The Ethiopian Institutional Success Award will strengthen cooperation and competitiveness, officials of institutions, who received the award yesterday from Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed during a ceremony, held at the Adwa Victory Memorial yesterday said.

Prime Minister Abiy honored five institutions/projects with the Ethiopian Institutional Success Award, celebrating their significant achievements and global impact.

The distinguished awardees include the Ministry of Agriculture’s wheat program, Ethiopian Airlines, Ethio Post, Ethio Telecom, and the GERD Project, each a testament to Ethiopia’s growth and innovation.

Officials of the institutions said that the recognition not only motivates them on to greater efforts, but also sets an example for other institutions.

Kifle Horo, General Manager of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) project, said the award has given recognition not only to the project but also to all Ethiopians.

Moreover, he elaborated that the honor will create motivation and encourage
all institutions to work hard in their respective fields.

Ethiopian Airlines CEO Mesfin Tasew said on his part the award gives morale to the employees who work day and night for the success of the airlines.

The recognition will help to create robust and viable institutions at the national level as it encourages other institutions to intensify efforts for successful achievements, he added.

The CEO of Ethio-Telecom, Frehiwot Tamru said that following the national reform, the institution has carried out many activities to provide better and effective services to its customers.

Thus, the award not only recognizes achievements, but also creates inspiration to do better works in the future, she elaborated.

Minister of Agriculture, Girma Amente stated that the successes registered in wheat production in recent years demonstrates the fact that effective work can be accomplished by creating a better plan and incorporating all relevant parties.

The award has given recognition to all Ethiopian farmers and pastoral
ists, the minister added.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said on the awarding ceremony that the institutions were awarded for doing work that made them competitive at the continental level.

He also stated that the awards given to the institutions stimulate them to do more in the future.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI), Kericho Branch, has pledged to assist women and youths in the County access low interest loans, to support or start small scale businesses.

Addressing the media, KNCCI Kericho Branch Chairman, Mr. Robinson Bett, said women and youths will also be assisted with trainings and orientations on securing their loans for their intended businesses.

‘Kericho KNCCI Branch has secured some funds to facilitate women and youths, to start small scale businesses. The secured funds being dispersed through an initiative dubbed Jiinue Programme, targeting youths and women. The loan being offered has a low interest rate of 0.8 per cent, which range from Sh 3,000 to Sh 200,000,’ said Bett.

He revealed that KNCCI is geared to assist youths and women, conduct their businesses in a conducive business environment.

The Kericho KNCCI Chair, urged the youths and women as well as traders to apply for the loans, where they will undergo vetting, before dispersal of the loans
, while urging those who become successful in securing the loan, to utilise the monies well and repay back on time.

‘We have our database, which helps us weed-out those unscrupulous business persons whose repayment records are objectionable,’ he said.

Mr. Bett was speaking during a training session for a group of youths drawn from the six Sub-counties in Kericho, notably; Ainamoi, Belgut, Londiani, Kipkelion, Soin/Sigowet and Bureti Sub-counties held at a Kericho hotel.

The capacity building trainings on entrepreneurship were facilitated by Ketepa Sacco, ABSA Bank among others.

Source: Kenya News Agency