The Reporter (Addis Ababa)
15 December 2007
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Ministry to launch electronic tax collection system
The Ministry of Revenue has announced preparations to launch e-tax system to make the tax collection procedures more efficient. It has also announced a technical draft document on making some amendments to the existing tax law, guideline and regulation.
The announcements came last week at the conclusion in Assossa town of a two-day 12th consultative forum of federal and regional financial sectors. According to ENA, the ministry has worked out the facilities necessary to launch an e-mail tax collection system as part of its modernization efforts, said the Minister of State Geremew Garje. The e-tax will be a system to be enforced in collaboration with the Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation and the National Bank of Ethiopia, he said. The system is believed to strengthen the link between tax payers and the ministry, without the former having to go to tax offices to settle their tax. Numerous customers have been asking for such a system, he said. The existing tax collection system will not be abandoned to the convinience of those who would rather pay their taxes in person, he added.
Enterprise secures over 34mln birr in revenues
Ethiopian Tourist Trading Enterprise obtained over 34 million birr in revenue during the first quarter of the current Ethiopian fiscal year. The enterprise attributed the success to the celebrations of the new Ethiopian Millennium. Enterprise General Manager, Assefa Guya told ENA that the enterprise secured the stated amount of revenue, which is the highest ever over the last 40 years. Some 25 million birr of the sum was secured in hard currency. The revenue obtained during the reported time exceeded the amount of revenue secured during the previous year of the same period by 9.7 million birr. The enterprise, which has 30 shops nationwide, envisages reaping over 120 million birr in revenue at the end of millennium celebrations. It also has plans to establish duty free market center soon. The souvenirs, which are produced by the enterprise, contribute a lot in promoting and building the positive imager of the nation besides serving as of income for the enterprise. Besides promoting the good image of the nation, the enterprise trade relations with over 200 similar organizations located in Africa, Europe, and Asian countries.
Germany announces 4.5mln birr donation to UNHCR emergency project
Ambassador of Germany to Ethiopia Dr. Claas Dieter Knoop announced this week that his country would contribute another 4.5 million birr towards UNHCR's project for emergency assistance to Somali and Eritrea refugees in Ethiopia. A press release sent by the German Embassy to The Reporter said the donation comes in response to the UNHCR's appeal. The aid will cover costs in the sectors water and sanitation, shelter, health and transport and logistics. The difficult situation for refugees and the constant influx of new refugees especially from Eritrea makes increased efforts necessary to meet the basic needs of the affected population and facilitate the projects for this operation, the release said. The aid increases the overall 2007 German financial assistance to refugees in Ethiopia to more than one million euros.
Gov't reaffirms commitments in supporting the private sector
The Ethiopian government remains ready to support efforts in developing the private sector since the sector has crucial role in the overall development of the nation, Ministry of Trade and Industry said. Minister of State, Tadesse Haile said the government recognizes the indispensable role of the private sector in extricating the country out of poverty. He made the remark on Monday a half-day orientation meeting held between the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations (ECCSA) and donor agencies here in Addis Ababa. ENA reported that Tadesse said the newly re-organized association has enabled the government and the business community to continue holding consultative meetings to ward the development of the sector. The government is ready more than ever to provide technical and material assistances as well as consultancy services to the business community in order to enable the private sector become competitive in the global market. ECCSA President, Getachew Ayenew his organization has designed a five-year strategic plan and action plans to work together with the business community and donor agencies in capacity building and other related schemes.
Embassy of Japan, organizations sign grant agreements amounting USD 587,872
The embassy of Japan in Ethiopia and seven organizations signed here on Tuesday grant agreements amounting to 587,872 USD. The agreements are under Japan's Grant Assistance for Grassroots and Human Security Projects. According to ENA, the agreements are signed to assist projects in education, expansion of clean water, in the agriculture, to improve accessibility of education especially to girls in pastoralist areas and expansion of Joy Center which is the only center in Ethiopia for children with autism. Speaking on the occasion, Japanese ambassador to Ethiopia, Kinichi Komano, expressed his belief that the projects would benefit vulnerable and deprived people in the country.
"The projects would result in empowering the people, which would eventually contribute to the social and economic development of Ethiopia.", he said. According to the ambassador, his government follows two strategies to address development issues in Ethiopia; through government-to-government and through Grant Assistance for Grassroots and Human Security Projects to reach the vulnerable people through civil society organizations, local governments, which the current grant assistant is a part.
The agreements were signed with the Amhara Development Association, Aw-Abdal Primary School, Becho Woreda Education Bureau, Ethio-Wetlands and natural resources Association, Management Committee of Yabello Adventist Primary School, Joy Center and Selam Environmental development association.
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