2merkato

The Ethiopian Revenues and Customs Authority collected approximately 71 billion birr in the 2011-12 budget year according to a tentative report released by the authority.

ERCA collected 36.1 million from domestic taxes, 34.5 billion birr from customs and duties and 96.7 million from lotteries noted the report.

The revenue collected by the authority exceeded its performance in the previous financial year by 16 billion birr although it fell short of the 76 billion birr projected for the fiscal year.

Ethiopian Airlines will begin flight to Kuala Lampur, capital city of Malaysia as of November of this year. The flights will serve to connect the Malaysian business sector to Africa as well as servicing the small Ethiopian expat community in Malaysia, which mainly consists of students according to Tewolde Gebremariam, Chief Executive Officer of the airlines.

It is also expected that the flights will support Malaysian companies engaged in Ethiopia, such as Petronas undertaking oil and gas exploration projects in the country he added.

In addition the new flight will enhance networking opportunities with countries in South Eastern Asia such as Singapore and the Philippines.

Bombardier is to demonstrate the capabilities of its new C series aircraft to Ethiopian Airlines. The Canadian Aircraft Manufacturer is ready to begin talks with Ethiopia executives on a possible purchase of the new C series aircraft according to Eric Martel, President of Customer Services and Specialized and Amphibious Aircraft with Bombardier.

The manufacturer is not sure if Ethiopian is interested in the aircraft but plans to offer the airline an opportunity to evaluate the new aircraft said Martel.

The C series aircraft are more fuel efficient, comfortable and require minimal operating costs as advertised by their manufacturer.

In related news Ethiopian Airlines put in an order for an additional Boeing 777 aircraft. The 777-200 Long Range Worldliner will be an addition to Ethiopian’s fleet of five 777-200 LRs said a joint announcement by the airline and the manufacturer.

The budget set for the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority for the just beginning financial year is 143.4 million birr according to the authority.

The budget will go to finance projects that range from implementing control mechanisms for the aviation industry to the various airport and airstrip projects across the country.

The projects to upgrade the tower and to improve radar at Bole International Airport, as well as the construction of the Gambella Airport tower, the tower and air navigation facility construction at Kombolcha airport and the purchase of flight calibration consoles will all be financed by the proposed budget.