Multi-stakeholders Forum on benefits and Cost of Cooperation Nile Kicks Off

Addis Ababa, April 14, 2011 (Addis Ababa, ENA) - A Multi-stakeholders Forum on Benefits and Costs of Cooperation got underway here on Friday.

Addressing the forum, Water and Energy State Minister, Kebede Gerba urged all stakeholders to utilize international forums, regional; discourse to promote Ethiopia’s interest, emphasizing equitable utilization, exclusive nature of existing agreements, need for the international community to play an impartial and fair role.

He also called on to facilitate the emergence of conducive environment and awareness creation with in cross-border downstream communities in the Sudan and Egypt that the development of the Millennium Hydro Electric Project is to their benefit.

The state minister also stressed that need for educating down stream cross border communities about the environment and livelihood challenges in Ethiopia.

He said Ethiopia’s development and poverty reduction efforts are functions of wise and optimal utilization of the country’s water resources.

In this regard, he said, the Ethiopian Nile that consists of the Abay, the Baro-kobo and the Tekeze-Mereb basins is a strategic resource for Ethiopia as it has significant economic values.

Ethiopia always recognizes that the Nile is a shared resource and such should be equitably utilized, sustainably developed and managed for the socio-economic development of all the riparian countries.

The key objectives of the forum are update stockholders on the current programs of NBD, Nile River Basin cooperation process, the International strengthening Program (ISP) and developments in Easter Nile Subsidiary Action Program (ENSAP).

Dialogue on the actual and potential positive impact of the Sub-Regional Power Interconnection and Watershed Management Projects on local communities are also the aim of the forum.