Unambiguously, regional integration is a procedure by which neighboring countries enhance their cooperation through common institutions and rules, aiming at achieving shared goals like economic, political, social, cultural advancements. This integration can involve multinational institutions, intergovernmental decision making, or a combination of both.
As far as key aspects of regional political integration are concerned, economic integration come as the forefront. This includes free trade areas, customs unions, common markets, and economic unions, facilitating the movement of goods, services, capital, and people. Besides, political integration matters the most too as it involves establishing common policies and institutions, sharing sovereignty, and working towards shared political goals.
Social and cultural integration is also of paramount importance in booming people-to-people tie and communal growth. This includes promoting cultural exchange, facilitating the movement of people, and fostering a sense of regional identity.
For all this, regional integration can contribute to regional security and stability by fostering cooperation on issues like conflict resolution and border management. Undeniably, regional integration can lead to economic growth, increased trade, investment, and job creation, as well as improved governance, infrastructure, and social services.
The construction of the Grand Abbay Dam by Ethiopia and Ethiopians themselves can be a living proof for cementing nationalism and regional cooperation in terms of economic, political and some other decisive aspects.
Having a stay with local media, Ethiopian Economics Association (EEA) Senior Researcher Abule Mehari said the historic Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is a key catalyst for realizing regional integration as electricity is a very important energy which has great significance for integrating the region.
For a region to have a strong integration, technology, road, and infrastructure are absolutely instrumental, he added. Currently supplying power to Sudan, Kenya and Djibouti, Ethiopia is on the verge of commencing electricity export to Tanzania, a crucial step in its ambition to become a regional energy hub.
This historic Dam will create the opportunity to easily integrate countries in the region, the senior economist noted. Since the region has a huge market and abundant resources, the Dam will definitely create the opportunity to further develop together and to benefit together.
According to Abule, the Dam will also serve as the main input for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as the countries are approaching towards realizing the free trade area.
Purposely, the AfCFTA aims at accelerating intra-African trade and boosting Africa’s trading position in the global market by strengthening Africa’s common voice and policy space in global trade negotiations.
It is quite important to recall that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed recently described the Grand Abbay Dam as the pride of Africa wherein the country shows the spirit of perseverance and capability.
Not only does the Dam pronounce the everlasting pride of the generations in series as a hydropower project but it also represents a transformative Pan-African endeavor that fosters integration among Africans.
The senior economist further elaborated that the Dam is crucial to securing lasting peace by connecting the region and realizing economic integration in addition to being a testament to utilizing one’s own resources.
Needless to state, Ethiopia has been striving for regional integration and mutual benefits through shared development aspirations among nations in the region.
Yes, the country has been making relentless efforts to bring about overall development and prosperity through forging its regional development and trade relations. By bolstering diplomatic relations and overcoming challenges, the country has registered lots of successful results on many fields.
Whenever Ethiopia entertains any bilateral or trilateral or multilateral integration it all the time centers its national interests since the fundamental national interests of Ethiopia are based on its todays need and future interests.
Ethiopia has been well focusing on its diplomatic interests which are predominantly aimed at fostering regional integration and ensure mutual benefits. True, Ethiopia is firm to resolve differences through diplomatic means and give and take principle whenever it comes across debatable circumstances.
Since the core foundation for sustainable development and growth is peace, Ethiopia has all the time embarked on the need for working together with neighboring and Horn countries in particular and continental and global nations in general with a view to achieving sustainable peace and tranquility.
That is why it is repeatedly heralded that the historic Grand Abbay Dam is a key catalyst for realizing regional integration.
As the Senior Researcher, energy is one of key economic inputs, and it has to receive due attention for the purpose of securing energy sovereignty thereby coming up with a viable means for ensuring food sovereignty.
So, he stressed that securing energy sovereignty will enhance Ethiopia’s remarkable stand in the region, beyond exporting electricity.
It is quite a national pride. Financed fully by domestic resources, the Dam is a symbol of Ethiopia’s renaissance for Ethiopians, and a practical testament that Africans can change their fortunes by developing their own resources by themselves.
Ethiopia has taken a very broad step in promoting the regional integration, and has taken a very broad step in terms of building the Dam and promoting the regional energy pool.
It is also important to note that Ethiopia has been expanding its role as a regional energy powerhouse with electricity exports poised to significantly contribute to its economic growth and foster closer ties with neighboring nations.
As the country has been supplying power to neighboring countries these days, there are also incredible initiatives which really foster the integration of Horn of Africa, which in turn will help join with other regional integration communities.
Most importantly, East African countries should prioritize peace and stability in order to accelerate regional economic integration, and some say most of the countries in the East African region are in transition and it is important that they prioritize peace and stability before striving for regional integration.
Though this idea does have a grain of truth in it, fostering means of economic advancement such as what Ethiopia has been doing, constructing the Grand Abbay Dam, both ensuring peace and tranquility and socio-economic initiatives cab ne run hand in hand.
Unequivocally, regional integration requires willingness of all countries to cooperate and needs effective integrating organization.
Ethiopia has economic and financial connections with neighboring countries, and its road and railway projects also extend across many neighboring countries to strengthen regional economic integration apart from the invaluable significance of the historic Dam. True, the Grand Abbay Dam is not only intended to supply electricity for Ethiopia, but also for neighboring countries.
In a nutshell, all countries of the continent, with particular reference to the nations of the Horn and which are in East Africa, should give priority to solving current pressing challenges, including peace and security internally and with others, as well as other obstacles to facilitate regional economic integration where people and goods can move freely across borders for a beneficial regional integration.
Taking the case of the Dam under discussion, the largest hydropower project in Africa and owned and operated by the Ethiopian Electric Power, as a stepping stone for regional integration every country of the continent has to support this game-changing initiative. The project is therefore also being used as a means of technological transfer to the Ethiopian domestic experts, and it is at the center of Ethiopia’s development strategy and that of other nation’s prosperity.
BY MENGESHA AMARE
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SUNDAY EDITION 27 APRIL 2025
