The Development Bank of Ethiopia (DBE) delivered modern vehicles to tour operating companies through a lease financing scheme last Thursday at the vicinity of MOENCO.
Considering the pertinent role that the tourism sector can play for the economy, DBE spent over 42 million birr to purchase 36 modern vehicles that can be used for tour operating companies.
“Even though, the tour operating sector is part of the service industry, the bank takes it as a prior agenda,” Teshome Alemayehu, DBE small & middle level enterprise financing vice president said during the occasion.
Previously, the bank was delivering lease financing privileges in fragmented ways that led to the delays in delivering the vehicles. DBE has solved the problem through the fund from the World Bank.
“Tour operating companies should use the vehicles for the intended purpose,” Mamitu Yilma, representative from Ministry of Culture & Tourism, said during the delivering ceremony.
The purchase is aiming to benefit 16 small and middle level tour operating enterprises, out of 26 vehicles delivered for 12 tour operator companies in the first round and the remaining ten vehicles will be delivered within months.
A minimum of two years engagement in the tour operating industry and contributing hard currency are the main criteria for DBE to give such privileges.
According to the bank, the criteria are believed to side line those actors who want to abuse the privilege.
Last Ethiopian fiscal year the country secured 3.5 billion USD from the 934,000 people who visited the country.
DBE delivers vehicles to tour operators
Melkama, Konjo hair dyes prohibited in Ethiopia
After a two year delay, the Federal Trade Competition and Consumer Protection Appellate Tribunal ruled that two hair dies, Melkama and Konjo were in violation of a trademark for having similar packaging to Everest Hair Color. As a result they are not allowed to be sold in Ethiopia.
The ruling stated that the products had a similar text font, color, picture and package size which would confuse those wanting to purchase Everest.
Konjo was being imported by Tofik Mohammed while Melkama was being imported by Shikure Hassen. Everest is produced in India and imported by Doshe and Brothers Plc.
The court was presided over by Kocheto Gebreimaraim, Habtamu Mamo and Solomon Ayalew. They levied a fine of five percent of sales from Melkama and Konjo and mandated that all of their products be taken off the market.
The defendants argued that their name was not similar to the Everest hair color and Everest’s package type and picture it used for is not registered in Ethiopian Intellectual Property Office (EIPO).
Everest hair color is imported from India even though the product was not registered by EIPO, it has been sold in the Ethiopian market for the last 28 years and while Melkama and Konjo were only sold for five years.
The court called EIPO to make statements in the case and EIPO said that since neither Doshe nor the others were registered and that the company which sold its product for a longer period in Ethiopia would be the one allowed to continue being sold. Everest is also attempting to get the court to take similar action against Konjit, Maraki Fiker and Kana hair Colors.
The use of hair dye is increasing in Ethiopia for both women and men. Hair coloring, or hair dyeing, is the practice of changing the hair color. The main reasons for this are cosmetic: to cover gray or white hair, to change to a color regarded as more fashionable or desirable, or to restore the original hair color after it has been discolored by hairdressing processes or sun bleaching.
New Gun law makes 21 the age limit for gun possession
Sets new criteria for weapon use
Bearing arms will continue being a privilege, not a right. The Ministry of Peace (MOP) in collaboration with the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) has finalized a draft bill that regulates firearms and other weapons commonly used for self defense.
This includes guns, knives, Tasers, tear gas (pepper spray), and hydrogen cyanide. The Ministry would regulate who can import and sell these items and who can own them.
During a long debate some said that the National Defense Force (NDF) and the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) should not automatically be allowed to arm their employees.
Another debate took place over the appropriate age to own a gun. Some said 18 was old enough while others argued it should be 21 still others thought the age should be even higher like 25 or even 30, since the brain is still developing through the age of 25.
There will be four institutions prohibited from owning arms; religious institutions, political parties, civil Societies, and charitable organizations as well as schools. During the session led by the state minister of Peace Zeynu Jemal and Attorney General Birhanu Tsegaye, attendants argued that schools and CSOs may need guns for security.
According to the new rules, people will only be allowed to have one semi-automatic or manual gun. They will also not be allowed to have a gun if they have a criminal record of if they do not have at least one functioning arm. They will also not be permitted to sell their gun. And they need to be new owners in order to obtain the license. The goal is to make owning a gun more difficult and to reduce the commercial reward. The license will be valid four years for individuals and five for institutions. Some debate participants expressed concern that the ministry would have too much control over gun ownership.
Criteria to bear arms
The draft bill lists nine criteria to bear arms. The person must be 21, an Ethiopian national or have a residence permit. They must show a document proving freedom from any mental illness, drug addiction, alcoholic behavior, and lawful behavior and good judgment. They are only permitted to used the weapon in proportion to the use of force and must be properly trained.
The need to have a legitimate reason to bear the arm. The MoP will determine the criteria for this.
It is still up in the air as to who will provide the training and how good behavior will be quantified. People argued that consistent criteria for mental stability be determined.
The recommendations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs oversee gun licenses for international organizations and embassies. Other criteria will be issued by the MoP, according to the draft.
The draft stated that security forces are entitled to be armed with manual and partially automatic guns, bombs and other related arms while the Federal Police may be armed with light weapons based on their mission.
When security forces carry their arms, they are obliged to wear their uniform or carry their ID or license. The security forces can not carry weapons unless they are on a dangerous assignment, undergoing an operation or if they need to protect themselves. Security forces may issue a license for a personal gun, besides the government issued one.
At the end of the dialogue, Birhanu Tsegaye stated that the responsible team will consider feedback from the participants.
“This is a transitional law and there might be changes later,” he said. “However, every region should begin working to implement it. We have to make this law operational as soon as possible.”
The drafting process is expected within a month. Then it is expected to be endorsed by the Council of Ministers.
Yarn factory first up for privatization this year
The restructured Public Enterprise Holding and Administration Agency (PEHAA) is floating the first privatization bid this fiscal year.
The agency, which is responsible for managing public enterprises and undertaking the privatization process, is currently preparing to oversee the partial privatization of mega public enterprises only a few months after going through a overhaul and name change.
Previously there was a push to privatize many government owned businesses or return them to their original owner before the communist era of the Derg.
However in the current budget year PEHAA has not transferred anything despite plans s to do so.
Wondafrash Assefa, Public Relations head of PEHAA, told Capital that the restructuring work and preparation for privatizing enterprises is getting priority.
“While we are in process of massive privatization, we have floated the first privatization bid for the BM Ethiopia Garment and Textile SC,” he said.
The agency has announced the share sales of BM Ethiopia, the former Adey Abeba Yarn Factory II, in the fourth week of January and the bid will be opened March 26.
In 2011 the former Privatization and Public Enterprises Supervising Agency, which was changed to the Ministry of Public Enterprises about three years ago, transferred more than 51 percent of the enterprise share for the foreign company called BM and the factory name has been changed to BM Ethiopia Garment and Textile SC, which is mainly engaged in the export market.
Yirgalem Addis Textile Factory PLC the then Adey Abeba Yarn Factory I, which is one of the oldest factories in the country at almost 50 years, was transferred to a private company about eight years ago.
Both factories are located in south west Addis Ababa in Nifasilk Lafto Sub City.
Wondafrash stated that the government plans to sell its entire 48.6 percent share of BM Ethiopia.
BM Ethiopia was floated over the past few years unsuccessfully.
“Based on our five year plan we also have a plan to float other public enterprises in the budget year,” he added.
One of the upcoming public enterprises that would be up for sale is Hilton Addis Hotel, a historical and international brand hotel located in the heart of Addis Ababa.
The hotel was opened by Haile Selassie in 1969 and has a 50-year management contract between Hilton Worldwide and the Ethiopian government that will end this year.
