21-01-2018, Djibouti (Djibouti): The Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), H.E. Amb (Eng) Mahboub Maalim, this morning handed over a cheque worth USD50,000 to the Ambassador of Ethiopia to Djibouti and Chair of the IGAD Committee of Ambassadors, H.E. Shamebo Fitamo, as a voluntary contribution from IGAD staff to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) Project.
Under the initiative of the Executive Secretary, the regional organization had pledged to mobilize USD 250,000 among its staff members as a gesture of support to the GERD Project, among which USD 100,000 were handed over around five years ago.
Amb Maalim assured the audience that the organization will keep delivering on the initial pledge and mobilize the remaining portion shortly. He added that this humble contribution was a testimony of the importance of the GERD Project to the region and to the integration agenda spearheaded by the regional organisation.
“IGAD staff are fully aware of the regional dimension of the GERD Project and do not want to be left behind when it comes to demonstrating their personal commitment to regional development and the well-being of the populations”, he said.
Amb Shamebo announced that the Ethiopian government chose to focus on “government coffer, the contribution of its nationals both at home and abroad, and friends of Ethiopia through purchase of bonds and donations”. He reminded the audience that Ethiopia is already supplying power to neighboring Djibouti and Sudan and that a project was “underway to supply 400 megawatts of electric power to Kenya”.
He also touched on the other various project undertaken by Ethiopia such as the “road, railway and power generation interconnection activities in Ethiopia and beyond” within the agenda of regional integration.
The floor was then open for discussions during which IGAD Executive Secretary encouraged IGAD staff members in attendance to purchase the GERD Project bonds.##
