Ethiopia Roundup: Ethio-China Tourism, mining policy, gold exploration
Ethiopia-China Tourism Forum
The Ethiopia-China Tourism Promotion Forum has been held at the Embassy of Ethiopia in Beijing to promote Ethiopia's heritage sites and tourist sites to attract Chinese tourists to the East African nation. The event held on November 28 attracted over 274 participants from 214 tourism associations and tour operators, local media FanaBC reports. Representatives from the Ethiopian Ministry of Culture and the Chinese Ministry of Culture were all present at the forum, FanaBC reports.
National mining policy
Ethiopia has developed a national mining policy to harness its vast mineral resources and attract domestic and foreign investment. The policy aims to create a transparent regulatory environment, promote sustainable practices, and enhance local community engagement, the Ethiopia News Agency reports. “We developed a new mine policy of international standard with support from global partners and by benchmarking the experiences of other countries. The policy will make our country more competitive. Especially foreign investors need predictable policies, and this policy will create favourable conditions for them,” the Ethiopian Minister of Mines is quoted by the Ethiopia News Agency.
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Gold exploration
Scandinavian-based Ethiopian gold exploration company, Akobo Minerals, hit a gold ore body in an underground mine in western Ethiopia after 13 years of exploration, local media Addis Standard reports. The accomplishment places the business among the few mining companies that have successfully navigated the path from exploration to mining, which is a major turning point in the company's history, a representative of the company told the Addis Standard. Production will start at the pilot plant, and the main facility will be commissioned as soon as significant gold-containing material is extracted from the mine, Addis Standard reports.
Nile RBasin Commission
Ethiopia has planned to launch the Nile River Basin Commission by the end of 2023, despite Egypt's claims to historical rights over the Nile's waters. Ethiopia intends to advocate for adherence to the Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA) among the Nile Basin States, which sets the standards for fair and sustainable utilisation of the Nile's resources, according to local media the Ethiopian Reporter.
Epidemic preparedness
The Ethiopian Ministry of Health has entered a cooperation agreement with Russia to receive support towards the East African nation’s epidemic preparedness capacity and the development of laboratories, FanaBC reported. According to the Russian health agency Rospotrebnadzor, the two nations will embark on joint scientific research.
