The executive secretary made the statement after meeting with Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi in Addis Ababa, reported New Business Ethiopia.

Ethiopia will be the 44th African nation to join ACBF, which was established in 1991. The minimum fee for African country to be a member of the foundation is $250,000 for one strategic season, according to Dr. Frannie Leautier.

Even though, Ethiopia was not a member of this foundation, the Ethiopian Economic Association and Ethiopian Development Research Institute have benefited from the ACBF financing, according to the Executive Secretary.

“Accepting request of Minster Meles, we are now going to support the manufacturing and textile sectors of Ethiopia by building of the managerial skills of professionals in these sectors, she said.

The African Development Bank, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the United Nations development Program and bilateral donors are also members of the foundation contributing from one million USD to 50 million for one strategic season.

Currently the foundation, which is based in Harare, Zimbabwe, is finalizing its fist strategic season (20 years).

According to the information obtained from the foundation’s official website, through grant making the foundation channels financial support to capacity building to strengthen the core public sector.

It also supports regional initiatives in the area of specialized training, policy analysis, applied policy research, negotiation and policy advocacy.