• Ethiopia is committed for sustainable integration of Africa through AfCFTA
ADDIS ABABA – Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed expressed that Ethiopia is privatizing key sectors to attract foreign investment on the seventh Tokyo International Conference on Africa Development (TICAD 7) summit kicked off in Yokohama, Japan on Wednesday.
In his address at the summit being held under the theme “Advancing Africa’s Development through People, Technology and Innovation” Prime Minister Dr. Abiy touched on three points – the role of the private sector, regional integration and Ethiopia’s recent reform efforts.
He said expanding space for the participation of the private sector is important to ensure sustainability of economic growth, including addressing socio-economic and environmental challenges.
“In Ethiopia we are removing investment barriers,” he noted. He said that Ethiopia is opening up its space for the private sector to engage actively the private sector and introduce innovation to the market. “We have taken steps to make space for the private investment in areas such as telecoms, energy, aviation and logistics,” he told participants.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the significance of regional integration for sustainable development. “We know from experience that we can achieve sustainable development only through regional integration.”
“In Ethiopia, we are determined to bring our country firmly into the international market place for ideas, capital, technology and talent.” As a home to the African Union (AU), Ethiopia is committed to be a force for sustainable integration of African countries through the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), he noted.
The Premier also briefed participants the reforms being undertaken with a particular focus on economic diversification and measures being taken to correct macroeconomic imbalances. In his opening remark, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan praised the peace deal reached between Ethiopia and Eritrea.
“Peace between Ethiopia and Eritrea is a major breakthrough in heralding normalization in the Horn of Africa,” he said. TICAD began in 1993 to promote Africa’s development and has grown into a major global and multilateral forum to mobilize and sustain international support for Africa’s development.
The Ethiopian Herald, August 30/2019
BY STAFF REPORTER
