Addis Ababa,July 29(ENA)--Small-scale and petty businesses who can show rapid growth and fulfill the set criteria would be given primray attention to get loan from Project Support Office, the project head said.

The Head, Wolle Chekol said 70 million Birr was secured from the European

Commission in December 2002 in support of small-scale and petty businesses.

Briefing journalists here on Tuesday at the assembly hall of the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce, Wolle said the fund would be used for the strengthening of small-scale and petty businesses, which have a significant contribution in the economic development of the country.

The business firms operating in Addis Ababa, Nazreth, Aawassa, Dire Dawa, Bahir Dar, Harer and Mekelle would benefit from the loan, he said.

An agreement providing for monitoring the utilization of the stated sum was signed among the office, the Ethiopian Chamber of commerce and the Ethiopian Producers Industrial Association.

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