Addis Ababa, March 19, 2022 (FBC) – The Council of Ministers during its 5th regular session has discussed on various issues and passed decisions accordingly.
The council has approved the second National Financial Inclusion Strategy to be implemented during the coming five years (2022-2026) in line with the Home Grown Economic Reform.
The meeting has also approved four draft bills set to regulate allowances to be paid in reward to services delivered by Civil Societies Organizations Authority, Federal Police Commission, Immigration and Nationality Service and Information Network Security Administration. The regulations will be effective after published on Negarit gazette.
The Council discussed the loan agreement signed with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) for the implementation of the Rural Finance Reform Program (Chapter III). The strategy is aimed to get Ethiopian farmers out of subsistence agricultural practices and transform them to a market led economy. The 245 million birr loan agreement to be used for purchase of agricultural inputs and equipment and transportation of products has been approved by the council and sent to the house for approval.
The Council also deliberated on proposed membership of Ethiopia in the Organization of African Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) based on the revised Georgetown agreement and decided to make the country a member of the organization and submitted the resolution to the house for approval.
The Council then discussed with the Civil Society Organization Authority; Federal Police Commission; The Immigration and Naturalization Service and the Information Network Security Administration have approved four draft regulations to determine the fees for various services provided by them.
Council also discussed and then approved six draft regulations to establish Ethiopian Sugar Industry Group comprising Wonji/Shoa, Metehara, Fincha, Kesem and Beles factories and decided to get them implemented after published on Negarit gazette.
Finally, the cabinet members looked at military cooperation agreements with the Republic of Turkey. It is stated on the meeting that Turkey and Ethiopia have been close friends, and the later repeatedly shown commitment to wellbeing of Ethiopia.
Accordingly, the three agreements signed between the two countries during the visit of the Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to Ankara, Turkey in August 2021 have been discussed thoroughly by the Council
The agreements are tailored to create a framework for cooperation between the two nations in education and training, joint military drills, defense industry construction, cyber-attack prevention, peacekeeping, military financial cooperation, and anti-piracy campaigns.
The council approved three bilateral agreements and has sent them to the House of Representatives for further approval.