The Executive Secretary of Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has donated yesterday 50,000 USD of the pledged 250,000 in a gesture of support for the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
Under the initiative of the Executive Secretary Mahboub Maalim, the regional organization had contributed USD 100,000 over five years ago, according to IGAD.
The pledged money has been raised by staff members of Intergovernmental Authority on Development who took in consideration the role of the project for regional integration.
After handing over the cheque to Ethiopia's Ambassador to Djibouti Shamebo Fitamo, Executive Secretary of IGAD, Mahboub Maalim said the organization will keep on delivering the pledge amount of money shortly.
He added that this humble contribution is a testimony of the importance of the GERD project to the region and to the integration agenda spearheaded by the regional organization.
“IGAD staff members are fully aware of the regional dimension of GERD project and do not want to be left behind when it comes to demonstrating their personal commitment to regional development and the well-being of the populations”, he stressed.
Ambassador Shamebo said Ethiopia is already supplying power to neighboring Djibouti and Sudan and the project is underway to supply 400 megawatts of electric power to Kenya.
He also mentioned the other infrastructure projects undertaken by Ethiopia such as road, railway and power generation interconnection activities in Ethiopia through the agenda of regional integration.