Tuesday, March 19, 2024
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Ethiopia up to the challenge, PM says

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Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed presented his report to parliament last week. He talked about reform measures taken as well as security, intelligence, diplomacy and the economy.
Internal displacement, polarized ethnic conflicts, mob justice, religious conflict, contraband trade, and economic sabotage were discussed in his speech. He then addressed questions raised by lawmakers.
He said the economy should grow by 9.2 percent, which is an increase over the 7.7 percent of the previous year.
He said that the last three years of unrest had damaged the economy but that on average it still grew by 8.6 percent.
Even though this year one million jobs were created there are over 10 million unemployed and 2 million join the workforce every year.
The government plans to change the scenario by engaging more private companies. Currently the private sector creates 20 percent of Ethiopia’s jobs.
For the next fiscal year, the government intensively plans to create three million new jobs.
Endeavors like the Eagle Hill Leghar projects, parking lots which have 60 a meter underground tunnel connected to the grand palace, heritage projects. The Adwa Museum planned adjacent to Minilik Square at the cost of 4.6 million birr, the land mark city library which is believed to accommodate 20 thousand people will be built in front of the Parliament building at a cost of 1.1 billion birr will all create new jobs the PM said.
His government is also doing its best to find jobs abroad for professional and semi-skilled personnel.
Revenue collection must also be improved he said. For the last 11 months, the government collected only 178.8 billion birr but hopes to collect 189 billion birr.
The Prime Minister also talked about inflation which skyrocketed to 16.2 percent in May. He said the government is investigating by establishing a committee chaired by the deputy, planning and development commission, and members from different ministries.
The privatization process is being conducted in three stages by establishing supervisory bodies and valuing assets. In this regards Ethio-telecom, Sugar factories are placed in the first line while power generation plants, railways and logistics are planned in the second phase.
Ethiopian Airlines and Industrial parks will be in the final stages.
“Although there are a lot of challenges that the country has encountered, we will transcend it,” the Prime Minister said confidently.

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