Ethiopian Review

Addis Ababa – Chief administrator of the Gambella state said the development cooperation between Gambella and SNNP states is yielding fruit.

Chief of Gambella state, Umod Ubong told WIC that the nine month performance evaluation verified that the joint development activities being carried out by the two neighboring states are progressing well.

He said the development cooperation the two states carried out in capacity building, water, mines and energy, health, agriculture and rural development, security and administration sectors are benefiting residents of Gambella state. He said series of capacity building training focusing on ways of implementing business process reengineering (BPR) was offered for 35 senior officials drawn from 35 sectoral offices of the two states. Folowing the efforts made to strengthen the state’s water, mines and energy development bureau, study on underground water resources of the state was conducted in 15 localities of Itang, Abobo, Gog and Dimma woredas of the state. Some 90 percent of the study has been completed so far, he added. Awareness raising education was carried out with a view to modernizing the traditional production and marketing system of gold in the state, he said.

According to Umod, activities are also underway to begin agricultural extension training at farmers’ training centers. He said the two states are jointly organizing trainings on livestock and fishery development, disease control, laboratory and human resource organization, among others.

Moreover, the two states are working together on ways of implementing farmers’ resettlement programs and alleviating security problems across borders of the two states.

- WIC