Council Passes Decisions on Various Issues, Refers Bills to Parliament
Addis Ababa: The Council of Ministers, in its 27th regular session today has discussed various issues and passed decisions, according to the Office of the Prime Minister.
Initially, the Council deliberated on the draft regulation of forest development, protection and utilization.
This draft regulation has been prepared and presented to the Council of Ministers in order to properly develop, protect and sustainably use Ethiopia’s forest resources. Moreover, the draft regulation would be instrumental to build a climate-resilient economy as well as to introduce carbon trading to the international market system.
Following an extensive discussion on the draft regulation, the Council unanimously decided to implement it right after its publication in the Negarit Newspaper.
Subsequently, the council discussed the three financial support agreements that have been signed with the International Development Association. These agreements include a loan of 300 million US dollars for the implementation of the digital ide
ntification card inclusion and service delivery project.
The loan agreements also include some 200 million USD for the implementation of the education and training project, and 90 million USD for the implementation of the business logistics improvement program.
After confirming that all loans are interest-free, a 1.25 percent service fee, having a grace period of six years, will be paid off in 38 years and in line with the country’s credit management policy, the council referred the draft bill to the House of Peoples’ Representative for approval.
The council also discussed two financial support agreements signed with the Italian government. The first agreement is a loan of 6.5 million Euros to be allocated for the implementation of the Boye Lake and its surroundings sustainable development project. And the second agreement is a loan of 83.5 million Euros for the execution of the energy sector project, it was indicated.
Confirming that the loans are interest-free and it has a grace period of six years to b
e paid in 30 years, the Council of Ministers has referred the draft to the parliament for approval.
The council also discussed a draft regulation to amend the regulations issued to establish the National Animal Health Protection Institute as a development organization.
Accordingly, the council unanimously decided to raise the authorized capital of the institute to 2.6 billion Birr, and that the regulation become effective as of its date of publication in the Negarit Gazette.
In addition, the council discussed the draft regulations to determine the service fees to be paid for the services provided by the institute of Ethiopian Standards and Federal Documents Authentication and Registration Service.
In order to expand the provision and improve the quality of the institutions’ services, the draft regulations have been prepared. The draft is also important to set up a system that will allow the institutions to cover part of the cost of providing services in a manner that takes into account the affordability o
f the community. The council decided the regulation to be effective by its date of publication in the Negarit Gazette.
The council then discussed the draft policy on disaster risk management and cleared for implementation effective from today 24th February 2024.
Furthermore, the Council of Ministers rigorously discussed a bill to approve the amendment agreement on the establishment of the Inter-Governmental Development Authority (IGAD).
Since it is necessary to strengthen the cooperation between member countries, economic, social, environmental and political integration as well as accelerate cross-border cooperation and facilitate the sustainable development of member countries, the amendment of the IGAD founding agreement was approved by the summit held on June 12, 2023.
After the council deliberation on amended IGAD establishment agreement, it referred the bill to the House of Peoples Representative for approval.
Another agenda discussed by the Council of Ministers is the bill to approve the Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) signed between the governments of Ethiopia and Jordan, an agreement on protection of the rights and interests of Ethiopian nationals working in Jordan.The council discussed the agreement in detail and unanimously decided to refer it to the parliament for approval.
Finally, the council discussed four draft agreements related to the development of bromine, granite, coal and alluvial gold mines.
In this case, the council confirmed that draft agreements are critical to realize the strategy designed in fulfilling the industrial inputs locally, increasing the earning of foreign currency, creating employment opportunities for citizens, and also ensuring that the agreements are compatible with the government’s policy direction in terms of environmental protection and community benefit.
Eventually, the Council of Ministers decided for the Ministry of Mines to sign the agreements and put them into operation.
Source: Ethiopian News Agency