Chalking out a development roadmap that could allow Ethiopia to soar up to the pinnacle of prosperity is a timely step. Being endowed with marvelous natural resources, the country is striving to materialize its envisioned objective that entails five pillars of economic take off.
This nation on the path of home-grown economic reform is determined to explore all available resources and to put them to efficient use as part of its bid to kiss goodbye to underdevelopment and ring in a new lease of life that augurs well even to those beyond its perimeter.
The mining sector that is not yet utilized to the required level and that has undergone a thorough study recently is one of the pillars on which the country pinned its hope on for the much-looked-forward turnaround.
Precious stones like opal, emerald, aquamarine and sapphire are among those found shortlisted in the set of Ethiopian precious stones. Gypsum, limestone, gravel stone, clay, sand and quartz, basalt, granite and marble are but to mention some of the resources in the construction sector.
Petroleum, natural gas and coal as well as geothermal energy are also among the minerals the country is blessed with for fuel, energy and agriculture. Happily, as studies indicate the aforementioned minerals have bedecked almost all corners of the country.
Although local investors are involved in the push to put the resources to efficient use, single alone, the country could not tap these resources. As such, foreign investors sniffing for lucrative ventures could benefit from coming to Ethiopia and help harness the resources specially the precious ones in an almost effortless way. Towards this end, conducting advertising work to sell the aforementioned potential is a must do.
Cognizant of the necessity of such task, Expos are being conducted that also help to amplify the government’s pledge of holistic support to investors’ endeavors. To bring the country’s mineral potential to the attention of investors worldwide, the Expos are believed to be highly instrumental.
Researches, aiming at alternative economic sources, have indicated the bounty, plenty and variety of precious minerals. That is what PM Abiy Ahmed (PhD) threw light on at the Second Annual International Mining and Technology Expo held this week in Addis. He reiterated the fact that the mining sector is one pillar the government leans on for sought-for national economic prosperity. Luckily, the global market has a high demand for the resources. He indicated the need to delve into the sector to come up with additional research outcomes.
Such expos could also serve venues for cross-fertilizing views, deeply understanding the sector and spurring its translation into action so as the country benefits a lot down the road. Aside from feeding mushrooming local industries, bolstering import substitution, the minerals could be exported to garner badly-needed hard currency, he noted.
Scaling up the performance of the sector addressing its short comings is called for. In a show of conviction, the government has enunciated its commitment to tap actors in the sector on the back.
As the government’s thrust to ensure an affluent Ethiopia needs all possible support, Ethiopian investors and investor of Ethiopian origin are expected to come aboard with added zeal. The Ethiopian diaspora is also expected to buttress the country’s push to advertise its potential in the mining sector.
Endowed with a great potential unable to develop is a great crime. Hence, we Ethiopians must rally behind the task of harnessing all of our resources effectively for a common good as we showcased our capability to the same effect bringing into birth the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam(GERD) seen a fate changer in its surroundings too. The bottom line is we must develop the habit of challenging our limits knowing full well our potentials.
The Ethiopian Herald November 26/2023
