By Tsehaye Debalkew, Washington D.C.
Tigrai Onlne - March 20, 2014
It is heartwarming to learn that significant development gains that Ethiopia has registered over the past three consecutive years implementing the much avowed Growth and Transformation Plan /GTP/ were corroborated and hailed by good wishers far and near recently.
It is in order to cite here that friends of Ethiopia who sincerely expressed their appreciation by commending the leadership of Ethiopia for placing its people on a development path that will surely be remembered as one of the inspirational examples of the African renaissance.
These friends of the nation in their commendation did not hesitate to mention the initiator and the driver that has steered the nation towards the sure path of prosperity, the late PM Meles Zenawi and applaud the uninterrupted policy continuity under the stewardship of Premier Haile Mariam Desalegn.
The numbers on progress in Health, Education, infrastructure and water supply were the ones that captured their attention. Thus they quickly confirmed their confidence that the current on-going momentum will surely enable Ethiopia achieve most of the MDGs by 2015.
The foregoing observation is perhaps in tune with the full fledged onslaught that the government and the entire people of Ethiopia have initiated through the venue of the GTP to traverse the long and arduous road of acceding the club of middle income countries in the not too distant future by defeating poverty out and out with all its bedeviling tentacles.
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To reference some of the testimonials made herein follows what the famous media outlet the Economist succinctly disclosed. "Wars and famines that scourged the country three decades ago are, thankfully, a thing of the past. Today, Ethiopia is rapidly changing and has recorded constant growth over the past several years. This is having a noticeable impact. For example, infant-mortality rates have fallen by 40% since 2000. According to The Economist, low wages are rising and the agricultural sector, still the most important component in terms of gross domestic product, is being modernized at a quickening pace.
The country’s road and rail transport system is fast expanding. Power which is a critical concern is being addressed overwhelmingly with the building of the Grand Renaissance Dam and the Gilgel Gibe projects whose finalization would certainly elevate Ethiopia's status in the energy sector in addition to the Wind, Solar and Geo-thermal areas already in full swing. The huge urban infrastructure that has been instrumental in changing the entire face of most towns primarily the city of Addis Ababa is booming.
Ethiopia is looking to develop a progressive resource sector, with particular attention being paid to mining and minerals extraction. For this to happen, the country continues to require foreign investment and mining expertise.
To re-iterate the commitment to the GTP and the principles underpinning effective development cooperation between the government of Ethiopia and partners that share its ideals is amply a milestone of friendship and serves as resounding lesson to other parties who simply meddle in the internal affairs of our country without indulging into an effort to make a positive impact through practical support and other consultative venues.
It is to be noted that the Ethiopian government which has vowed to overcome some glitches in order to fulfill its promise of over hauling the economy in its firm and unshakable determination to root out the grinding state of backwardness, poverty and injustice once and for all is quintessential.
What is truly comforting is the fact that the Ethiopian government and genuine friends are speaking one and the same thing as pertains Ethiopia's achievements in the wake of the GTP and the triumphant realization of its flagship project I.E. the Grand Renaissance Dam , that has currently gone beyond 30% of its progress, as follows,
"During the past two Fiscal Years (2010/2011 and 2011/2012) Ethiopia has registered real GDP growth of 11.6% and 8.5 % have respectively. The share of industry in total GDP has increased from 10.8% at base year to 15% in 2010 / 2011. The average double digit growth that has been registered puts Ethiopia in the list of fastest growing countries of the world".
The Ethiopian people and Government along with their good wishers shall rejoice and their detractors and the few advocates of doom and gloom shall surely swirl in a fast forward move into becoming the dust bin of history. Amen!
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