Green Tech Ethiopia introduces six models of imported rechargeable solar and electric powered cars with the aim to promote renewable energy in the country.
“Our company is established with the aim to promote renewable energy in our society by providing new renewable energy technologies and services including different types of affordable electric and solar cars,” said Fitsum Deresa, Managing Director of Green Tech Ethiopia.
The company imported the cars from Chinese car manufacturer Dongfeng Motor Corporation and has plans to establish a car assembly factory in the near future.
“From the six different electric car models so far 70 have arrived in Addis Ababa while additional 200 cars have reached Djibouti port,” Fitsum explained. The company also plans to import 5000 electric cars within the coming 5 years and is also planning to delve in to the transportation industry through its “green transport initiative service.”
Similarly, in order to support the middle and low income societies and promote entrepreneurship in the country, the company has facilitated a 40/60 electric car sale package to its potential customers.
“The financing scheme will help all our potential customers to secure automobiles enabling them to create income streams for themselves and their families in the process” stated the green company. To this end, Green Tech is working with Africa Village micro finance and other banks.
As the managing director indicated, 60 percent of the payment will be covered by customers and Green Tech will cover the remaining 40 percent. Customers can pay 30% of their 60% ownership which is only 18 percent of the total price to purchase their cars and the remaining 70% payment will be down paid as per the directives of the agreement.
Of course the energy cost that powers the cars is a huge point in getting one of these auto mobiles. For instance the solar charged electric cars can travel 60-120 kilometers. The 4 seater automobiles have a 26kWh capacity and with full charge can be driven to a distance of 200km with only 9.10 birr while that of the minibus can be driven to a distance of 360km once its 80kWh battery is fully charged with only 28 birr. With the price of gas being sold at 31 birr per liter, this is definitely worth the interest of any prospective buyer. Similarly, the cars also present a minimum maintenance cost which is very beneficial to its future owners.
Of benefit to Green Tech is that the green movement is very much needed in Ethiopia. In fact the government has a resilient vision that encourages the use of electric vehicles to help reduce pollution caused by transportation services through introducing renewable energy transport services.
Green Tech Ethiopia now becomes the second firm to officially enter the electric cars market in the country after Marathon Motors.
Green Tech joins Ethiopia’s electric car space
Ethiopia exports over 2.7 million kilos worth of flowers for valentines
Ethiopia exports over 2.7 million kilograms of flowers for the lovers’ day which will be celebrated tomorrow.
The Ethiopian horticulture sector which scaved the global pandemic effect unlike other sectors, has registered yet another success on the ‘Valentine’s Day’ market, which is one of the peak seasons for the floriculture business.
The statement that Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA) sent indicated that in related with romantic holiday days the export has been boosted to almost 2714.45 tones.
“As the world celebrates love on February 14, 2022, Ethiopian flower growers exported 2714.45 tonne of flowers for valentine day to the global market with in the time period of February 1st to 13th, 2022,” EHPEA said on its statement.
Despite it is the late comer on the export basket the horticulture sector has achieved spectacular successes. Even when the sector severely affected by COVID 19 the Ethiopian export earning from the horticulture industry, which takes on average 15 percent of the total export earnings, was massive.
One of the major reasons for the achievement is the strength of Ethiopian Cargo and Logistics Services, who converted its passenger aircrafts besides the existed cargo fleets, when the pandemic forced global aviation business to ground.
In this pick season Ethiopian Airlines is also providing shipment service for Kenyan flower growers, who are the top exporters in the continent before Ethiopia.
Over the past decade, Ethiopia has been one of the world’s major providers of quality cut flowers to the global market, with a total export value of 530 million EUR per year which puts the country on the 5th level among the top flower export countries.
“Valentine’s Day is very important for the country’s flower sector as its one of the holidays the flower industry flourishes and increased production from 35 percent to 40 percent,” EHPEA, which is also one of the strongest sectoral association in the country, said.
In the first six months of the 2021/22 budget year the country secured USD 287 million from the export of flower, fruit and vegetable. The earnings is attained over seven percent from the projection that the government set to achieve in the stated period.
From the total earnings the follower export share was USD 246.5 million that climbed by 16 percent compared with the same period of last year and six percent from the projection.
It added that the favourable climate conditions have made Ethiopia the best cultivation site for horticulture products as it is situated in the tropics, with its diverse range of altitudes, “the cost of doing business climate is becoming expensive in other countries and its cheaper in Ethiopia as the government allotted different incentives which attracted many foreigners to set up flower farms in Ethiopia.” Currently, the floriculture investment in all over the country is 1600 hectare.
Even though the horticulture industry is young for the country, it has significantly contributed to economic, social and environmental development which also managed to generate more than USD four billion so far to the country.
One of the major successes tapped from the horticulture sector is the job opportunity and women empowerment.
The sector created job opportunities for close to 200,000 Ethiopians where 85 percent of them are women. The knowledge transfer from the sector has also contributed for the livelihood improvement of millions of Ethiopians as well.
EHPEA that established in 2002 and have 120 members has worked relentlessly to improve the industry business climate with in the country through its strategic advocacy intervention areas.
Peace needed for effective implementation of humanitarian and development agenda
United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, concluded a five-day visit to Ethiopia where she represented Secretary-General António Guterres at the thirty-fifth ordinary session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa.
She visited four regions around Ethiopia – Amhara, Tigray, Afar and Somali — where she underscored the determination of the United Nations to remain an impartial and engaged partner in its delivery of humanitarian assistance and provision of development support to the Government and all Ethiopians.
“The biggest call for the United Nations in Ethiopia is to urgently deliver humanitarian assistance to the people who need it most. This urgency is particularly important for women and children,” stated the Deputy Secretary-General at the conclusion of her visit.
Following the AU Summit, the Deputy Secretary-General stressed the remarks of the Secretary-General at the event that implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the AU’s Agenda 2063 was “the cornerstone of the relationship between the two organizations”.
She said, “Opportunities to address Africa’s challenges are huge,” adding that, “It is important to align the United Nations 2030 Agenda and the AU’s Agenda 2063 for its diverse people to enjoy peace and security, and sustainable livelihoods.”
In her meeting with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the Deputy Secretary-General emphasized the commitment of the United Nations to continue to support the Government in its progress towards delivering the 2030 Agenda and for it to achieve its ambition to become a beacon of prosperity in this Decade of Action.
Further, from Sunday 6 to Wednesday 9 February, Deputy Secretary-General Mohammed met with Federal Government leaders and officials, regional authorities, clan leaders and other stakeholders to discuss the support of the United Nations to both Government and development partners to tackle challenges they faced in meeting humanitarian needs of families in their areas and to get on track to keep the promise of the Sustainable Development Goals.
“When we find peace, we can begin the journey back to economic recovery, and the restoration of dignity and livelihoods,” the Deputy Secretary-General outlined. She pledged to the President of Afar region that, “The United Nations will accompany you through the conflict to peace and development. We will continue to provide humanitarian aid to all regions so that no Ethiopian will suffer.”
Expressing sadness at the impact of the conflict on civilians as she was able to view firsthand, the Deputy Secretary-General, in all of her meetings, reiterated the Secretary-General’s appeal to all parties in Ethiopia for an immediate cessation of hostilities so effective humanitarian access could reach all those who are affected. Cessation of hostilities would also “pave the way to a much-needed inclusive national dialogue involving all Ethiopians”.
Additionally, she referred to the grave effects of the conflict experienced by women and children. She called for the immediate end to sexual and gender-based violence, among other atrocities, and cited the need for comprehensive physical and mental health support for all who experienced physical and psychological violence. She urged the authorities to involve women in their recovery and reconstruction efforts.
On the prolonged drought in Somali, highlighting the negative impact of climate change, the Deputy Secretary-General pointed out that climate action remained a pivotal part of the Sustainable Development Goals. She commended the Prime Minister’s plan to build more dams and develop water projects in Ethiopia as well as the initiative of the President of Somali region to undertake investment and development to improve the lives of his constituents. She also thanked the host communities for the strong support they were giving to pastoralists and others who were displaced from their homes to find watering points for their families and livestock.
Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator of the United Nations in Ethiopia, Catherine Sozi, who was part of the Deputy Secretary-General’s delegation, noted that, in 2021, the Organization was able to provide more than US 18 million in aid to those most in need in Somali. She disclosed that an additional US 20 million was about to be allocated to the region.
To emphasize the role of women and girls in sustainable development, the Deputy Secretary-General met, in Addis Ababa, with a group of young women entrepreneurs, who are part of a United Nations supported project. They shared concerns and tangibly highlighted the importance of their contribution to Ethiopia’s progress.
She was hopeful, she said, to see the “rich spirit of Ethiopian women” represented in the group. Further, she stated, “Young people have to care about the possibilities and opportunities available throughout the African continent.”
Africa needs 2 million additional trucks if AfCFTA fully implemented
Over 100,000 rail wagons, 250 aircraft, and more than 100 vessels by 2030 also needed
The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), in collaboration with Google Africa and Africa 24, held the fifth Africa Business Forum on the margins of the thirty-fifth ordinary session of the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government. Delegates from the public and private sectors met in person and virtually to discuss how best to tap into that vast potential and meet the growing demand unleashed by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement. What are the roadblocks and how can they be removed, were critical questions for the session, themed: Investing in Multimodal Transport Infrastructure to Optimize the Benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Area: A Focus on Air Transport and Tourism.
Vera Songwe, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the ECA, in welcoming the delegates outlined how critical transport was to make the most of AfCFTA. Pointing to ECA research, she stated, “the continent would require close to 2 million additional trucks, over 100,000 rail wagons, 250 aircraft, and more than 100 vessels by 2030, if the Free Trade Area is fully implemented.” Essentially, Africa’s immense potential for trade, travel and tourism is languishing virtually untapped. The potential for improving transport infrastructure and services across Africa depends on “economic policies had to be recentered to include transportation. That included ships, boats, trains, planes and automobiles,” said President of Sierra Leone Julius Maada Bio.
Supporting the development of transport infrastructure and services for the full realization of the benefits of the AfCFTA requires a lot more, according to delegates. It requires reducing nationalistic sentiments to make way for an open market, promoting intra-African tourism through the Single African Air transport Market (SAATM) and recentering economic policies. The President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio, said “economic policies had to be recentered to include transportation. That included ships, boats, trains, planes and automobiles.” More emphasis on financing growth and embracing digital transformation was also called for. Google’s CEO, Sundar Pichai, said, “Africa was on the brink of a digital transformation – one which would be crucial to the transport and tourism sectors.”
There have been urgent calls for African countries to work together to transform the continent’s air transport and tourism sectors. High-powered delegates at the Business Forum made a plea for members to liberalize these sectors, reduce controls and harmonize systems to enable them to make African economies grow.
The African Business Forum is a flagship initiative that aims to promote continuing dialogue between the African private and public sectors on current matters of strategic importance to the continent and to optimize collective efforts to achieve Agenda 2063, The Africa We Want, of the African Union and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
