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The Addis Ababa, Ethiopia City Bus Services Enterprise (Anbessa) launched one birr trips during peak hours as of last week.

The one birr trips will be operational from 6-9 am in the mornings and 4-9pm in the evenings. The enterprise has introduced a trial run on a range of route numbers including of 4, 22, 28, 36, 37, 49, 54, 59, 77 and 93.

As per the new arrangement, for example, the number four buses travelling between Kaliti and Merkato will finish their journey at the Saris bus stop at peak hours to shorten the time passengers from Kaliti have to wait between buses explained Bekele Getaneh, Head of the Communications Affairs Sub Process with Anbessa.

Hawassa University, Ethiopia selected designs for additional buildings to be constructed as part of its expansion program.

The winners of the competition were BET Architects, K2N Consulting Architecture and Engineers plc and were each awarded 50,000 birr for their designs.

Competing companies were asked to deliver designs for one of the projects that the University is undertaking said Denbeshu Nuaere, Construction and Maintenance Director with the University.

The Ministry of Mines, Ethiopia canceled the precious metal exploration license of three international and one domestic mining companies.

The companies that lost their licenses are Ethio-Dubai Investment plc, CGC Overseas Construction Ethiopia, Alem Gems and Managem plc.

Managem plc had the largest concession of 579 km2. Domestic companies Alem Gems had previously been licensed for gold and base metal exploration and Ethio-Dubai was licensed to explore gold and rare metals.

CGC, was licensed to operate two concessions covering a total area of 93 KM2 to explore for gold, tantalum and other rare metals.

The Merchandise Wholesale and Import Trade Enterprise of Ethiopia revealed the pre-conditions for the government contract to import oil in a letter sent to the Public Procurement and Disposal Agency.

The move is in anticipation of the expiry of the government contract with oil suppliers from Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia in the coming May.

The Ministry of Agriculture in Ethiopia is to build silos in 11 drought prone areas to enhance the nation’s food reserves.

The ministry currently operates 7 silos across the country with the total increasing to 18 once the new silos are completed.

MoA has finalized the feasibility study, site identification, and soil study to launch construction on the silos according to information from the ministry.

Ethiopia has exported more than four tons of hypericom flowers to the United States and is anticipating to increase export quantity and variety to the American market said Girma Birru, Ethiopian Special Envoy and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the US and non-resident envoy to Mexico.

Ethiopia has become one of the more significant flower growing nations in the world and the second largest flower exporter in Africa in just a few years following efforts exerted by the government according to Ambassador Girma speaking at the Ethiopian Flower Showcase Reception held at the Ethiopian Embassy Chancery last Saturday.

Representatives made up of from local tanneries and the Leather Industry Development Institute of Ethiopia are expected to travel to South and North Sudan, this week to review conditions for importing raw and semi-processed leather.

The delegation will evaluate the market and other facilities to be found in the two countries as a preliminary study before beginning imports according to sources at the Institute.  

The representatives will visit South Sudan first and go on to North Sudan said experts at LIDI.

Ethiopia is to subcontract the management of MEWIT, Merchandise Wholesale and Import Trade Enterprise operated by the state according to sources. The move is part of efforts to stabilize the market.

The Ethiopian government has been considering multinational corporations that are experienced in wholesale distribution, such as Wall-Mart it was said.

A group of experts representing the government have been on a visit to India to review how such companies were attracted in to the market there.

Ethiopian Airlines, Ethiopia’s flag carrier, announced the launch of nonstop flights to Seychelles from Addis Ababa beginning on the 1st April of 2012.

The airline is pleased to begin services to Seychelles famous for its beauty and the home of two UNESCO designated World Heritage Sites; the world’s largest raised coral atoll and Praslin’s Vallée de Mai, said to be the site of the original Garden of Eden according to Tewolde Gebremariam, Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian.

The year on year inflation rate in Ethiopia rose to 36.3% in February from 32% in January according to official statistics revealed yesterday.

As compared to the same month last year, food prices showed an increase of 47.4% while non food inflation showed an increase of 21.4%.

The main increase in food prices was seen in the prices of fruits and vegetables, cereals, pulses and spices according to the official agency.