ADDIS ABABA-The right path to Ethiopia’s rapid economic growth is through developing a habit of purchasing locally-produced items, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) said.
Launching the ‘Made in Ethiopia’ expo yesterday, Premier Abiy stated that using quality and aesthetically viable local products is fundamental for ensuring rapid economic growth. “As we are the ones who take the first bite and taste of the wheat and coffee we produce, we need to do the same with the textile by wearing locally made clothes.”
Abiy (PhD) also emphasized that with 120 million population and several manufacturing industries at hand, importing goods is inappropriate for Ethiopia.
“Ethiopia imports more than what it exports by billions of dollars. Regarding locally-made clothes, I am also using them because they are quality and beautiful products. Therefore, we need to practice using local products.”
The Prime Minister pointed out that the Ministry of Industry should not focus only on producing textiles and exporting them, but should also work on how the products are used in the country.
Despite the increase in coffee productivity through the Green Legacy Initiative, countries that mix coffee and milk and make chocolate have better incomes than coffee producers like Ethiopia. In order to generate better income in Ethiopia, the domestic industries should be expanded and resources should be widely used.
Besides the effort that has been put in providing industrial inputs, manufacturing industries need to translate Ethiopia’s capacity in terms of skilled labor, energy and input to get better results.
Over the past nine months, import substituting products worth 1.9 billion USD were supplied to the market, Abiy (PhD) noted, adding that results obtained by the Made in Ethiopia Movement should be continued by supporting local producers.
At the early stage of the reform, Ethiopia’s GDP ranked second among East African countries, nonetheless, the total GDP of its neighboring countries is less than Ethiopia’s current GDP.
Highlighting the conducive environment that the government created for investors in the manufacturing sector, PM Abiy urged manufacturers to pay their tax with reliability.
Industry Minister MelakuAlebel on his part mentioned that over 210 local and 50 foreign manufacturers take part at the expo which is expected to make over three billion Birr transactions.
The manufacturing industry has created employment opportunities for about 256,000 citizens. With collective effort, the sector could generate more positive outcomes, the Minister remarked.
State chief administrators, ministers, diplomats and other concerned stakeholders took part and visited the local products displayed at the expo. The ‘Made in Ethiopia’ expo remains open to the public until May 13, 2024.
BY BETELHEM BEDLU
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 10 MAY 2024
