Whenever the agenda of development is raised, effective utilization of resources and increasing production volume with reduced cost and with better quality, are raised for the reason the two are core matters in a business environment and country’s growth.
As it is always indicated, when there is an increase in productivity, there is always an opportunity for competitiveness and growth. It is possible to meet the expectation of customers both at home and abroad, substitute import and promote export, increase foreign exchange earnings which lead to a flourishing economy and at the end of the day advance the socioeconomic development of any country.
However, to this end, devising policies and strategies and working on activities that can support the efforts and accelerate the effectiveness of the mechanism is critical. Equipping the human capital with the desired skills and knowledge, allocating sufficient resources, utilizing natural resources effectively and efficiently, and closing the gaps that hinders productivity is key.
In this regard, over the past three or four years, Ethiopia has been working persistently. It launched a comprehensive homegrown economic program that targets ‘to expand the country’s economic capabilities, create employment opportunities for millions of unemployed youth, and promote inclusiveness, and seize the opportunity for growth and realize Ethiopia’s prosperity.’
While launching the program, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said: “The Reform Agenda is our pro-job, pro-growth, and pro-inclusivity pathway to prosperity.” And this will be attained through enticing private investment in prioritized areas; agriculture, manufacturing, mining, tourism, and Information and Communication Technology- (ICT). As a result, a number of structural transformations and a supportive economic environment were carried out. In turn, though a lot remains to be done, substantial achievements, such as an increment in wheat production and export revenues, are witnessed.
The ‘Ethiopia Tamrit’ (Let Ethiopia produce) initiative that was launched by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed with this same drive- to creating a competitive manufacturing industry, increasing productivity, widening the market destinations of Ethiopian manufacturing products across the global, increase export amount and strength import substitution and accelerates Ethiopia’s development-is also the other initiative.
Speaking at the opening of ‘Ethiopia Tamrit’ expo held months ago in the capital Addis Ababa, Industry Minister Melaku Alebel said that the government has been working with due attention in order to strengthen the sector by taking the experiences of successful countries. And the ‘Ethiopia Tamrit’ movement aimed at enhancing the manufacturer’s capacity, widens their market destination, increase export amount, as well as strengthen import substitution.
Today, Pagumen 4, 2015 (9 Sep. 2023), Ethiopians are marking ‘Day of Productivity.’ with various activities. While speaking in relation to the importance of designating each day of the month of Pagumen to various activities, Executive Member of the Joint Council of the Ethiopian Political Parties, Mebratu Alemu, (PhD) told ENA that dedicating the days of the Pagumen month has a positive role in further cementing solidarity, inculcating good citizenship values, creating a sense of togetherness and national unity and for nation building. “And when we mark the fourth day of Pagumen today, which is dedicated to the ‘Day of Productivity’, the natural resources Ethiopia endowed with will be commemorated,” he said.
However, in order to bring about the expected changes in all areas- social, economic and political – in the coming Ethiopian New Year, cascading the alias of those days and working on the ground is of the utmost importance. More energy should also be exerted to increase productivity by improving peoples’ work culture, solving challenges related to resource supply, he remarked.
True, increasing the participation of the young people, as they are key agents for social change and economic growth, promoting inclusiveness, alleviating the problems witnessed in input provision are key steps to increase product and productivity and ensure sustainable socioeconomic growth. In this regard, observing the ‘Day of Productivity’ can help raise publics’ awareness and motivate the community to strive accordingly- to bring about substantial social, economic health, and environmental change.
BY STAFF REPORTER
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 9 SEPTEMBER 2023
