Expo 2000 Hannover

By Ibrahim A. Ibrahim

The African continent can benefit from all the accomplishments this new country Eritrea has done within its life span of only 21 years.

Eritrea, despite the obstacles faced, with its consistent and undivided attention to achieve what is right for its citizens, it is able to show tangible progress in the sectors of health, education, infrastructure, agriculture and communication.

Health:

Based on UNICEF’s report “Eritrea has made significant strides in reducing [of] child mortality….most notably in relation to MDGs 4 and 6 (child health and HIV/AIDS)” “The Government’s strong commitment to unity and resilience has enabled these gains while many of its neighbors are lagging behind.”

The same report also acknowledged the challenges Eritrea is facing in particular to the ‘no peace no war’ stalemate with its southern neighbor Ethiopia.

As to the construction of health centers, clinics, hospitals, and referral hospitals, it is beyond the expectation of a nation only 21 years old.

The following table from Wikipedia tells how the progress is evolving:

Education:

Eritrea has worked on providing equal access to all its citizens within the country. Among Eritrea’s bold move is how it created nomadic schools to accommodate those who move from place to place. The enrolment of students is at its highest level. Eritrea worked so diligently to educate parents and guardians of children that it’s compulsory for all children to attend to school. Building of primary schools is the prime project of the ministry of Education. The adult illiteracy rate that was around 80% at time of independence is now projected to fall below 10% by 2015. As for growth in number of students, teachers, and schools the following table speaks for itself:

The story is the same in higher education. The country has now 8 colleges as opposed to only 1 at time of independence. Starting in 2009 the country is annually graduating about 35 medical doctors.

Infrastructure

Eritrea has also been able to connect most of its remote villages through an amazing network all season roads. Some of the terrain where these roads, where impenetrable by any stretch of imagination, but local know how and determination has made it possible and now they are a marvel for tourists. The new road that connects the town of Adi Qeyih with the port city of Massawa is an engineering marvel. The travel distance between the two cities is now 25% of what it was few years ago. Now that most of the villages’ towns and cities are linked, and plenty of new transportation buses have been imported, the agony has been part of the past. Several of these roads are now slated to be paved in the coming few months. Eritrea is also working with its air and sea transportations for the convenience of its citizens with in the country and the Diaspora and visitors.

The following can give a glimpse of the total picture of roads in Eritrea as of 1996. Since then within the last 6 years a lot has changed. Every single day counts when it comes to Eritrean progress.

Agriculture

Eritrea took the agriculture sector as its own major security issue. With the dedication of its citizen and heavy investment Eritrea is now seeing the bright future that is relying on itself to produce enough food for its citizens and beyond. This should not be looked lightly as the outcome is demonstrated while the whole horn of Africa countries were suffering from drought Eritrea was able to sustain from being part of the burden. According to a study by a Cornell professor only three of the newly built dams and irrigation around them has the possibility to feed over 5 million people in a year.

The writer will provide the data as updated report become handy.

Communication

Eritrea in 1991 has only very few land lines that are not reliable at all. Since independence Eritrea was able to identify it is one of the necessities for the country to be able to advance and catch up with the world community that the communication has undeniable role.

Now, in Eritrea in most villages, including those remote ones, are wirelessly connect with cell phones, and the internet is available in most high schools. The ministry of education is using solar powered computers where the electrical grid doesn’t reach. Work is on progress to make for an easier and faster access.

Acknowledging the roll of internet Eritrea is dedicate to make sure the one who lives in a very remote village must have equal access to the one who goes to school in the capital.

The writer will provide updated data of as it became available.

From the above information it is understandably that Eritrea is progressing on the right truck. This could be a good example if our African continent utilizes the methods Eritrea is following.

Happy Independence Day to All!!

Ibrahim A. Ibrahim

Red Sea

By Kesete Ghebrehiwet

The Southern Red Sea region is a land of opportunities as well as a land riddled with challenges. The putting in place of service rendering institutions in such a hostile climatic area is indeed beyond compare opportunity to the inhabitants of the region. Much of the development undertakings that have been registered in this area of the country require not only huge material costs but resistance of the people who engage themselves towards the realization of a better tomorrow.

Situated in the south east of the port city of Assab, Abo is one of the villages in the Southern Red Sea region. One who travels through this route never hesitates to make a tour and observe the service rendering institutions of that respective locality. Grapping one’s attention, a healthcare center and a kindergarten that are giving services to the inhabitants of Abo, indeed, prompt one to learn the progress that have been registered in the health and education sectors.

Sister Eden Hailu, head of Abo healthcare center, describes the overall healthcare services that have been rendering and particularly the prenatal and postnatal services at nominal prices. She said that giving vaccines to children by visiting their respective locality and conducting health related awareness raising programs have been part of the routine activities of the healthcare center. As the inhabitants of the area have been aware of the benefits of the delivery services that have been rendering at healthcare institution, a number of pregnant women have been availing themselves of the services.

A few meters away but within the premises of the healthcare center one could see a kindergarten which is giving regular pre-school services to the children of Abo and its environs. What is really impressing about the kindergarten is that a pre-school teacher who is in her twenties has been working there for the last 3 years. In these three years, Sister Natsnet Kidane has become fluent speaker of the Afar language. Pointing out that it is really a blessing to teach in a place which enables you to acquire a much different cultural and linguistic knowledge; she expressed her satisfaction to teach the children at ease with their mother tongue and also with a great passion.

Agricultural undertakings of the Abo-Kiloma administrative area are also very encouraging. Taking into account the arid and semi-arid climatic condition of this respective area, it is very easy to understand that conducting such agricultural activities depending on rainy seasons is really a very demanding task. But, farmers around this administrative area are doing their best in cultivating varied types of crops and vegetables. In about 6 heaters, one could see date palm plantations and other crops, vegetables and fruits and other plantations such as watermelon, pepper, tomato, onion, sorghum, maize which are at good condition.

Despite being an arid place, the Abo-Kiloma administrative area is rich in underground water which just requires no more than 2 meters drilling to find fresh water that could be utilized both for agricultural and for household activities. Thus, if the farmers of this locality exert concerted efforts water deficit could not become a hindrance. The palm dates in particular just need watering only for about three months for they could absorb the underground waters by themselves. So, it is a timely issue for the Ministry of Agriculture and other concerned bodies to take part in utilizing the potentials at disposal and provide the farmers with necessary pesticides.

Any passer by who knew the Southern Red Sea region some years back is obliged to admire the distribution of educational and potable waters supply in such a wider areas of the region. Beylul administrative area which is situated a few km away from the main Assab-Idi route is part of the Southern Denakalia administrative area. Even though it still needs a fence, the healthcare institution of this area is also giving full medical services. What is really worth mentioning is, however, the solar energy powered water supply project. Besides securing its sustainability through judicious utilization, the inhabitants of Beylul have been giving due care in protecting the project from any sort of damage.

Generally, the service rendering institutions that have been put in place in different areas of the Southern Region are very appreciable. But, Berasole administrative area still needs to have such services. Some healthcare institutions that have been constructed in such area have not been equipped with medical instruments and there is also a deficit of medical professionals.

Traveling to the southern Red Seal region one could not miss the region’s potential of producing wind energy. Wind turbines that have been erected in Assab have, for instance, been generating almost 1/3 of the city’s total demand. Wind energy suppliers equipment that has been put in place in many of the villages of the Southern Red Sea is in fact vivid example of such potentials. But, its sustainability would be endangered for proper renovation and maintenance has not been made for long.

Shabait

/CE

Eritreans will always choose to walk the path leading to self-reliance and independence no matter how stony the way ahead might be. This is why Eritrea has told the United Nations that it wants out of its long-term development agreement because the U.N. makes the problem worse, not better.

The reason, given in a January 26 notification letter from the country’s powerful Finance Minister, obtained by Fox News, is that “aid only postpones the basic solutions to crucial development problems by tentatively ameliorating their manifestations without tackling their root causes. The structural, political, economic, etc. damage that it inflicts upon recipient countries is also enormous.” In other words, the government argues, U.N. aid does more harm than good.

Extract from the letter of the Ministry states, “….However, national development will never be materialized if it is done by depending on grant financing from UN agencies or other (bilateral) sources. It is widely believed that aid only postpones the basic solutions to crucial development problems by tentatively ameliorating their manifestations without tackling their root causes. The structural, political, economic etc. damage that it inflicts upon recipient countries is also enormous….” (Eritrean Ministry of Finance)

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/03/30/eritrea-aid-shove/#ixzz1I9mxRiuG

India, along with a large number of least developed countries, has called for an international programme of action aiming at reducing the number of LDCs by half over the next decade. A joint declaration issued here on Saturday at the end of the largest-ever meeting of LDC representatives hosted by India made this demand after noting that the lack of international efforts led to the number of LDCs increasing from 25 in 1971 to 48 this year.

India and the LDCs also pressed for strengthening international support mechanisms in favour of the LDCs and called for augmenting the Official Development Assistance and South-South cooperation. In this respect, the declaration called for implementing suggestions emanating from South-South conferences such as the Nairobi outcome document, the Marrakech Framework and the Yamoussoukro Consensus. While calling for a more concerted action plan by the international community, the declaration expressed satisfaction over the increase in South-South cooperation and South-South trade and investment flows. Although this has had a positive impact on the LDCs’ development process, “we see [this] as a complement, and not a substitute for North-South cooperation.”

The declaration was issued at the end of the two-day meet. India on Friday announced stepped up assistance to the LDCs in the run-up to the once-in-a-decade meet of such countries scheduled in Turkey for May.

Inaugurating the largest-ever gathering of LDC Ministers hosted by India, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna unveiled a $500-million credit line facility over the next five years to be used specifically for projects and programmes of the LDCs, five additional scholarships annually for all 48 LDCs and a special fund for the four laggards. This assistance would build on India’s ongoing developmental cooperation with the LDCs which is principally guided by the priorities set out by the nation-states themselves. The conference was attended by about 40 foreign and other senior Ministers and as many U.N. Permanent Representatives (UNPRs) from the LDCs. The meet followed a visit by about a dozen UNPRs from the Caribbean countries and preceded an India-Africa summit, scheduled in Ethiopia for later this year, which will be attended by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

India believes that North-South flows including to the LDCs have slowed down because of the global economic crises and it is time to encourage South-South cooperation along with Brazil, China and Turkey. As Mr. Krishna noted, the first-ever India-LDC meet provided an occasion to explore the untapped opportunities of South-South cooperation which can contribute significantly to the sustained development of the LDCs.

Among those who attended the conference are Foreign Ministers George R Chicoty (Angola), Osman Mohammed Saleh (Eritrea), Mohlabi Tsekoa (Lesotho), Augustin Nanze (Burundi), Hailemariam Desalegn (Ethiopia), Aminata Djibrilla Maiga Toure (Niger), Gen. Antoine Gambi (Central African Republic) and Elliot Ohin (Togo).

The conference had observers from Turkey, Finland, Australia, Hungary, Slovenia, China, the U.S., Germany, Croatia, Georgia, the European Union, Italy, France, UNDP and UNCTAD.

The Hindu

Eritrean Foreign Minister, Mr. Osman Saleh told the UN General Assembly that Eritrea remains focused on broad-based and people centered political, economic, social and cultural development that will enable the Eritrean people to live in dignity and prosperity, entering its 20 years of independence.

Eritrea has created a solid base for sustained economic growth after several years of consistent investment in health, education, agriculture and other essential infrastructure.

The Minister said it is expected that trade as well as domestic and foreign investment will provide additional stimulus for the growth of the Economy.

He added, that Eritrea is welcoming and inviting all interested countries and enterprises to become Eritrea’s partners in investment and development.

HARARE, March 16 - China respects the sovereignty of African countries and will never interfere in their internal politics, says a senior Chinese official.

Speaking at a briefing in Harare on China-Africa relations Monday, Chinese foreign policy advisory group member Ji Peiding said Beijing respected the independent choice of development path of African countries and never imposed its will on them, reports government owned Zimbabwean news agency New Ziana .

“China and African countries have diversified, pragmatic and fruitful co-operation with 900 projects so far undertaken and 310 amounts of debts for 35 counties having been cancelled in the last 10 years,” he said.

The Chinese government has, over the past decade, made tremendous inroads into the continent, attracting jealousy of Western countries which have accused it of pursuing a colonial agenda.

Ji said China had put in place measures to strengthen relations with African countries in various spheres, including addressing climate change and enhancing co-operation in science and technology.

“We are helping Africa build financing capacity, opening up China’s market to African products and enhancing co-operation in agriculture,” he said.

China would provide medical equipment and anti-malaria materials worth 500 million Renminbi to 30 hospitals and malaria prevention and treatment centres it had built in Africa, he added. It would also train 3 00doctors and nurses for Africa, he said.

Ji said China would extend support towards human resources development and education through building 50 China-Africa friendship schools as well as train 1,500 school principals and teachers from African countries.

He said his country would also by 2012 increase the number of Chinese government scholarships for Africa to 5,500 as well as train a total of 20,000 professionals in various fields over the next three years.

Zimbabwe’s Acting Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Stan Mudenge, praised the Chinese government for its unwavering support to Zimbabwe and Africa.

“The mutual respect has led China to support the oppressed nations and developing countries in their struggle to win and preserve national independence and develop their national economies,” he said.

Mudenge noted that China had assisted a number of African counties, including Zimbabwe, achieve their independence.

Asmara, In continuation of the existing cooperation of partnership between the governments of Eritrea and the PRC in various spheres for mutual benefit, the ministries of agriculture of the two countries today concluded an agreement on fostering cooperation in the domain of agriculture.

The agreement focusing on fostering cooperation in research and extension activities involves the introduction of select seeds, development of cotton, maize, fruits and vegetables production, in addition to boosting agricultural output and their processing, improvement of seeds, introduction of modern irrigation farming, repair of heavy agricultural machineries, human resource development, among others.

The agreement is also aimed at creating conducive ground for Chinese investors to invest in the agriculture sector in accordance with the Eritrean law, besides incorporating other major development programs.

The agreement was signed by the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Arefaine Berhe, on the Eritrean side, and the Chinese Ambassador to Eritrea, Mr. Li Liansheng, on the side of the PRC.

Speaking at the signing ceremony at the Agriculture Ministry’s Hall here in Asmara, Mr. Arefaine lauded the PRC for enhancing cooperation with the Eritrean Agriculture Ministry in various fields. He further explained that a number of Chinese agricultural experts are already visiting Eritrea to make due contribution for the realization of the envisaged development programs.

Ambassador Li Liansheng on his part cited that the agriculture sector is one of the priorities of the Eritrean government and expressed conviction that the cooperation of partnership would continue. Source: (Shabait)

ASMARA, May 7 (Xinhua) — Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki on Thursday underscored that stability is the most important factor to promote economic and social development in the African country. Isaias made the remarks in an exclusive interview with Xinhua ahead of the upcoming 16th anniversary of the founding of the State of Eritrea.

“Many may underestimate the importance of stability, but talking about achievements, you have to talk about the preconditions for achievements, and we believe stability is a basic requirement. Without stability, it is very difficult to talk about achievements in the economy, achievements in social programs and other sectors,” the Eritrean president noted.

He added that his country has been able to consolidate the stability based on the long political tradition in Eritrea, in spited of the regional and international challenges.

Isaias also mentioned the achievements in the infrastructure in the past years since independence as his government has adopted a strategy to guarantee the development of infrastructure in the sectors of mining, agriculture, tourism and industry among others.

Eritrea is “in the right track of putting in place a viable infrastructure that will create a conducing framework for investment and then development”, taking consideration of the timespan and the limitation of resources, he noted.

Isaias also explained that his country started from nothing in the field of social service, including healthcare and education, while such service is currently being provided to the Eritrea people in the above fields.

On the recent development of the bilateral ties with China, the Eritrean president said that the strategic partnership between the two countries has developed at a high speed, which was successful in many fields, as the relation between the two countries went beyond the establishment of diplomatic ties on the exact day of Eritrea’s independence.

He expressed the intention of his country to expand cooperation with China in critical economic sectors with priorities on mining, infrastructure and agriculture, as well as service.

On the implementation of the eight major moves China would take to develop relations with Africa, which was announced at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in 2006, Isaias said the Forum boost the strategic partnership between China and Africa to a higher level.

The president said that many countries in the Africa see the fruits and achievements, with the understanding that China will bring changes to Africa, promote the economic development in the continent.

He also expected China and Africa to grasp the opportunity during the current global economic crisis to strengthen the bilateral cooperation, as African countries appreciate the investment style of “mutual benefit and common development” initiated by China in Africa as a “two-way cooperation.”

African countries should boost coordination to adopt realistic polices to meet the challenges facing the continent and the Sino-African cooperation and benefit from the Chinese investment and the strategic partnership, Isaias noted, calling for more efforts to develop Africa as a viable market.

The Eritrean president also praised the successful handling of the serious earthquake in Wenchuan in China’s southwest province of Sichuan in May 2008, which made China more prepared to deal with natural disasters in the future.

On the upcoming 60th founding anniversary of the People’s Republic of China in October, Isaias sent congratulations to the Chinese people as China has developed into a major world economic power in the past years and made contributions to world peace and prosperity.

“We, not only here in Eritrea, but along the continent in everywhere, would wish the Chinese people to continue along the same path so that we see more of positive change and cooperation between China and other peoples, ” he concluded.

Eritrea, which currently has a population of about 5 million, formally announced its independence from Ethiopia in 1993.