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15 February 2007
Addis Ababa, February 14, 2007 (Addis Ababa) - Ethiopia has secured 5.3 billion Birr in foreign aid and loan over the past six months, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development said.
Public Relations and Information Department head with the Ministry, Getachew Admasu told Ethiopian News Agency on Wednesday that 2.6 billion Birr of the stated sum was secured in loan while the remaining 2.7 billion Birr in aid.
Getachew said 4.6 billion Birr of the total loan and aid was obtained from international organizations while the remaining 717 million Birr from development partner governments.
He said the main development partners, which provided assistance and loan include Ireland, Britain, Germany, France, Japan, China and Netherlands of which France and Netherlands have a significant share.
Donor and loan providing international organizations include, among others, the International Development Association, the European Investment Bank, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the European Union and the World Food Program (WFP) of which the International Development Association has a significant share.
He said most of the fund was being utilized for the implementation of food security, educational, health, water, urban development and good governance activities, among others.
Getachew said various international and continental organizations as well as financial institutions have made a 510.4 million Birr debt cancellation for Ethiopia during the past six months.
He said the International Development Association has cancelled a 331.7 million Birr debt while the African Development Bank on its part cancelled 108.75 million Birr debt.
Getachew said Petroleum Producer and Exporting Countries (OPEC), the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the European Investment Bank and the Nordic Development Fund cancelled a total of 70 million Birr debt.
Some 5.6 billion Birr of the loan and aid agreements made during the past six months has already been received, he said, adding, the fund would be used for the implementation of electric power, road, capacity building and education, rehabilitation, agriculture, health, water, telecommunications and tourism projects.
International Development Association, African Development Fund, Austria, Belgium, France, Ireland, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Britain and Finland are some of the donor and loan providing organizations and countries.