Rock Church in Lalibella
Ethiopia and the World Bank have signed two financing agreements amounting to 65 million USD for tourism development and enhance tourism and agricultural productivity.
Finance and Economic Development State Minister (MoFED) Ahmed Shide and World Bank Country Director for Ethiopia and Sudan, Kenichi Ohashi signed the agreements.
The first agreement amounting to 35 million USD will be used to finance implementation of sustainable tourism development project that aims at enhancing the quality and variety of tourism products and services.
The amount enables to increase the volume of tourism foreign exchange earnings and jobs in targeted destinations that include Axum, Lalibella, Addis Ababa and its surroundings.
The second agreement amounting to 30 million USD will also be used to finance implementation of agricultural productivity project.
Ahmed on the occasion said the 35 million USD will be used to strengthen infrastructure development in the stated tourist destinations.
The minister said the second agreement aims to enhance specialization in agricultural research and collaboration in agricultural training, among others.
The director on his part said Ethiopia has been undertaking encouraging activities to become self-sufficient in food production. He said WB will assist Ethiopia to tap its rich resources in the agriculture sector.
Source: ENA
Valere Tjolle
