Addis Ababa, August 12, 2016 (WIC) – Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalgen said Ethiopia has faced similar challenges that any developing country could encounter during economic transformation.
The PM made the remark today while holding discussions with Ethiopian ambassadors and diplomats about current issues.
According to him, Ethiopia has registered significant achievements in changing the livelihood of both urban and rural dwellers and expanding social services as well as meeting almost all the Millennium Development Goals.
He, however, noted that maladministration, lack of jobs and infrastructure, among others, have created discontent among the public and prepared fertile ground for external forces.
Besides, rent seeking tendencies coupled with ethnic and religious extremism have contributed to the recent chaos in parts of Amhara and Oromia regional states, Hailemariam stated.
The premier stressed that overall the challenge Ethiopia has faced in this regard is similar to any developing country engaged in transforming its economy.
In this light, Hailemariam urged the diplomats to enlighten those in their respective embassies about the objective reality in the country.
He also added that the government is ready to solve the problems through peaceful means.
With respect to constraints related to investment, the premier noted that the government has hugely invested to change the situation and build industrial parks across the country.
The premier lauded the role the ambassadors have been playing to attract investment and called on them to brief anchor investors about Ethiopia’s specialized industrial zones established for agriculture, manufacturing and hospitality sectors. (ENA)