Addis Ababa: Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said the reforms made on institutions have enabled to create competitive institutions at continental level. The premier made the remark at the award ceremony at Adwa Victory Memorial Museum to honor five institutions today. The PM said on the occasion that the institutions were awarded for doing work that made them competitive at the continental level. Noting that success is not a goal but a journey that continues with needs, Abiy stressed that the awards given to the institutions stimulate them to do more in the future. The prime minister recalled that Ethiopia was one of the African countries that imported much wheat. The country has now become the leading wheat producing country in Africa with the work done in a short period of time, he said, adding that the Ministry of Agriculture has played a major role in this success. Similarly, he pointed out that Ethiopian Airlines was able to continue as a competitive institution by performing actions that redeemed the se ason when faced by COVID-19 pandemic. According to him, the airline is currently a huge institution that dominates Africa in the field and the recent acquisition of aircraft and terminal expansion works will further enhance its competitiveness. Following the reform, Ethio telecom has also more than doubled the number of customers and has now over 76 million customers. The number of Tele Birr users has reached 43 million. Abiy underscored that the recognition given to the institution will create incentive to build capacities in the sectors. Ethio Post was able to be effective in a short period by implementing reform works. The PM pointed out that the institution has not only come out of bankruptcy, but has been able to become a model on a continental level in some of its procedures. The leaders and employees of the institution have contributed a lot to this, he stated. Abiy further noted that the reform works done on the construction of the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam are a demonstration of the effe ctiveness of institutional reform. Passing through the challenges, the history of the dam construction process has been accomplished. He said the dam will be a center of regional integration in the continent. Winners of the Ethiopian Institutional Success Award are Ministry of Agriculture's wheat program, Ethiopian Airlines, Ethio Post, Ethio Telecom, and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) project. Source: Ethiopian News Agency Prime Minister Ahmed Hachani chaired a small cabinet meeting dedicated to the preparations of the 2024-2025 academic year, on Tuesday at the Government Palace in Kasbah. The meeting discussed the readiness of the National Company of Cellulose and Alpha Paper to fulfil its role in paper industry, so that other stakeholders can provide subsidised textbooks and school supplies on time. Emphasis was placed at the meeting on the importance of ensuring the proper distribution of subsidised textbooks and providing them in sufficient quantities, in order to resist monopolies and ensure a start of academic year under the best conditions. The Prime Minister stressed the need for optimal preparations for the success of the next school year. The cabinet meeting was attended by Finance Minister Sihem Boughdiri Nemsia, Minister of Social Affairs Malek Zahi, Minister of Economy and Planning Feriel Ouerghi Sebai, Minister of Trade and Export Development Kalthoum Ben Rejeb, Minister of Industry, Mines, and Energy Fatma Th abet Chiboub, and Minister of Education Mohamed Ali Boughdiri. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse