Addis Ababa, 09 September, 2015 (WIC)- The implementation of Growth and Transformation Plan II (GTP II) will move Ethiopia to another chapter of rapid economic , political and social development, said the Deputy Prime Minister.
Demeke Mekonnen noted, in an interview with Fana Broadcasting Corporate, that even though Ethiopia has registered a remarkable progress in different aspects of GTP I, there are still some areas that need rapid transformation to sustain the growth momentum for years to come.
“The structural transformation the country is hoping to make is to move from an agrarian economy toward an industrial one. But, the country has not travelled so long to achieve its development aspiration in that specific sector of the economy in GTP I. GTP II will put at most emphasis on making that transformation happen ,” noted the Deputy Premier.
Demeke emphasized that even though Ethiopia has been registering rapid economic growth for over a decade now, without industrializing the economy the growth cannot be sustained for so long.
Indeed, he underscored that Ethiopia has managed to increase its industrial base from where it was five years ago to 14 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“If industrial development cannot overtake agriculture sector development in GTP II, the country’s potential to compete in the international market will be hampered. That harms the competitiveness in the global economy. That is why due diligence will be put on industrial development in the coming five years of GTP II implementation which starts this Ethiopian New Year, ” said the Deputy Premier.
He highlighted the fact that Ethiopian per capita income has reached 640 USD in the past five years of GPT I lifting millions of citizens out of poverty. He also said that still there are millions of citizens who are facing abject poverty.
“At the end of GTP II Ethiopia needs a new history to be made. We have to pave the way forward to become a middle income country,” Demeke told FBC.
Demeke underscored the need to transform Ethiopian economy from an agrarian to an industrial one if the country has to make effort to become a middle income one.
He is also cognizant of the fact that citizens are dissatisfied with the governance problems the country is faced with.
“It is difficult to say that citizens are satisfied with the public service they are provided with. In GTP II, the issue of good governance will be a key one that needs to be changed like the economic transformation of the country. The change in good governance should be accompanied with change in mind set,” he said.
In his concluding remark, Demeke wished to all citizens of the country a marvelous Ethiopian New Year where the vision enshrined in GTP II and the aspiration of the general public for change can be realized.