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The Gulf carrier, Qatar Airways has opened reservations for its previously announced new route to the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, from Doha. Qatar Airways will launch the service on September 18, 2013.

“We have been looking to fly to the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa for some time, and extremely delighted we will be able to do so later year as new aircraft join the fleet,” said Akbar Al Baker, CEO of Qatar Airways.

The Ethiopian Air Lines posted a record net profit of 2.03 billion Ethiopian birr in the concluded 2012/13 fiscal year. This year's profit is 178 percent higher than the 734 million birr profit reported in the previous fiscal year.

According to  unaudited report made public at a press briefing on Thursday August 29, 2013, at Hilton Hotel, the Airline's operating profit has increased to 2.7 billion birr, a 165 percent growth.

Anbessa City Bus Enterprise is expecting the delivery of 50 new buses in October 2013, Fortune reported. The Enterprise ordered the  the 18-metre long buses with trailers in July 2013 from the Metal & Engineering Corporation (MetEC). The purchase will cost the Enterprise 200 million Ethiopian birr.

The Enterprise placed order for additional buses following the announcement of the Addis Abeba City Administration’s plan to double bus access rate in the city by 2015.

The World Food Program (WFP) concluded forward delivery contract for the purchase of 40,000tns  of maize from 29 farmers’ cooperatives’ unions, Fortune reported.

The WFP signed agreements with the Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA), the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) and four of the 29 unions, on Tuesday, August 27, 2013, at the Harmony Hotel.

The Ethiopian Ministry of Culture & Tourism (MoCT) has unvield a new draft directive to  govern the standards of hotels and lodges. The latest draft document comes two years after the ministry suspended earlier standards whic failed to garner the approval of stakeholders of the hospitality industry.

The draft standard is prepared by the Scotland based company, Dunira Strategy. Dunira Strategy was awared the contract through an international bid two years ago.

Ethiopian government is planning a new regulation for livestock, animal hides and skins trading. The Ministry of Trade has created a new office focusing on livestock resource development, including breeding and veterinary issues.

“The marketing chain is very long. It is not led by the market, but by middlemen with five or more marketing chains,” said Kelifa Hussien, Director of the Live Animal, Hide and Skin Marketing Directorate.

Ethiopian Insurance Corporation (EIC), the state-owned insurer has collected premiums of 2.1 billion Ethiopian birr, in the just ended fiscal year, Fortune reported citing the corporation's annual report released on Friday, August 30, 2013.

EIC has missed by 1.2 percent of its target of collecting 2.5 billion birr. However, the corporation's premium collection has grew by 46.3 percent compared to the previous year.

Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA) has awarded International Consultants & Technocrats Pvt Ltd (ICT) – an Indian-based company – for the consultation and supervision of the Kombolcha to Mille, via Bati road construction project, Fortune reported.

The 26 million Ethiopian birr contract was signed on August 20, 2013. International Consultants & Technocrats Pvt Ltd. was awarded the contract after competing in an international bid against five companies.

Coffee Plantation Development Enterprise (CPDE) said it has secured over 81 million birr net profit from export of coffee and other agricultural commodities during the concluded Ethiopian Fiscal Year. 

Speaking in a meeting held in Jimma Town, Oromia State on Monday, 26 August, 2013 to evaluate the past year's performance report and plan of action for the current fiscal year, Enterprise General Manager, Ephrem Mersihe Hazen said the the enterprises earning has exceeds the previous year by 64 million Birr. He said over 34,300 quintals coffee was exported to Belgium, Germany, USA, France, Australia, the Netherlands, Italy and South Africa during the reported period.

The Ethiopian Ministry of Water and Energy said over 13,200 home solar systems has been installed in rural areas which are not connected to the national electric grid system over the past nine months.

Public relation and communication director with the Ministry, Bizuneh Tolcha told Ethiopian News Agency, that the installation is part of the year long project which was launched in December 2012 at a cost of 208.8 million Ethiopian birr secured from World Bank. He said the project so far has benefited more than 13,200 households across the country.