Eritrea: Land ofCan-Do People!

ERI-NEWS
Bi-Weekly Newsletter
Permanent Mission of the State of Eritrea to AU
and UNECA
Press Section

Cabinet of Ministers Discussed Work Plan for 2016

National Service: A toolfor EconomicDevelopment, National
Cohesion and theDefence of Sovereignty

Vol 2. Issue 45
07 December 2015
Inside Pages:
Eritrea
Participated at Valletta
Summit on
3
Migration
Flydubai to Launch 2
Pictorial
Eritrea’s Transition
Reportage of
3from the MDGs to theEritrean Festivals 5SDGs
4

The Eritrean Cabinet of Ministers
conducted a two-day meeting at State
House in the capital, Asmara, on the19th and 20th of November 2015. The
meeting assessed the grain harvest
situation in 2015 and the reportpresented by the Ministry of Local
Government regarding development
programs of the six Administrative
regions for 2016.
The meeting noted that in view of theinadequacy of rains this year, the harvest output would be lower than thatof 2014. It reached understanding on
the measures that need to be taken
regarding grain supply and basic consumer items, as well as animal feed
thereof.
The Ministerial Cabinet conducted
deliberations on ensuring food security, construction of agricultural infrastructure, enrichment of water resources, soil and water conservation,

promoting forestry and relatedresources, effective land administrationon the part of the Administrativeregions.
In connection with the redemption of
the Nakfa currency notes incirculation, the Ministerial Cabinet
pointed out that the step was takenwith a view to strengthening thenational currency, and thereby thenational economy.
Moreover, the meeting discussed theaction plan of the ministries and different public agencies for 2016. This
involves the strengthening of activities
to ensure food security, promoteanimal husbandry and harness fisheryresources.
In the domain of infrastructure development, it held deliberation on the construction of new roads and renovationof the existing ones, development ofVol 2. Issue 45, 07 December 2015

AU delegation visited
Eritrea
4Mitigating Climate
Change: Eritrea’s
Concrete Action as Part 5of the Global Effort
Eritrean community
festival in Qatar

Contact Addresses:
Tel: +251-116620052
Fax:+251-116620011
Email:eritreanaumission@
gmail.com
P.o.Box: 5527
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Eritrean Mission toAU& ECA@EritreaAU5Page 2Eri-News....Cabinet of Ministers Discussed Work Plan for 2016
ports, expanding water reservoirs and irrigational
capacity, housing projects and service-rendering
facilities, among others.

capacity of the health workers, activities that havebeen made to deliver the basic medicines and equipment, the investment made to build small and big
health facilities, the efforts made to control diseases

As regards the energy and mining sectors, the Cabinet of Ministers reviewed action plans pertaining to
the expansion of national electrification program,enhancing the capacity of energy generating plants,
in addition to investment plans relating to the development of mining capacity, coupled with developing
technological capability in mining processing, alongwith expanding alternative energy sources such as
solar and wind resources.
The Ministerial Cabinet went on to discuss thepolicies and work guidelines in connection with theeffective administration of land, water and environmental resources.
Concerning the tourism sector, it underlined the needto enhance the capacity of the workforce throughorganizing training programs with a view to adequately harness the nation’s rich tourism potentials.
On transport and communication sector, the meeting
reviewed programs drawn up vis-à-vis the reinforcement of land transport facilities, renovation of sea
ports and air ports, including terminals and relatedfacilities.
Furthermore, the Cabinet of Ministers conducted discussion on activities relating to trade and industry. It
reviewed activities dealing with domestic and foreign
trade, import and export ventures. It also assessed theprogress registered in the manufacturing sector.
The meeting discussed the need of assessing the development projects funded by partners and their impact on the strategic national development programs
aimed at improving the livelihood of the population.
With regard to the health sector, the Cabinet of Ministers discussed the progress registered in the training
and recruiting process to upgrade the professional

as well as the action plan for the year 2016.
As regards the education sector, the Ministerial Cabinet reviewed the expansion of education services,
improvement of education capacity as well as popularparticipation and the progress registered thereof, inaddition to availability of educational materials. It
also discussed the institutional capacity, information
management system, vocational training, follow-up in
students’ health, educational services for the disabled,
development of education in the mother tongue,
illiteracy eradication, as well as establishment ofprinting press, supervision activities and othereducation-related issues.
Moreover, the Ministerial Cabinet discussed theaction plan of the Ministry of Labor and HumanWelfare as regards activities undertaken to ensuresocial wellbeing and nurturing the spirit of selfreliance. It also discussed the action plan for the year
2016 that includes social support programs and theestablishment of information system.
In the domain of justice, it conducted discussion on
the activities being conducted to deliver effective andtimely justice, the agitation programs to acquaint thesociety with the new national laws, action plan for theyear 2015 including institutional capacity and the provision of services, professional ethics of courts, establishment of an inspection unit and training center, as
well as human resources development.

Vol 2. Issue 45, 07 December 2015

Page 3Eri-News....Cabinet of Ministers Discussed Work Plan for 2016

Concerning the media activities, the Ministerial
Cabinet discussed the procedures being undertaken
to improve the work of the media revising theorganizational structure of the Ministry of Information, and the technology development, training
programs and research activities.
In the concluding phase of its meeting, theMinisterial Cabinet heard briefings by President
Isaias Afwerki with regard to the priority budget
allocation for the year 2016. The President said thatin 2016 priority budgetary allocation will be given tohuman resources disbursement.
In accordance with the ongoing research being
conducted the new salary system will also be put into
practice. In connection with that, the President calledfor the speedy completion of study being conducted
to identify the professional and physical capacity
within the country and put in place the structuring andrestructuring programs.
In the concluding phase of its two days meeting, theEritrea Participated at Valletta Summit on Migration
complex and multi-faceted challenges of migration”, the Foreign Minister underlined.
Mr. Osman described in greater detail the external
push factors that had fueled, in recent years theinordinate and illegal youth migration from Eritrea.
This has harmed Eritrea as well as the destination
countries, the Foreign Minister emphasized.

A senior Eritrean Government composed of theForeign Minister, Mr. Saleh Osman, and Mr.
Yemane Ghebreab, Head of PFDJ Political Affairs,participated at the Valletta Summit on Migrationthat was held from 11-12 November this week.
In his address to the Summit, Minister Osman statedthat the “issue of migration has featured prominently on the joint agenda of Africa and Europe”. TheValetta Summit was quite different from previous
gatherings “as there is now a palpable sense ofurgency and determination both in Africa andEurope, a greater understanding on the pressing
need for a genuine partnership to address the vital,

Eritrea has made slow but steady progress in healthand education and achieved most of the Millennium
Development Goals. The prospects for a new phaseof sustained economic growth as a result of
substantial investments made in the past years on
human capital, agriculture and infrastructure, among
others, Minister Osman explained.
The Valletta Summit ended with a plan of action
and EU pledges of 2.2 billion dollars of development assistance.
Full text of his statement can be accessed at http://
www.shabait.com/news/local-news/20755-statement-of-heosman-saleh

Vol 2. Issue 45, 07 December 2015

Page 4Eri-News

Eritrea’s Transition from the MDGs to the SDGs
Aspartofthecommemorations to mark the70th anniversary of theUnited Nations, the UN inEritrea hosted an event on
Eritrea’s transi-tion from theMillennium Develop-ment
Goals (MDGs) to the Sustain-able Development Goals (SDGs) on 12th Nov 2015.
The event was held under the theme, “Transitionfrom MDGs to SDGs: What does it mean forEritrea?” provided a platform for discussion on what
the transition from the MDGs to the SDGs means forEritrea.
Government officials, UN staff, development
partners and representatives of research andacademic institutions gathered at the Eritrean
Worker’s Union and engaged in a lively discussion
covering issues such as the sustainability of Eritrea’s
success in the health-related MDGs and approaches
to replicate this success in achievement of other areasof the SDGs.

College of Businessand Economics inHalhale.
The Government ofEritrea and the UN
are currently in thepenultimate year of
it’s the four-year Strategic Partnership Cooperation
Frame-work (SPCF 2013-2016) and have alreadycommenced preparations for the development of a
new five-year partnership of cooperation (20172021) which will incorporate Eritrea’s national
development plans and the SDGs.
AU delegation visited Eritrea
A delegation of the African Union Commission
conducted is on a four-day visit from Dec. 1-4/2015 toEritrea for extensive discussions with relevant government bodies on the “Domestication of Agenda 2063
and the First Ten Year Implementation Plan”.

The AU delegation held meetings with the Minister ofNational Development, the Minister of Transport andDuring the occasion, UN Resident and Humanitarian Communications, as well as with senior officials fromCoordinator in Eritrea, Mrs. Christine N. Umutoni the Ministries of Finance, Information and the Auditor
expressed the opportunity of the event to look General’s Office.
Eritrea’s achievements over the past 15 years of theMDGs and see how we can build upon these The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the AU delegasuccesses while looking at how to go forward with tion jointly organized a workshop on the same theme
the implementation of the SDGs in Eritrea. She in Asmara yesterday for a wider audience from several
further added the UN commitment in strengthening government bodies and civil society associations.
its partnership with the Government of Eritreatowards achieving the SDG.
The AU delegation also visited several private
enterprises in Asmara.
The event was allured with panel discussion
moderated by Dr.Luka Okumu of the United Nations As it will be recalled, President Isaias Afwerki had
in Eritrea, with a keynote address from Prof. articulated Eritrea’s views on AU Agenda 2063 in theAbraham Kidane of the Ministry of National Devel- publication of AU Heads of State and Government
opment and a presentation on Eritrea’s perspective of issued on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of thethe SDGs by Dr. Ghiorgis Tekle of the College of Union in 2013.
Business and Economics in Eritrea. This was supple- Article contributed by President Isaias Afwerki can bemented with a presentation on the student perspective accessed at http://www.shabait.com/news/local-news/20846-auof the SDGs by Ms. Deborah Tedros, also from the -delegation-visits-eritrea
Vol 2. Issue 45, 07 December 2015

Page 5Eri-News

Mitigating Climate Change: Eritrea’s Concrete Action as Part of the Global Effort
On 18th Nov 2015, a conference on ClimateChange was held in Asmara. This conference wasorganized with the collaboration Eritrea’s Ministry of Land, Water and Environment and the Delegation of European Union in Eritrea and attended by Ministers, Government officials, Membersof the EU in Eritrea, diplomats and invited guests.
During the event, various papers were presented
and deliberation were also made in addressing themeans of tackling climate change.
On the occasion, Minister of Land, Water andEnviroment, Mr. Tesfai Ghebreslasie underscoredEritrea’s full commitment in tackling direconsequence of climate change. He further elucidated the concrete steps Eritrea has implementedin addressing this concern. In this regard, theMinister mentioned the reforestation program,the drafting of national environmental protection
policies and the limitation of any environmental
hazard with outmost efforts. Moreover, he
informed Eritrea’s submission of its Intended
Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC)
document to the Secretariat of UNFCCC as partof its international effort to mitigate global warming and climate change. A full text of Minister
Tesfai’s remark can be accessed at
http://www.shabait.com/news/local-news/20794-remarks-by-tesfai-ghebreselassie-minister-of-land-water-a-environment

During the event, The Head of Delegation of the European Union in Eritrea, Ambassador of ChristianManahl pointed out Eritrea’s strong conviction to theusage of renewable energy and his organization
readiness to be key partner this regard. In this line, heindicated Eritrea’s National Indicative Program, thatis the framework for Eritrea-EU cooperation for theupcoming year, has received a favorable opinion fromEU Member states, and more than 80% of the funds
from his program amounting for €175 million willbe allocated to renewable energy and energy
efficiency.
Following this, Ambassador of France to Eritrea, Mr.
Stephane Gruenberg, gave a briefing on thepreparation of the Paris Summit on Climate Change(COP 21).
Beside this, Papers were presented by Eritrean experts
from the Ministries of Agriculture, NationalDevelopment, as well as the Ministry of Land, Waterand Environment highlighted Eritrea’s policies andstrategies on climate change as well as efforts beingexerted in the country as part of the overall national
development programs. In addition to this, a paper on
the Development of Cooperation Programs and theirrelation on Climate change was also presented by theEU delegation.

Eritrean community festival in Qatar
The 7th Eritrean community festival in Qatar
commences
on19thNovember under thetheme“OurUnityGuarantee for Our Existence”. The opening ceremony was attended byBrig. Gen. Abraha Kasa,
head of the National Security Agency, General
Administrator of theQatari Security, Gen. Jasim Al-Kalifa, Eritrean Ambassador in Qatar, Mr. Ali Ibrahim, as well as otherinvited guests.
The annual festival will be highlighted with exhibitions depicting the tradition, natural resources and history of the Eritrean people as well as cultural showsand seminars on the current situation in the homeland.
The cultural troupe from Eritrea comprising renowned
singers added color to the festival.

Vol 2. Issue 45, 07 December 2015