BY BACHA ZEWDIE
Being a developing country, Ethiopia is eying various sectors to transform its economy in the way it benefits the amassed citizenry thereby making poverty an ill wind. Though myriads of issues are on the table to be discussed in this regard, hammering on a single issue in depth is essential and it is job creation. Joblessness for the nation with about 120 million population of which the young people takes the larger portion is among back bending burdens.
In order to alleviate the problem and make poverty history, committed engagement of regional states in the struggle and the results they register on the way, coupled with federal government’s effort, deserve gratitude.
Integrated efforts exerted and the outcomes registered recently by Oromia Regional State in job creation and transferring enterprises to higher level are focus areas of this piece. The Regional State recognized enterprises those raised their capital from 46 million to 2.3 billion Birr on a ceremony held at Abagada Hall, Adama recently under the motto; “Entrepreneurs transfer for national prosperity”.
In line with this, Oromia Job Opportunity Creation and Vocational Bureau transferred 1021 entrepreneurs from small enterprise to medium level.
On the occasion, Shimelis Abdissa, president of Oromia Regional State congratulated the entrepreneurs for the success they registered working day and night; avoiding job neglecting attitude; integrating their physical power and utilizing the opportunity created by a regional state.
He said; “I congratulate you on behalf of myself and Oromia Regional State that you are exemplary making alteration via working at home and attaining higher level from zero passing through many disappointments. You are the foundation of tomorrow’s investors.”
According to the president, achievement of the entrepreneurs indicates that three major issues could be assured during the past five years with the government’s determination in changing the nation’s economy. One is the youth can make miracle if they are given opportunities to taste their potentials. The other is the nation can be changed if the economy is led on the right track and the third is the country is endowed with plenty of opportunities and resources to prosper so long as building the philosophy of possible among the public and undergo attitudinal changes.
On the other hand, as to the president, there are three basic bottlenecks in the trajectory to prosperity. These are low habit of saving, insufficient amount of entrepreneurs and malpractices. Overcoming these challenges is a must do action to take the country to the scoreboard. In so doing, it would be possible to transfer hundreds of thousands instead of few thousands. Otherwise, exerting any kind of effort would be adding water in the perforated barrel, he underlined.
The president urged the entrepreneurs not to satisfy with the success they registered so far. Rather, they have to consider this as an initial walk of one kilometer out of one thousand km journey so that 999 km is ahead of them. He assured them that his government is ready to provide any support needed in their due course.
Muferihat Kamil, Minister of Labor and Skills, on her part said that Oromia Regional State has been carrying out such initiatives for the past years concentrating on job creation, skills, and technology transfer.
This year’s 13th round transfer is of paramount importance for the nation’s economy. It is many folds greater than preceding year’s performance in capital, kinds of business and job opportunity. The region has set its own plan announcing its capacity and needs are more than the Ministry’s annual plan towards it. For the success registered in the region, the president’s commitment and dedication deserve recognizable, the Minister underscored.
Mesfin Melaku, Coordinator of Cities’ Cluster with the rank of Vice President of Oromia, on his part said the region has been and being working with commitment to uproot poverty via preparing 10 years development plan, organizing associations, providing finance and production areas as well as providing training and creating market linkage. As a result, it is becoming successful carrying out tangible work by using its recourses and the people’s potential.
Matewos Seboka, Head of Oromia Job Opportunity Creation and Vocational Bureau, on his part said efforts of the entrepreneurs is promising in hard currency saving and import substitution. He assured that the bureau is beside them for their success and their contribution to the country’s prosperity.
Among those received recognition and transferred to the medium level is Alemayehu Irena accompanied with other three. He told The Ethiopian Herald that being organized and engaged in wood work at Melka Gefersa, Sheger City; they have raised their capital to 9 million Birr from 15,000 seed money. Their aspiration is to upgrade their business to factory level.
He added that they received the recognition for their success in producing quality products working day and night and creating job for 39 employees. Earlier, there had been exhibition and bazaar of entrepreneurs since Thursday, 2 March, 2023 at Adama Mesqel Square lasted for four days. Many kinds of products those were made at home and cottage industries by individuals and associations were displayed.
Officials from the federal government and the regional state attended the opening ceremony of the exhibition and bazaar. While conveying message on the occasion, Bayisa Bedada, State Minister of Innovation and Technology said that as the date is the commemoration of the victory of Adwa, three basic lessons could be gained from that history and translate these qualities into the economic sector. These are unity, bravery, and commitment.”
“Exploiting potential of the youth, employing technology, expanding production in volume and quality; raising trust on local products and nurturing the habit of purchasing them must be our focus areas to realize our country’s prosperity as this is the tested way other countries have gone to development,” the state minister said.
Ahmed Edris, Head of Oromia Investment and Industry Bureau, on his part said that as the country is endowed with plenty of resources like great amount of water and vast arable land; it is viable to prosper through hard work on it. As a result, satisfactory work has been done in the agriculture sector which is also underway in the manufacturing sector. He added that his office is pleased to welcome the entrepreneurs as investors and they are ready to work with them.
Matewos Seboka, Head of Oromia Job Opportunity Creation and Vocational Bureau said that the bureau has gone long distance in organizing entrepreneurs, providing training and other supports to help them make transition in different levels and become industrialists. Besides, market linkages up to eight billion Birr transaction have been created inland and abroad.
The entrepreneurs have also played immense role in the economy via creating jobs for the youth and paying revenue as well as substituting import goods. Over 200 enterprises of which 20 from TVET colleges in the region have participated on the bazaar and exhibition, he added.
In her welcome speech of the opening ceremony of the bazaar and exhibition, Hinsene Mehammed, Deputy Mayor of Adama Town said that the event takes a step forward and realizes the journey to prosperity underway at the national, regional and municipality level. The ceremony is also of paramount importance in changing work habit of the community and benefiting them via providing local products with affordable price, she noted.
Participants of the bazaar and exhibition have expressed their delight to get the chance of partaking on the event because they get the opportunity not only to sell their products, but also promote themselves to the community for further market linkage.
Tigist Fite, for instance, displayed handmade household materials produced from straw with different designs and bed clothing. She said Oromia Job Opportunity Creation and Vocational Bureau has given her a golden chance when helping her to engage in the sector after giving training and providing shade and other supports.
“Earlier, I had not such skill but following the training, I can make different materials with attractive designs and I could gain better income to support my family and even for saving aiming to advance my business,” she said.
Shoba Molu came from Borena Zone to participate on the bazaar and exhibition. He displayed artifacts crafted from horns of cattle used for household decoration and various uses. If supported with machineries, he would produce the artifacts with better quality and amount thereby gain more benefit of his effort, he said.
On the exhibition, various products like fiber glass, metal works, garments, natural fertilizer, detergents and leather products among others were presented.
The Ethiopian Herald March 17/2023
