BY MENGESHA AMARE
Thinking of development or growth, whether it is economic, social or even political, without nurtured infrastructure is tantamount to leading a subsistence life devoid of all the unavoidably required basic necessities.
Without any doubt again an effective infrastructure management is of paramount importance in improving national competitiveness. There are of course several factors influencing the economic growth thereby being competitive enough like institutions, infrastructure, macroeconomic environment, health and education, and technological readiness among others.
Having the direct bearing of economic growth and infrastructure development in mind, The Ethiopian Herald had recently a stay with an agro-economist graduated from Haramaya University goes by the name Ashenafi Buta.
He said, “Infrastructure is a socio-economic factor determined principally by the quality of roads, bridges, ports, railroad infrastructure, air transport, electricity supply, and even sewer systems. The presence of institutional traps, which have been witnessed in various sectors, have prevented the development of the national economy.”
As to him, capitalizing on infrastructure development understanding the key factors holding growth and change back would potentially determine economic growth, help come up with a more successful trek in raising income levels and provide policy makers and business leaders with an important tool in the formulation of improved economic policies and institutional reforms.
“As to me,” he said; “Infrastructure spending occurs when a local, state, or federal government spends money to build or repair the physical structures and facilities needed for commerce and society as a whole to thrive. Hence, using infrastructure would undoubtedly enable the nation, I mean Ethiopia in this context, to spur economic growth.”
Apart from boosting the economic performance in a given country, infrastructure outlay creates job opportunities as workers have to be hired to complete myriads of societal-oriented projects. This has in turn would be of instrumental in creating employment and capable of spawning new economic growth.
“Conventionally,” Ashenafi said; “Boosting growth has been seen as the best way to create job opportunities and raise living standards. However, governments have looked at this the other way round. By better equipping their citizens to navigate the world of work, countries can most effectively boost their economic growth and development.”
Reinvigorating economic growth and preparing citizens for the future of work are highly intertwined and further consolidated by well-defined and responsibly constructed infrastructural development, the agro economist noted.
In this new era of comprehensive development and change, the government and development partners need to view the relationship between economic growth and infrastructure progress.
According to Ashenafi, Ethiopia has to improve its infrastructural development, focus on coming up with independent and influential institutions, raise public awareness about good working culture among the society, swell public private partnership in labor-intensive economic sectors that can generate wider benefits for citizens if it is to bring about real change.
The former has to be peculiarly embarked on as it is the fundamental bridge to foster all activities revolving around social, economic, cultural, political and other related facets. He said, “A thriving economy coupled with a well streamlined infrastructure can provide the country with reputed status and make it a charming spot to live and work.”
He further elucidated that producers and consumers, for instance, the ones who are residing in urban areas and the farming community need suitable infrastructure development. “I can cite credible examples in this regard. I once went to East Hararghe zone and observed plots of land full of appealing teff and maize crops, but the road that connects that specific area to the boulevard was not constructed well and the crops were damaged by heavy rain as they could hardly be harvested and transported to the area of mowing and deporting in to barn,” he said.
From this simple sample, everyone can easily deduce that infrastructure, be it grand or minor, does have indescribable influence on economic growth and societal livelihood improvement. He also said that investing in infrastructures would open ways to trek towards real development and meaningful economic growth as all citizenry including the unreached ones.
Expanding infrastructure in every part of the nation shouldn’t be left only to the government, development partners and other concerned bodies as it highly requires the combined effort of all they coming up with economic, social and even communicational development and growth.
As to him, Ethiopian economy maintains growth even in times of unprecedented global economic downturn basically penetrating multiple compounded shocks. Needless to state, he added that reinvigorating infrastructure would be of paramount importance in accelerating sectorial reforms, boosting agriculture, manufacturing, digital economy, mining, tourism, and trade among others.
The country odes have incisive plans that are believed to solve the long heaped and rolled down economic, social, cultural and even political problems as popper networking would with no doubt bridge the gaps which have been witnessing so far. Networking here doesn’t solely refer to oral communication, but to associate localities easily using a range of infrastructure types, Ashenafi underlined.
Road networks in rural parts of the country ranging from gravel sands to those which are built following state of the art technology have to be well expanded in various parts of the nation. There are dilapidated ones in many rural localities and has attracted due emphasis of the government and other development partners.
Undeniably, the economy of the country has reached a backbreaking point for Ethiopians especially for low income ones, but this needs to be well met putting oneself under the shoes of the destitute. Frankly speaking, the country is capable of attaining all this if citizens at all corners of the nation work hand in glove with role model administration and leaders, and firmly condemn maladministration and sense of amassing undeserved gain at the expense of fellow citizens.
He further accentuated that the focus of the government on homegrown economy has to be swiftly coupled with infrastructural advancement with a view to making real difference in all aspects. If the effort geared towards enhancing infrastructure of all sorts is run in full swing and with great sense of belongingness, bringing about change in Ethiopia is within its imminent reach.
Not only has Ethiopia capitalized on expanding and keeping standard a range of infrastructures, but is also expected to forge power and abundant potentials of citizens at home and from abroad.
In so doing, the target the country has long aspired would be hit within the shortest time possible. Here, the role the international community would play is worth appreciating in terms of backing developmental efforts, not dictating the nation where and how to proceed.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD 31 JANUARY 2023
