Powered by the government’s commitment to ensuring economic progress, several initiatives have been implemented, leading to impressive achievements across the country. This is particularly evident in areas such as sustainable peace, agricultural productivity, education and health reform, and housing development.
While responding to the queries raised by parliamentarians a couple of days ago, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) also stressed the achievements in various areas. Among the success stories mentioned by the Premier were job creation, agricultural production and productivity, the promotion of sustainable peace, and the corridor and housing development.
PM Abiy said that job creation is one of the responsibilities and key target areas of the government. Creating jobs for thousands, if not millions needs implementing policies and strategies into action. In this regard, the Ethiopian government is becoming a model to other African countries.
As to the Premier, through its aggressive policies, in the past 8 months, the government has created job opportunities for over 3 million Ethiopians in different fields both locally and abroad.
Of which, while 2.8 million individuals have got jobs locally 300,000 thousand individuals have benefited from job opportunities created abroad. Over 45,000 Ethiopians are also benefiting from remote jobs, engaging in online jobs for foreign companies while residing in their homeland.
According to the PM, creating such an opportunity for millions of Ethiopians is undoubtedly a challenging task. However, following the commitment of the government, it is possible to make it happen.
He also stated the job opportunities created for several Ethiopians as a result of the corridor development projects being implemented out across the country.
The corridor development projects which are being conducted all over the country are not only creating a new image to the nation, they have also created job opportunities for thousands of Ethiopians, the PM indicated. In addition to transforming the image of the country and creating job opportunities, the projects have also laid the foundation to the future generation a new space and better lifestyle. By adding assets to the housing construction, sewerage system and road construction, the corridor projects which are being conducted all over the nation have created job opportunities and totally changed the image of the country. Most importantly, these projects have transformed the work culture of the people as many young people have already started working even at night shift aside from the day, he added.
He also mentioned how the corridor development project has received praised from many African nations.
According to him, this is due to the unwavering efforts of the government. Because of its untiring efforts, the government has so far constructed 167,000 houses in only five years. This alone created job opportunities and ensured ownership of houses for several Ethiopians.
As a government which stands at the foundation of prosperity and aspired to see better Ethiopia, these projects (corridor development and housing projects) are serving like two edged swords to ensure betterment to the people. Unlike the defamations that are circulated on social media regarding displacement of individuals due to corridor development projects, Abiy said that individuals who were displaced from their living areas due to corridor development projects have received proper compensations, including housing, financial compensation, education and other essential facilities. This is a clear indication of how the government has given proper attention to its citizens.
While talking about issues raised in relation to sustaining peace and stability, Prime Minister Abiy said that the government of Ethiopia is pursuing a policy that prioritizes peace. Peace is a precious commodity that needs to be preserved. In this regard, the government is taking all available opportunities to ensure peace at the expense of conflict. It strives for sustainable peace and is always ready for peace talks with any parties- to hold peaceful discussion, resolve differences peacefully and enhance inclusive dialogue in the country.
In this respect, the Pretoria Peace Agreement was an unprecedented decision that demonstrated the untiring commitment of the Ethiopian government to peace. Emphasizing the significance of the Pretoria Agreement in giving lessons for other countries to resolve conflicts through peace dialogues rather than armaments, Prime Minister Abiy reflected the unfinished assignments; including the implementation of the DDR, (Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration).
While talking about health PM Abiy said that regarding health, several extensive activities are being made to address challenges related to “early warning” systems. There are centers that are actively working on it. In addition, large scale projects, including those by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), are being implemented. These initiatives are playing a vital role in saving the lives of many citizens.
However, limitations in the production of medications continue to hinder our ability to respond swiftly to emerging challenges. Furthermore, the underutilization of technology remains a significant obstacle. Efforts to tackle these issues are ongoing, and new expansive projects have been launched to address them. The results are expected to become evident in due time, he said.
A country that does not produce medicine, or oil, or fertilizer is always dependent, and suffers whether it is for purchasing, transportation, or the time. The solution lies in each level to address its own challenges. The way forward will be for each to resolve its own challenges step by step, he remarked.
The government has also a strong ambition to improve the lives of people living in poverty. This includes boosting agricultural production and productivity. As part of this effort, the government has scaled up initiatives to enhance agricultural output. The bega wheat production and Ye-Lemat Tirufat initiatives can be mentioned in this regard.
In the agricultural sector, smallholder farmers have cultivated a total of 20.5 million hectares. Specifically, wheat cultivation spans 4.2 million hectares during the fall and 3.7 million hectares during summer irrigation development, with expectations of yielding no less than 300 million quintals. Additionally, notable progress is being made in coffee and tea production.
Similarly Ethiopia`s fertilizer factory is showing progress. According to Abiy, Ethiopia has begun to pursue the idea of producing fertilizer domestically. This initiative is being developed in partnership with the private sector. Currently, Ethiopia requires 24 million quintals of fertilizer annually, and to meet this demand, the country is importing 150,000 quintals of fertilizer every day.
In his parliamentary speech PM Abiy also said that the government is fighting all forms of illiteracy in every corner of the country. According to him, the government is not only fighting anti peace elements but also with those bandits that use their political agenda for the sake of promoting illiteracy.
The Premier underscored that the government is doing its level best to ensure access to quality education by building school facilities. This effort includes using funds from the sale of book. Using every opportunity, the government is committed to providing learning opportunity for all and maintaining educational quality. This includes by building new schools and restoring the existing ones.
BY LEULSEGED WORKU
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 22 MARCH 2025
