During his inaugural speech for the Ethiopian Fiscal Year 2017, President Taye noted that it is planned to increase domestic revenue to 1.5 trillion birr. He added that state expenditure will be allocated for rural road development, water development and other infrastructural facilities. The President also noted that market infrastructure will be promoted and new manufactured goods worth 5 billion USD will be produced. In terms of increasing FDI into the country, the President added that it is planned to attract FBI worth 5 billion USD.
Ethiopia is now well placed in BRICS, the President remarked adding the diplomatic successes that the country has achieved over the years in building the image of the country and in her role on promoting regional peace, economic cooperation and ensuring the stability of the Horn of Africa. He mentioned that Ethiopia will work on further strengthening her relation with the countries of the Persian Gulf.
The President mentioned that efforts are underway to complete Ethiopia’s efforts to have access to ports which will have a significant role in boosting the economic development of the country. Moreover he reiterated that a large number of Ethiopians have been provided with foreign employment opportunity abroad.
Ethiopia will further continue in its peace keeping mission in Somalia under ATMIS and the mission to be formed under AUSSOM.
It must be noted that all these achievements were registered amidst multiple sets of conspiracies that were plotted by foreign and domestic forces who wish to deny Ethiopia of her peaceful and stable economic development.
The nation faces a number of challenges related to regional instability, sporadic ethnic based destabilization, proliferation of contraband on the major commanding heights of the national economy, developing more logistics and infrastructural facilities, possible cyber-attacks and corruption.
The author believes that the current fiscal year is so critical for Ethiopia in the sense that ensuring nationwide stability and peace is a major prerequisite for sustained development of the country. However, this cannot be accomplished only through the efforts of the government and its leadership. All who claim to solve their country should contribute their part in settling internal disputes in a peaceful manner unless we all risk putting the country in the most unprecedented chaos.
The politicians and intellectuals in the country and overseas should shoulder moral and historical responsibility to ensure the peace and development of their country. It is understood that they may have differences in world outlook but the safety and security of their country is far more important than their differences. It is regrettable that some of them still think that the political and economic transformation of this country will come through the barrel of gun .Ethno-nationalistic sentiments among the youth and the academia is not only helping to erode the unity of the country but is also paving the way for foreign intervention into the affairs of Ethiopia. This needs to be reversed.
Blaming each other and foreign governments on causes of local issues would only help to perpetuate the agony that the motherland is now facing. Ethiopians of all walks of life need to support the ENDF in the efforts that they are making in defending the unity, territorial integrity of this country. No Ethiopian worthy of the name here or overseas can be indifferent spectator when foreign forces are trying to mobilize local extremists against the very foundation of the statehood of country. Ethiopia should not be left to suffer from agonies perpetrated by power mongering politicians who love to hear themselves about democracy and state building.
All should work together to make the current fiscal year a year of peace and stability as this is the core of the national interest of the country. People of all walks of life including armed groups need to come to round table in the process of conducting national dialogue which is the main key to resolve the differences in this country. The people of Ethiopia deserve to be honored.
Editor’s Note: The views entertained in this article do not necessarily reflect the stance of The Ethiopian Herald
BY SOLOMON DIBABA
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 19 OCTOBER 2024
