Ethiopians Stage a Massive Rally in Support Of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi in Washington D.C.!

In what is an amazingly brisk and massive turn out in the annals of Diaspora Ethiopians show of solidarity, a record high level of demonstrators numbering in their hundreds staged a huge rally in Washington D.C. in support of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's apt leadership.
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Press Release:

On The Participation of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi at the G-8 Summit In Camp David, May 18-19, 2012

Elevating Africa to the Global Forum

We Ethiopians organized under various Civic Groups and different Development Associations and indeed the entire sons and daughters of Ethiopia domiciling in the US have gathered from all corners of America to express our heartfelt felicitation and extend our unreserved support to Prime Minister Meles Zenawi who is joining the leaders of the world powers @ the G-8 Summit to be convened over this weekend in Camp David, Maryland, and graciously say ''Thank You" to our revered PM and his leadership team for a job well done who in unison have elevated our beloved nation Ethiopia and its people to a higher level and status of due recognition and acclaim globally, that it surely deserves.

Wave of Customs Improvements to Reach Parliament

A new draft bill prepared by the Ethiopian Revenues & Customs Authority (ERCA) which provides the manufacturing sector with incentives, amending the existing customs proclamation, is to be tabled to Parliament at the end of this month, May 2012.

The amendment, which is the fifth since 1955, has taken place under the instruction of the Prime Minister, who received various complaints about the existing customs procedures. The Authority set up a group of experts four months ago to identify the flaws in the existing customs procedures and draft a new law based on the findings. The ERCA plans to implement the bill, if ratified, in the 2012/13 fiscal year.
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Flower growers wilt over new packaging standards

The Ethiopian Horticulture Development Agency (EHDA) is requiring flower exporters to use a new standardized packaging system starting this week, despite members of the association opposition.

At a meeting held last Thursday, agency flower growers and exporters said the new requirements would significantly add to their cost of production. Growers also complained that a majority of suppliers and producers of the newly selected packaging material do not have experience in the sector.

The new standard approved by EHDA and the Ethiopian Standards Agency gives the rights to four packaging material producers to supply the packaging for the growers and exporters. But growers complained that the company known as Unlimited Packaging had the experience they required. “It will affect the sector export,” growers said at the meeting led by Haileselasse Tekie, Director General of the agency.

Marriott Hotel Comes to Addis

The Ethiopian based Sunshine Business Plc, a wing of Sunshine Construction, will be the fourth company to open and international chain hotel. On Thursday May 10 the company signed a management contract deal with Marriott International for the two hotels that will open in 2012 and 2015 respectively.

Almost ten years after the opening of the third international brand hotel since the Sheraton Addis, and around thirty years after the Hilton Hotel the hotel management contract agreement will give full rights and responsibility for Marriott to manage Marriott-Sunshine Executive Apartment Hotel and Sunshine Courtyard.
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