Eritrea Online / Dehai Homepage
1. Regional Director of the World Bank, Ms. Oey Astra Meesook, has said
"Eritrea is in the top 5% of nations that enjoy excellent relations with the Bank." In an interview she gave to Eritrean radio, Meesook affirmed that "Eritrea has shown rapid economic growth in the past few years." The regional director noted that there has been visible development and progress in Eritrea's policies towards the private sector and that Eritrea's utilization of physical and human resources is exemplary. Ms. Meesook stated that the Bank's favorable view of Eritrea's progress has allowed the Bank to increase, by three-fold, soft loans extended to Eritrea. The World Bank has also appointed a resident representative to Asmara in order to foster existing good relations between Eritrea and the Bank.
2. President Isaias yesterday received the new American ambassador to Eritrea, Mr. William Clarke, and held talks with Swedish, Egyptian and Qatari ambassadors. President Isaias explained Eritrea's position on mediation attempts aimed at peacefully resolving the current border conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia. The president asked the international community to seriously consider the human rights violations being committed by the Ethiopian government.
3. The Commercial Bank of Eritrea has loaned 1.8 billion nakfa to investors this year said the Commercial Bank manager, Yemane Tesfai. The manager said that over the last nine months, the Commercial Bank has lent 192.5 million nakfa to more than a thousand first-time applicants in diverse ventures. Another 28,000 have opened accounts and have saved
260 million nakfa. The Commercial Bank now has fifteen branches and plans to open another two branches.
Veronica Rentmeesters, Information Officer
Embassy of Eritrea to the US
1708 New Hampshire Ave NW, Washington DC 20009, USA TEL: 202 588 7587 FAX: 202 319 1304
E-M: veronicX@embassyeritrea.org