Millennium Festival success hinges on grassroots participation: Deputy PM
Addis Ababa, March 09, 2007 - Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Addisu Legese said the Council of Ministers is undertaking extensive activities to facilitate Ethiopian millennium celebration colorfully. The first meeting of the executive committee the Ethiopian Millennium Festival National Council (EMFNC) has approved a 10.6 million Birr budget and a new logo for the millennium. While opening the meeting here on Thursday, Addisu, who is also Chairman of the Executive Committee of EMFNC, said massive efforts are being carried out to celebrate the millennium in way that helps build the country’s image and bring about sustainable development.
Addisu said the executive committee, the council and the public at large should exert massive efforts to achieve the national goals attached with the millennium celebration. The EMFNC and the executive committee are entrusted with a national responsibility of coordinating resource, knowledge, labor and other assistance from the public thereby help facilitate building of democratic society, bringing about national consensuses and ensure good governance.
EMFNC Director Seyoum Bereded on his part said the council has undertaken successful activities in organizing its structure, amending its strategic and action plans.
He said over 36 projects that reflect the objectives of the millennium celebration have been designed of which 17 have been evaluated and identified for implementation by the council while the remaining would be implemented by pertinent organs.
The council has set plans to raise more than 203 million Birr from sponsors and various fund raising activities, he said.
Syoum said public’s awareness on the millennium celebration is steadily increasing.
Agreements have been reached with ten Ethiopian enterprises which the council has nominated to sponsor its activities he, said.
The executive committee meeting has endorsed 10.6 million Birr budget for the council and the implementation of the 36 projects identified and presented to it by the council.
The meeting also approved the amended two-year strategic plan of the council and the fund raising activities and plans of the council.
The meeting also adopted the new logo of Ethiopian millennium which has been designed by seven renowned Ethiopian artists following the request forwarded from the public.
(ENA)
