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11 November 2006
Addis Ababa - Minister of Water Resources Asfaw Dingamo said that favourable conditions have been created that would make the Nile Basin a common asset other than a source of conflict among countries embraced under the Nile Basin cooperation framework.
Over 140 million USD has been obtained from donors for the implementation of projects being jointly studied by the Nile Basin countries.
Asfaw told ENA that Nile Basin countries have begun exerting joint efforts with a view to improving their economies through utilizing the Nile waters.
Ethiopia has been exerting efforts so that the negotiations on the Nile water would be conducted in a way that would protect the interests of the people, he said.
The Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) involves the Shared Vision programme and subsidiary action programme, the Minister said, and added that efforts are well underway for the realization of shared vision programme designed by the Nile Basin countries.
The shared vision programme has the objective of bringing about trust and identifying potential for economic cooperation among the Nile Basin countries, he said.
Among the Nile Basin countries, Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan have created a joint development cooperation forum called Eastern Nile Subsidiary Action, Programme (ENSAP), Asfaw said, and added that the three countries have already identifies areas of cooperation.
The cooperation areas have focused on irrigation drainage, power generation, basin development, water controlling dams, flood and drought management, among others, he indicated.
Ethiopia is beneficiary of the ENSAP through building its implementing capacity, creating investment and job opportunities, Asfaw said, and added that it would get hard currency through exporting electricity in the future.
He further said that several Egyptian and Sudanese companies have begun investing in Ethiopia, while Ethiopia’s trade relation with the two countries is in good shape.
The Minister also said that Ethiopian, Sudanese, and Egyptian parliamentary teams have begun discussing and working closely.
He said the Ethio-Sudan Interconnection System Project office was opened in Ethiopia and has already begun activities, while the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCo) has launched surveying and other preliminary activities.
(ENA)