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Ethiopia’s economy could see an 8% growth rate in Gross Domestic Product in 2012 and 2013 according to the United Nations Report on Global Economic Situation and Prospects 2012. The Ethiopian Government expects 11% growth rate during the same period. 

African countries, including Ethiopia, will see growth in the face of a faltering world economy said Adam Elhirka the United Nations Chief of Macro Economic Analysis.

Economic growth in Ethiopia will be seen in infrastructure development and in the energy sector in particular he said. It is expected that economic growth will make up for the adverse effects wrought by drought on agricultural output in some areas according to Elhirka.

Coffee production in Ethiopia for the last two seasons has exceeded all expectation according to the International Coffee Organization. Coffee output, internationally, exceeded expectations by 1 million bags for 2010-11 to reach 134.2 million bags said the coffee organization.   

The ICO has increased its estimated global output for 2011-12 by 3.8 million bags due to a significant increase in production in Ethiopia expected to be around 6 million bags.

The Transportation Office of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia is partnering with the Agence France de Development to set up a rapid transit bus service. The city is to float an international tender for study of a pilot program.

The first line is expected to be Gofa Gabriel to General Wingate TVET School (12km) said Tiblets Asgedom, Head of the Transport Bureau of the Addis Ababa City Administration.

The project will commence after the study is completed according to Tiblets.

Mesfin Industrial Engineering plc, Ethiopia will begin assembling three new models of GEELY vehicle in 2012. MIE is expected to introduce, to the Ethiopian market, the SL1500cc model in June, followed by the EC1500cc and the 1300cc hunchback.

The three models have already been imported to Ethiopia and will be tested on Ethiopian roads this week according to Yesuf Adamnur, Sales and Promotion Manager at MIE.