reiterated that his country will continue to share the experiences with Ethiopia to benefit and develop the tourism sector.

Ambassador said “the good thing is that if you are talking about exchange visit —it is the tourist visit between Ethiopia and Indonesia. The good thing is that because we have the direct flight of Ethiopian Airlines from Addis Ababa to Jakarta three times a week.”

The ambassador noted that he initiated programs between Indonesia and Ethiopia in many other sectors in economy, social and cultural that in the tourism sector.

I have seen so many Indonesian people coming to Ethiopia as tourists, the ambassador noted.

He stated that Ethiopia needs to promote its tourism potentials to make best use of the sector for the benefit of the country.

He underlined that Ethiopia, with a population of 120 million people, has to invite more tourists to visit the country.

He also expressed his country’s desire to provide support and encourage tourism developments in Ethiopia.

In this regard, the ambassador invited friends from Ethiopia to visit Indonesia and witness how Indonesia develops the tourism sector.

“I will invite again, a number of Ethiopian friends, engage with the tourism sector to come to Indonesia to share their experiences with Indonesia and Indonesia expertise.”

The Indonesian Embassy has also plans to meet with relevant actors of tourism to discuss on ways promoting tourism.

Diplomatic relations between Ethiopia and Indonesia started in 1961.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Ethiopian Shipping and Logistics Service Enterprise disclosed that Mekelle dry port and terminal has returned to normal service.

The Mekelle dry port and terminal had been out of operation for the last two years due to the conflict in Northern Ethiopia.

It is to be recalled that several economic and social service providing institutions have been resuming services following the peace agreement signed between the government of Ethiopia and TPLF in Pretoria.

Accordingly, Mekelle dry port and terminal has returned to normal service as of today, according to the Ethiopian Shipping and Logistics Services Enterprise.

The Enterprise said “We respectfully inform you that for incoming cargoes whose destination is Mekelle will be able to open operations from the sea port of origin to Mekelle starting from today, May 4, 2023.”

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Ethiopia has facilitated the evacuation of foreign citizen of 61 countries from Sudan through its border based on international humanitarian principles, according to Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Meles Alem briefed local and international media about the current situation in Sudan and other issues in his biweekly press conference today.

He said Ethiopia is closely monitoring the situation in Sudan as the two countries share longest border and the people to people relation is also strong.

The ambassador said a task force has been established to facilitate the evacuation of Ethiopian citizens and other foreigners living in Sudan.

Meles pointed out that 75 air flights were allowed for the evacuation of foreign nationals as per the humanitarian principles.

Accordingly, 7,726 Ethiopians and foreign citizens of 61 countries have been evacuated from Sudan through Ethiopia, ambassador Meles said.

Out of the total evacuees, more than 3,500 are Ethiopians, according to the spokesperson.

He added Ethiopia believes that the problem in Sudan need to be resolved through the AU and IGAD frameworks and any unilateral efforts are not acceptable.

Ethiopia also believes that meddling in the internal affairs of Sudan would not solve the problem rather it will worsen the situation, the ambassador underlined.

According to Meles, Ethiopia wants to play positive role in resolving the situation in Sudan.

It is to be recalled that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed held phone discussions with both General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo on the need to settle differences amicably and bring stability to Sudan.

The spokesperson has also disclosed that the Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz will arrive in Addis Ababa this afternoon for a working visit to Ethiopia.

The chancellor will also be accompanied by a high level delegation comprising of investors and journalists from Germany.

The chancellor is expected to discuss with higher government officials on national, regional and international issues of mutual concern.

The Spokesperson said Ethiopia and Germany have been enjoying a long standing relations and the visit would further strengthen this ties to higher level.

Germany is a country that stood alongside Ethiopia during difficult times; the ambassador said adding Germany is also expected to provide support to conflict affected areas.

He explained that Ethiopia and Germany have strong bilateral relationships, especially in the area of development and capacity building.

Germany is known for its huge development support to Ethiopia in addition to its cooperation in the field of vocational education, he said.

The trade relations between the two countries are also strong as Ethiopia imports various products from Germany.

According to Meles, the Foreign Minister of Malta will also visit Ethiopia over the coming week and this is part of the normalization process being carried of by the government of Ethiopia.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Police in Matete Sub County, Kakamega County have received a major security boost following the commissioning of a new police facility and a child protection unit.

The two projects, funded by National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) and World Vision Kenya are meant to provide a proper working environment for the police officers and safeguard the welfare of children respectively.

Lugari Member of Parliament Nabii Nabwera who commissioned the NG-CDF funded police facility said the major security challenges afflicting the constituency are alcoholism and drug abuse

He challenged police officers to move swiftly and combat the two vices before they destroy his constituents.

The MP cautioned individuals dealing in illicit liquor and bhang to stop as he will not relent in his fight and allow the twin vices to destroy the community.

He pledged to collaborate with the National Police Service to ensure althea gazzetted police stations in the constituency are properly constructed.

‘We have Panpaper and Chekalini police stations which are gazzetted but there is nothing there. In Chimoi area the community endorsed establishment of a police station but nothing has been done,’ he said, adding that police officers deserve good living and working conditions to be able to discharge their duties.

Senior Assistant Inspector General of Police John Gachomo who commissioned the Child Protection Unit on behalf of the Inspector General of Police thanked World Vision Kenya for the support.

He said the establishment of the unit within Matete Police Station is a clear demonstration of the deep commitment the national police service has in addressing issues to do with children welfare.

‘When children are exposed to extreme environments they are likely to suffer severe harm, emotional pain and potential life-long damage to their mental and physical health.

‘Further, a child who is separated from the family is at greater risk of conflicting with the law. Most children who break the law do it not on free will but due to a restricted environment’, he pointed out.

Gachomo who is also the NPS Director for Community Policing, Gender and Child protection said plans are underway to establish a child protection unit in each police station for purposes of providing an enabling environment for children in conflict with the law.

He said the NPS has also initiated specific capacity building programs to empower officers working in child protection units.

‘This entails enhancing their ability to assess children at risk of abuse and taking immediate action to prevent child offences, protect child rights during investigation and presentation in courts of law,’ he explained.

Gachomo appealed to sector stakeholders to support the NPS in protection of children rights and those of other vulnerable groups like women, the aged, the disabled and the marginalized.

World Vision Country Director Gilbert Kamanga said the new Sh.4.6 million unit is a fulfillment of a requirement of the current Kenyan Child Protection Policy that requires every police station to have a child protection unit.

He said the facility is important for the wellbeing of children in Matete because they will now have a place to be taken whenever their rights are violated.

‘This facility will provide an enabling environment for support for those children with cases besides having space for both the police and the community to interact,’ said Kamanga.

‘We have cases where a child is brought to the police and gets abused within the police facility. This unit prevents that because people who will be manning it are officers trained specifically for that purpose,’ he explained, adding that children will also not mix with other offenders.

Kamanga said the facility should be more of an outreach centre than a rehabilitation centre because their target is to have reduced cases of child abuse in the community.

He lauded Kenya’s child protection policy which provides room for community participation in child protection matters.

‘Kenya is one of the countries with a vibrant community policing unit in Africa and within that unit there is a child protection unit, which we are partnering with.

‘The collaboration between the community and the police is vital because the community members are the ones who know the offenders and can as well protect them and when they are part of the policing activities the problem is easily solved,’ Kamanga explained.

Kakamega County Chief Officer for Social and Children Services, Culture and Gender Vivian Ayuma lauded World Vision Kenya for the new facility saying child protection is key for the future of the next generation.

She appealed to parents and care givers to take care of their children as they undergo difficult transition times noting that her department is handling many cases of child abuse.

‘We shall be launching the County Children Protection Policy next week that will provide a framework to enable us undertake many children activities.

We are also championing back to school for teen mothers and we already have 60 champions one from all the wards who are back to school and we are using them as a voice for the initiative,’ she said.

Ayuma revealed that the county government has allocated Sh.5million to equip a Child Rescue Centre to be established in Matete in collaboration with World Vision Kenya to act as a holding place for abused children when their cases are being handled.

Source: Kenya News Agency