14 June 2026, ICGEB Director-General Lawrence Banks arrives in Arba Minch, Ethiopia to visit B-INOC partners.
On 14 June 2026, ICGEB Director-General Dr. Lawrence Banks visited Arba Minch University’s Biotechnology Research Facilities as part of his four-day official visit to Ethiopia.
During the visit, Dr. Banks toured the Food and Industrial Biotechnology Laboratory, which houses the Food Quality and Safety Analysis Unit, Fermentation and Food Microbiology Unit, Starter Culture Propagation Unit, and the Enset Starter Culture Mass Production Facility. He also visited the Rhizobiology Laboratory, Medical Entomology and Vector Control Laboratories, and the Enset Product Showroom, where ongoing research and innovation activities were showcased.
Dr. Teklu Wogayehu, Vice President for Research and Cooperation, said the Director-General’s visit marks an important milestone in elevating the long-standing collaboration between Arba Minch University and ICGEB into a broader strategic partnership. He noted that the visit would help expand cooperation into additional research areas and fields of study.
He expressed appreciation to ICGEB for its continued financial and technical support, reaffirming the University’s commitment to further strengthening the partnership and implementing the recommendations put forward by Dr. Banks and his team.
In his remarks, Dr. Banks congratulated Arba Minch University for the remarkable achievements registered so far in biotechnology research and innovation. He commended the University for effectively utilising the support provided by ICGEB and encouraged it to establish a strong diagnostic facility capable of providing specialised services and generating revenue. He also advised the University to offer consultancy and analytical services using its advanced facilities to ensure the sustainability of these achievements and support it in becoming a research-led autonomous university.
Briefing the Director-General, Dr. Addisu Fekadu, biotechnology researcher and Enset Project Coordinator, indicated that the lab’s analytical and human resource capacities have significantly improved following ICGEB’s support. He emphasised that, beyond financial assistance, the technical expertise and guidance provided by the ICGEB team were instrumental in establishing the state-of-the-art facilities in line with international standards.
The visit highlighted the growing research and innovation capacity of Arba Minch University and the achievements realised through the ICGEB-supported B-INOC project and is expected to increase cooperation between the two institutions and create new opportunities for researchers and students while advancing science-driven solutions for sustainable development.
