The Council of Ministers has approved the 2018–2022 Medium-Term Macroeconomic and Fiscal Framework, which will guide next year’s budget, focusing on strategic revenue generation and resource allocation. Two international financing agreements were also endorsed: a 49.55 million dollar loan from the Arab Bank for African Economic Development to support youth employment around agro-industrial parks, and a 45.1 million Special Drawing Right (SDR) loan from the International Development Association to improve healthcare services for women and girls. Both are aligned with the national debt management strategy and will be sent to parliament for ratification. In labour and regulatory matters, the Council ratified a new regulation setting service fees for foreign employment agencies, aiming to balance affordability with cost recovery. It also referred two draft proclamations to parliament: a revised foreign employment law to protect Ethiopian workers abroad, and a Plant Protection and Quarantine Proclamation to modernise pest control systems and align plant trade with global standards.

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