A lecture organized by the Neem Foundation of Ethiopia promoted the economic possibilities of the Neem Tree. The potential to harvest and utilize the Neem tree in Ethiopia is unlimited said Dr. Taye Teferedegn, Chairman of the Neem Foundation.
The Neem tree has multifaceted use including medicine, industry, agriculture and environment according to Taye.
France Development Agency (AFD) agreed to grant Ethiopia 18 million Euros in two separate agreements. The first agreement, a 10 million Euros grant, will be used for urban institutional and infrastructure development program (UIIDP), a program which is co-financed by the World Bank and the government of Ethiopia. The UIIDP is targeted at enhancing the capacity and performance of local urban governments.
French Foreign Trade Minister Matthias Fekl expressed his country’s and French investors’ interest to invest more in Ethiopia.
France Telecom handed over the administration of Ethiopia Telecom back to Ethiopian authorities this week. Domestic management took over the administration of the telecommunications corporation after two and a half years at the end of the contract reached between the French corporation and the Ethiopian government.
Some of the French management team will remain to provide support for the next few months according to sources.
Telecom coverage in the country grew from just 8% to 25% under the French management of the telecommunication provider it was noted.The management of Ethio Telecom will be handed over to Ethiopian staff once again as of December 13th. It is to be 
remembered France Telecom, the French telecom giant, had been managing the company on a contract bases since 2010.
France Telecom was given a two year contract to manage the state owned Ethio Tlecom with the intention of boosting telecom operations in the country, according to Dr Debretsion Gebre Michael, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Information and Communication.
This contact will expire end of this month. The contract will not be extended further and Ethio Telecom is not negotiating with any other foreign based telecom for further management contract said Dr Debretsion.
