President Girma urges HPR, HoF to intensify efforts toward GTP success

Addis Abeba, October 11 (WIC) – President Girma Wolde-Giorgis urged the House of Peoples’ Representatives (HPR) and the House of Federation (HoF) to intensify their role toward effective implementation of Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP).

In his speech made here on Monday while opening the Joint Session of the two Houses, President Girma said the government will move forward by formulating good governance and public initiation for development to execute the various development programs.

He said government has maintained 11.4 percent economic growth in 2003 EC.

The growth enables Ethiopia to become one of the top countries registering rapid economic growth across the world.

President Girma said the government would further intensify efforts to control inflation by addressing problems in the trade system as per the targets set to reduce inflation.

The President stressed the need to enhance local financial sources rather than foreign loan and aid to bring about rapid development in the country.

Girma said the government will further give prime attention to address the problems in tax administration system and also to build capacity towards successful utilization of the revenue.

The president said the government protected drought victims from famine by using foreign aid and purchasing additional food grains from federal food reserve.

He recalled that the drought occurred in the Horn of Africa affected low lands and some pastoral areas. However, government did its level to successfully prevent famine.

The President said the government carried out activities to raise awareness of executives on micro and small-scale enterprises and also formulated best practices in the sector.

President Girma said in particular the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, road, railway, telecommunication, electric power, potable water and irrigation development are the projects given priority in this fiscal year.

He said the government is exerting effort to ensure the rights of citizens through strengthening democratic and good governance institutions in the country.(ENA)