Ethiopia's ministry of education has awarded Indian media house Laxmi Publications a contract to print and distribute textbooks and teacher training guides.

The ministry had issued a tender for the publication of civics and ethical education textbooks and guides for high school students, which attracted nine international and local companies.

Laxmi Publications was selected for its offer of $1.44 million, as this was the lowest offer that met all the criteria, officials said.

Ruwi Modern Printers of India offered the highest price of $4.87 million. But the offer was rejected at the initial bid process itself for its failure to submit the $30,000 needed for bid security, officials said.

Even though the lowest financial offer of $1.19 million was submitted by Pitambra Books, also from India, it could not meet the technical requirements, officials said.