2merkato

The Ethiopian Shipping and Logistics Enterprise is undertaking an expansion project on Mojo Dry Port at an estimated cost of 718 million Birr. The project, already launched was officially announced this week in Addis Ababa.

The expansion project includes plans to construct an international standard containers’ terminal on 8.6 hectares of land according to Getaneh Abate,  Modjo Branch Director.    The project is designed to have three phases that will help to upgrade the dry port service to a higher level he added.

Currently six projects of the first phase are well in progress, all of which are to be constructed by the Federal Water Works Construction Enterprise according to Getaneh.

Ethiopia's Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MoFED) announced, Ethiopia economy grew 9.7 percent during the 2012/13 fiscal year, Capital reported.

According to the Ministry's press release, agriculture registered a 7.1 percent growth, while industry and service sectors registered a 18.5 and 9.9 percent growth respectively.

Moha Soft Drinks, producer of Pepsi products in Ethiopia, is set to extract 300,000 liters of ground water every day from a well drilled on the premises of its plant in the Teklehaymanot area of Addis Ababa.

The plant, which produced 17,000 cases of soft drinks per day, had stopped production over the past month due to water shortages, creating a scarcity of Pepsi products on the local market.

The shortage in Pepsi products has affected consumers in Addis Ababa and surrounding areas according to retailers.

The Ethiopian Ministry of Industry launched its second phase private-sector capacity building project through the Ethiopian Competitiveness Facility (ECF). The project is have 4 million pounds budget financed by the UK Department for International Development (DFID).

The project is designed to improve the participation of the private sector in the Ethiopian economy by boosting  productivity and competitiveness.

Ethiopia's Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs has amended its directive to increase the minimum wage paid to Ethiopians traveling to the Middle East for job. The directive has increased minimum wage from  180 U.S dollars to USD 250.

Many Ethiopians travel to the Middle East for a meager salary of USD 180 to provide unskilled labor services, while Indonesian and Filipino domestic workers wage ranges from USD 450 to USD 500 with more favorable working conditions.