Ethiopian Airlines orders from both Boeing and Airbus

At this week's Paris Air Show, Ethiopian Airlines and Boeing announced a commitment to purchase two B777 freighters, valued at USD 651.4 million at list prices. The airline also announced an order for ten additional B737 MAX 8 airplanes, exercising options from its 2014 order, which was the largest for the aircraft type in Africa. Ethiopian now has firm orders for 30 B737 MAX 8s.

Africa's largest airline group has also placed an order for ten additional Airbus A350-900 aircraft, to further develop its fast expanding long-haul route network. Last June, the company became the first African carrier to operate the A350 when it took delivery of the first of twelve aircraft in order. The carrier currently operates a fleet of four A350s, two of which are leased. (ah)

www.ethiopianairlines.com

Ethiopia urges intesified efforts to combat spread of armyworm

ADDIS ABABA, June 21 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources on Wednesday urged institutions across Ethiopia to intensify efforts to tackle the impact of the fall armyworm.

The east African country has recently announced that the fall armyworm has spread into six major maize harvesting regions in the country, partially-damaging over 145,000 hectares of maize production across the country.

Primarily spotted in Ethiopia in late February 2017, the insect has been rapidly expanding its presence over the past three months. The Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources warns that the insect could still spread to other parts of the country and be more devastating, unless strict measures are taken.

Institutions throughout the east African country must jointly combat the impact imposed by the dangerous pest, Ethiopian News Agency quoted Daniel Dentamo, Ministry's Public Relations head, as saying.

Agricultural crops harvested in Ethiopia such as maize, soya bean, groundnuts, and potatoes are amongst of over 100 crops that are said to be highly vulnerable to the insect.

Dentamo further recommended awareness-raising measures that target farmers in the affected and vulnerable regions.

The joint effort has so far helped to save over 81,000 hectares of land that was covered by maize production, and over 100,000 liter of pesticide has been distributed to over 209,000 farmers across the affected areas, Dentamo said.

Fall armyworm, the larva of night-flying moth, is a pest indigenous to the Americas. After it was first detected in 2016 in Nigeria and other African countries, the worm was first intercepted on an irrigated maize field in the southern Ethiopia early this year. Read more here

As Deadline to Leave Saudi Arabia Nears, Ethiopian Workers Trapped Between Two Bad Choices

Screenshot from report ‘Ethiopians in Saudi Arabia are complaining about the slow performance of their Embassy’ on Ethiotube.

Thousands of Ethiopian migrant workers in Saudi Arabia have pleaded to the Ethiopian government to expedite their return by helping them prepare documents to secure exit visas, as the Gulf country prepares to begin deporting as many as half a million Ethiopians.

It has been nearly three months since the Saudi Arabian government gave 90 days to all unauthorized migrant workers in Saudi Arabia to leave the country.

Saudi Arabia and neighbouring Qatar are among the few countries in the world that force foreign workers to secure exit visas before they leave the country. In order to secure the visas, other documents must also be in order.

As the Ethiopian Satellite Television and Radio (ESAT) outlet run from outside Ethiopia reported:

Since Saudi officials announced those with illegal status to leave the country Ethiopian immigrants are strongly accusing Ethiopian embassy in Saudi Arabia for not helping them to return to Ethiopia.

Yet roughly a week until the 90 days grace period ends and after months of bureaucratic delays at the Ethiopian Embassy in Saudi Arabia, only 80,000 Ethiopians were able to get travel documents that will legally help them exit the country.

of the estimated 400,000 undocumented #Ethiopians living in #SaudiArabia, only 80, 000+ “secured exit visas”; 11 days for amnesty to expire pic.twitter.com/T2s3w9wEOz

— Addis Standard (@addisstandard) June 15, 2017

An estimated 750,000 Ethiopian migrants live in Saudi Arabia, among which a significant majority are unauthorized workers.

Ethiopians enter to Saudi Arabia through various channels. Some traveled as authorized workers on planes but more people enter the country by land with the help of smugglers. There are also some who remained in the country after they travelled there for the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca.

So far, only 30,000 migrants were shuttled back to Ethiopia. However, with the current pace of repatriation, most migrants will still be in Saudi Arabia when the grace period ends. Saudi authorities have said they will start to raid and deport migrant workers on June 30.

In 2013 when Saudi authorities engaged in similar operations, Ethiopian migrants were the victims of deadly physical assaults. Workers who sought to return to Ethiopia were held in makeshift detention centers without adequate food or shelter.

During the 2013 deportation, Ethiopians used social media to organize their protest against Saudi Arabia.

Despite these hardships and the Ethiopian government's promises of a swift resettlement, there are migrants who do not want to return to Ethiopia, where there are few economic opportunities.

Nebiyu Sirak a citizen journalist based in Saudi Arabia reported:

It is horrifying that most Ethiopians have not shown an interest in returning home despite risk of violence.

As the workers fret for their futures, the Ethiopian government has pledged to cut by half the price of a plane ticket home for those who will fly with Ethiopian Airlines, as well as offering resettlement and jobs upon arrival. Most view these as false promises however. Read more here

Russia and Ethiopia signs MOU on Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy

On June 19, 2017, within the framework of IX International Forum ATOMEXPO 2017, ROSATOM State Atomic Energy Corporation and the Ministry of Science and Technology of Ethiopia signed the Memorandum of understanding on cooperation in peaceful uses of atomic energy. The document was signed by the Deputy Director General of ROSATOM State Atomic Energy Corporation Nikolai Spasskiy, on the Russian side, and Afework Kassu Gizaw, the State Minister of Science and Technology, on the Ethiopian side.

The Memorandum is the first agreement in the area of peaceful uses of atomic energy to be signed between the countries. It envisages the bilateral cooperation in wide range of spheres, i.e. development of nuclear infrastructure in Ethiopia, programs for raising public awareness of nuclear technologies and its application, radioisotopes and radiation technologies’ application in industrial, medical, agricultural sectors.

The agreement embraces collaboration in nuclear, radiological and physical security, fundamental and applied researches, HR training, nuclear research centers based on multifunctional research reactors, etc. The joint working group of Russia and Ethiopia will define the scope of work for implementation of the initiatives mentioned above.

The parties agreed to cooperate in the feasibility of implementing common projects referred to development of collaboration in peaceful uses of atomic energy was agreed to be developed under the Memorandum.
Reference:

ROSATOM State Atomic Energy Corporation brings together 340 enterprises and scientific organizations, including all civil nuclear companies of Russia’s nuclear industry, research centers and the world’s only nuclear icebreaker fleet. ROSATOM holds leading positions in the global market of nuclear technologies and is currently implementing projects to build 42 nuclear power units both in Russia and abroad.

“ATOMEXPO” International Forum is annually held due to the initiative of ROSATOM since 2009 and has established itself as the largest international exhibition and business platform, where the current state of the nuclear industry is being discussed, and the trends of its further development are being generated as well. In 2016, more than 5,000 people from 55 countries visited the forum – that is a record number in the history of the forum. The business programme gathered participants from 650 companies and organizations. The economic potential of agreements and memoranda signed within the framework of “ATOMEXPO 2016” is estimated at $ 10 billion.

Source: News Ghana 

Bombardier Unveils Ethiopian Airlines as Previously Undisclosed Customer that Ordered Q400 Aircraft

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - June 20, 2017) - Bombardier Commercial Aircraft announced today that Ethiopian Airlines Enterprise is the previously undisclosed customer that signed a firm purchase agreement for five additional Q400 turboprop aircraft. Based on the list price of the Q400 aircraft, the contract is valued at approximately $162 million US.

"Our relationship with Ethiopian Airlines extends beyond straight buyer-seller," said Colin Bole, Senior Vice President, Commercial, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. "Ethiopian is an Authorized Service Facility for Q400 aircraft and operates the only Q400 aircraft flight simulator in Africa. In addition, we have worked together to support other Q400 aircraft operators such as RwandAir, Congo Airways and Air Tanzania."

"We are reordering the Bombardier Q400 turboprop as it is the core element in serving our expanding domestic and regional destinations," said Tewolde GebreMariam, Group Chief Executive Officer, Ethiopian Airlines. "No other turboprop airliner matches its 360-knot speed capability, low operating costs, environmental credentials and passenger comfort, especially with its cabin flexibility for single and dual-class passenger configuration. The Q400 aircraft shines in terms of climb rate, single-engine ceiling, and greater revenue-producing payload capability from our hot weather, high altitude airstrips, these performance attributes being critical to interchangeability with our jet fleet."

"The airline market in Africa has been growing slowly but steadily as the industry is becoming more liberalized and the infrastructure to support the growth is being put in place," said Jean-Paul Boutibou, Vice President, Sales, Middle East and Africa, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. "Airlines in Africa are working very hard to modernize their operations to meet the challenges of tomorrow and we are committed to helping with the aircraft and technical support they require."

Ethiopian Airlines' initial order for eight Q400 aircraft plus four options was announced on November 20, 2008. Four re-orders directly and through Palma Capital, including the one announced on June 9, increase the airline's Q400 aircraft fleet to 24 aircraft, the largest in Africa.

Bombardier Commercial Aircraft already has a solid foothold on the African continent with upwards of over 190 Q Series turboprops - including over 35 Q Series operators - and CRJ regional jets in operation or on order from customers. Over the next two decades, Africa is expected to take deliveries of 550 new aircraft, and with Bombardier's family of aircraft, the company is well positioned to serve this growing market.

Bombardier has now recorded a total of 585 Q400 aircraft on firm order.

About Ethiopian

Ethiopian Airlines was recently named African Airline of the Year for the second year in a row at the Air Finance Africa Conference in Johannesburg. The award cited the airline's rapid growth, increased profitability and its contribution to aviation development in Africa.

Ethiopian Airlines has won the Airline Reliability Performance Award six times. This award recognizes operators of Bombardier CRJ Series regional jets and Q Series turboprops who achieve the highest rates of dispatch reliability.

Ethiopian Airlines (Ethiopian) is the fastest growing airline in Africa. In its 71 years of operations, Ethiopian has become one of the continent's leading carriers, unrivalled in efficiency and operational success.

About Bombardier

Bombardier is the world's leading manufacturer of both planes and trains. Looking far ahead while delivering today, Bombardier is evolving mobility worldwide by answering the call for more efficient, sustainable and enjoyable transportation everywhere. Our vehicles, services and, most of all, our employees are what make us a global leader in transportation.

Bombardier is headquartered in Montréal, Canada. Our shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD) and we are listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index. In the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, we posted revenues of $16.3 billion. News and information are available at bombardier.com or follow us on Twitter @Bombardier.

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