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The Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research inaugurated the Agricultural Quality Research Laboratory. The crop testing laboratory is expected to help enhance the quality of national agricultural products to become more competitive on the international market.

The Ministry of Agriculture launched the first agricultural products quality monitoring and testing laboratory to serve as the main national quality monitoring unit for coffee and other agricultural products, about two years ago noted Tefera Deribaw, Minister of Agriculture speaking  at the inauguration ceremony.

Ethiopian Airlines took charge of its first B 777 Freighter this week. The airline is the first operator to take charge of and operate the new aircraft on the African Continent.

The B777 Freighter aircraft is unique for its performance in its category of aircraft with notable long-range capability, special capabilities in temperature control for fresh produce and life science materials, exceptional cargo capacity and fuel efficiency according to Tewolde Gebremariam, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines.

The airline intends to deploy this aircraft on longer routes to transport fruits and vegetables and flowers to expand and improve the cargo services it offers as well as supporting the fast growing export sector in the country he said.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia is to host the 15th Cooperation for urban Mobility in the Developing World Conference. The conference will be held from the 22-26th of October under the theme of ‘Urban Mobility for (Re) Shaping Cities’ according to the organizing committee.

The conference is intended to facilitate the exchange of ideas on policy, research and coordinated transport management explained Bedilu Assefa, Chairperson of the organizing committee.

The conference will also create an opportunity to learn from the best practices of different countries and promote unexploited investment opportunities in Ethiopia and create trade links in line with national development goals he said.

The International Monetary Fund announced that it may be possible to reduce inflation to single digits in Ethiopia by the end of this financial year.

The government has been following a tight and consistent monetary policy to force inflation down to single digits and IMF supports the tightening of federal government monetary and fiscal policies said Jan Mikkelsen, IMF Resident Representative.

The public sector led development strategy of Ethiopia is encouraging although it may have a negative impact on the private sector according to Mikkelsen.