Historical background

Tigrai is the Northernmost of Ethiopians federal states located at 12o15 -4o57 longitude and 36o27- 39o59 latitude.  The State of Tigrai shares common borders with Eritrea in the north, the State of Afar in the east, the State of Amhara in the south, and the Republic of the Sudan in the west. Excluding Mekelle town, the state capital, there are four administrative zones: Western; Central; Eastern and Southern; comprising a total of 36 weredas (districts) and 620 tabias (sub-districts).

Tigrai is the mother of all civilizations in the horn of Africa It is the Source of the Geez fidel Christainity and Islam. Tigrai is the land of Qdoos Yaryed, Axum, Yeha and Wuqro Negash. Tigrai is the land of dauntless Emperors such as:Ezana, Kaleb, Armaha, Abraha, Elamda, ZeraYakob... Yowhaness; Ras Alula, General Hayelom and much more. Tigrai is The home of the Ark of the covenant, the land of the Just, brave, free and fair. We have nothing to apologize, be sorry  or fear for in our history, but we have everything to be proud.

  Economical Achievements Since 1991:
About 83% of the population are farmers. Taff, wheat, corn, sorghum, barely flaxseed and sesame are the main crops. Other agricultural products include pulses, beans, lentils, onions, vegetables and fruits and potatoes. Irrigation and terrace farming are used on the steep slopes. The region is also known for its export items of cotton, incense, sesame and minerals. 1.5 million hectares of land in the region is cultivable, of which one million hectares is being cultivated, while 420,877 hectares of land is terraced. Handicraft (gold smith, painting and wood sculptures) is another area of activity observed in the historic cities of the state.
  Industry:
Industry is still minimal but growing, some of the industry include an equipment manufacturing and industrial engineering company called Mesfin Industrial Engineering MIE where a  wide range of products is manufactured at its industrial complex (35,000 m2 covered premises on a 120,000 m2 site), which is fully equipped with the state-of-the art machinery. It employs 600 well-trained industrial workers including designers, technologists, welders and quality assurance experts.It designs, manufactures and installs equipment and components for the energy, mining, manufacturing transport and agriculture sectors. With an annual capacity of 3,000 trailers and semi-trailers, MIE is the biggest trailer manufacturer in East Africa. It designs and manufactures vehicle bodies, trailers, as well as high & low-bed semi-trailers. Heavy-duty trucks are assembled at the Truck Assembly Plant in Mekelle. These trucks are especially suited for the road conditions in Africa and are competitively priced. MIE's product range includes inter-city and city buses, skip-loaders, and waste and sewer cleaners for the municipal services.
The second major victory of our struggle is to achieve economical power developed within the region and the very significant achievement is to build the mesebo cement factory located in the heart of the region to the contrary of our predecessors telling us that our region has nothing to contribute to the nation. at this time mesebo cement factory is not only supplying the region efficiently it is also contributing it share to ease the shortage of cement in the nation at large. There are also other significant  achievements such as the adigrat pharmaceutical factory , a textiles factory, a laeser tanning factory, a marble cutting factory, a flour mill factory, a nail factory , a water puerfication factory, and a small shoe factory are some of them. Most new enterprises are small and medium scale. The industrial including Mining and quarry manufacturing has grown in four years by 24.7%, which incorporates water, electric and construction activities. Power supply until recently was dependent on generators, however, by the 1998 summer, the scheme to connect the region to the national grid was completed. The Tekeze project which is expected to generate about 310 mega watt will improve power supply of the state. Likewise the  telecommunications have also improved over the past few years connecting the major cities.
  INVESTMENT:
The state of Tigrai has created favourable conditions and incentives in order to attract investors. So far, until the beginning of 1998, there were 361 projects with a capital of 4 billion Ethiopian Birr. These projects focus mainly on agriculture, industry, hotel and tourism, social services, mining, construction and transport. About 200,138 persons will benefit from the job opportunity created by these projects. The state also has large farming areas suitable for the production of cash crops such as cotton and different kinds of oilseeds. The Tigrai Regional State, Industry and Trade office has prepared industrial investment opportunity studies for potential private investors in the Region.
  Education:
Education services are improving since the war ends up in 1991. As of 2006 there are 113 pre school, 1323 primary, and 54 secondary high schools; 54 Community colleges including 1 teacher training institute; 2 technical schools; 1 business college; I nursing school , 1 agricultural college and 1 university with three campuses Which includes a medical school at Ayder campus, business school at adi haki campus and the main campus at enda Iyesooss which, can accommodate 15000 students.Visit www.mu.edu.et According to the ministry of education a second university in the city of Axsum will be inaugurate in the year 2007. over all the state of tigray will have sufficient colleges and universities to accommodate the the state and beyond. Gross and net enrollment rate in primary schools increased from 43.71% to 98.8%.
  Health:
Health coverage in Tigrai was one of the lowest in Ethiopia. Only 12% of the society was getting some health benefits. Luck of health was used as a systematic tool to keep the people under developed by the central governments in the past. Health coverage was very minimal or it did not exist in most parts of the State before 1991. Since 1991 after the TPLF took power in Tigrai, the number of health posts or small clinics increase from 100 to 600, small hospitals from 10 to 40, central hospitals from 4 to 13 and one referral hospitals were built and are giving service to the public. The health coverage in this state from 1991 to 2006 grew from 12% to 70% and still growing.

Thanks to  The gallant TPLF fighters who made history. We will remember them forever!!! Glory to them.

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