The UK Department for International Development (DFID) announced on Wednesday that it would provide development assistance of 2.5 billion Birr over the next year to help Ethiopia achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
UK Ambassador to Ethiopia, Norman Ling told a press conference held here that his country would support Ethiopia's effort to meet the MDGs by reducing poverty.
The assistance to be provided to Ethiopia is greater than any development assistance UK is providing to any other African country, according to the Ambassador.
He said the support would be continued in a strengthened manner.
Head of DFID in Ethiopia, Paul Ackroyd for his part said Ethiopia has seen economic progress since 2000.
'But if Ethiopia is to meet any of the MDGs it needs additional financing from donors, he said and added that the UK is fully committed in providing this as today's announcement of 2.5 billion Birr funding fir this year shows,' he said.
Over the past four years DFID's programs in Ethiopia have been supporting to build democracy, promote long-term growth and make education, health, agriculture, water and sanitation services better and more widely available.
The head said the department would utilize the current development assistance for the continuation of those activities and support the nation's poverty alleviation efforts.
The Department has supported various development projects by providing 2.7 billion Birr over the past two years.
UK would provide all the necessary support for the enhancement of ongoing development activities in Ethiopia through DFID, he added.
DFID is the UK government department responsible for leading the government's fight against world poverty.