Ethiopia, France sign a 19 mln Euro Grant Agreement

Addis Ababa, May 18, 2022(Walta) – The Ministry of Finance, represented by Semereta Sewasew, State Minister in charge of Economic Cooperation, signed a grant agreement of 10 million Euro with the French Development Agency (AFD), represented by Valerie TEHIO, Country director yesterday.

The signing was attended by the Ambassador of France in Ethiopia and for the African Union, Remi Marechaux.

The grant will finance the construction and equipment of the Ethiopian Electric Power Training Centre in Debre Zeit. The equipment and training offered will be adapted to the technologies installed on the Ethiopian electricity grid (SCADA simulators, electricity transmission, distribution equipment, etc.).

It will enable EEP to provide in-house engineering and technical training capacities and to offer training services to other public and private utilities, French Embassy in Addis Ababa stated.

EEP will also adapt and renew its training capacities and its staff’s skills according to the continuous and fast evolution of the energy technologies and to the growing and changing needs of the Ethiopian population and economy.

So far, On May 12, 2022, the Ministry of Finance, represented by Semereta Sewasew, State Minister in charge of Economic Cooperation, signed a grant agreement for the second installment of 8 million Euro with the French Development Agency (AFD), represented Valerie TEHIO, Country director.

This grant is aimed to finance the restoration and opening to the public of the Jubilee Palace in 2020, according to FBC.

“This important Ethiopian heritage could become one of the main touristic landmarks of the city. The project will also strengthen the Palace administration’s capacity to manage the museum, once open to a national and international public.” The Embassy said.

Ethiopia and France have also signed a 1 million Euro financial pact to support Civil Society Organizations so that they can discharge their responsibilities effectively, taking the total amount of the financial support by AFD to 19 million Euro.