As we all know the Ethiopian government and Ethiopian people are deeply engaged in the Transformation and Growth Plan. The plan calls for Ethiopia to be self sufficient in food with the Industry sector playing a leading role in the economy and surpassing the serv
ice sector by the end of the next five years.
As Prime Minister Meles pointed out in his latest Q&A session with Parliament, all Ethiopian Foreign Mission’s primarily role is to seek investors and promote investment.
The Diaspora Ethiopian community is huge in number and can play critical role in the Growth and Transformation plan. The government seems to have realized the potential the Diaspora community has in contributing to the Growth and Transformation plan. Foreign Minister Hailemariam Desalegn met Diaspora vacationers and investors in Addis Ababa recently and explained his government plan to engage the Diaspora. The question we have for you is what can Embassies around the world do to help facilitate so you could be an active contributor to the development of Ethiopia. What do you think their role should be to engage us in the Diaspora to make Ethiopia self sufficient in food as well as to develop the industry sector… Have Your Say!
The call for Ethiopia to be self sufficient in food is not a new call. We have been hearing it over the years. The same with engaging the diaspora but to no avail. Granted few memebers of diaspora (mainly supporters of the government) are roaming Addis and other areas. I seriously doubt nothing lasting will come out of this 4th or 5th round of call. Let us be honest: The government and the majority of the diaspora are mouse and cats. Your forum, unfortunately, is not helping either. Rather, you seem to forment division by your non objective reporting.
You ask to ‘have my say’, and I have said my say.
We all know what as an individual we can do but the million dollar question is What can they do?
It will help if embassy officials hold regular briefing on the ongoing development and pass information to type of investment the government is giving incentives. Do monthly publication and distribute to all medias as well as to community organizations.
Second it will help if the government appoints people with knowledge on subject matter as well as committed individuals who will not become easily upset when facing all kind of Diaspora members. It is not easy to show straight face when people with all kind of motives demand services but officials have no other choice except to manage such events. For this to happen appointed officials should remain neutral and serve all regardless.
Last but not least make sure EPRDF and the Government work is demarcated around the Embassies. I know it is hard to do but success of the Growth and Transformation campaign in Diaspora will hinge if the campaign is led by competent people. One cannot be competent if one has two boss, if you all know what I mean! It is just hard to please all always! Do timely assessment of the campaign and if things are not working do not wait another four years to replace personnel’s who may be the cause or to ask and get feedback from the community at large itself.
Bottom-line, the Diaspora will be involved one way or the other, Ethiopia is a good place to invest but if the government really wants the Diaspora to invest then advertize some incentives…like importing cars and others for reasonable fee or for no fee at all. I can imagine Addis streets flooded by latest and new cars replacing old cars from the years gone by….
thank you.
Before discussing how and which Diaspora should invest in Ethiopia, the government should stop competing with individual investors. Let the free market be a free market. If this meant for real and meaningful change, let government have the guts to privatize all companies that it owns. Government should be serving the people instead of exploiting them. Today, if you are Oromo, you have no chance of freely investing in North, if you are Tigray or Amhara, you have remote chance of surviving in South. Worse, if you are from minority groups, then you have absolutely no chance of surviving in Ethiopia. Ethiopia is the only country that does not inquire the whereabouts of its citizens that are being abused by foreign entities like that of Eritrea’s Esayas. Ethiopia was supposed to be self sufficient 20 years ago, am I wrong? What is the difference today? Don’t we have the same old dogs barking the same old song?
What transformation are u talking about when there isa no democracy or justice? I came back from Ethiopia yesterday and all I can see is inflation not transformation. Do you understand that poor people can’t survive because of food price mekelle, let alone some where else in Ethiopia? Please stop the propoganda as it will harm the cause so many, including my father died for. When I remember people like Amoraw, and the ditermination and vision we had, I now feel sad to see few elite prosper at the expence of my father and so many others. Please don’t forget what we fought for! I hope you will post my say!
Let us accept your word as is and ask you back what can you do to help? The growth and transformation is to solve the issue you mentioned …poverty BTW!!
I had the oppotrunity to be present at Sheraton meet with Diaspora.
Many precious Hours was spent on the Diaspora complaining on personal matters and little and at a later hours was the main beef did the Government brought the Subject how should we shape the future policy for the Daispora. I believe it was about 4:30pm and many have been tired and bored and has left the hall by then
The main thing I want to point to the Ethiopian Government is that there should be a Housing Policy that should attract the Daispora inorder to engage them in their Home country
I believe if the Government is serious about engaging the huge potential of the Diaspora it has to Sacrifice in Giving a way for Diaspora to easily access housing in their Home land.This could be made by organising a credible Real Estae that could build Vilas and apartments and the diaspora could deposit a ceratin percentage foregn currency in Ethiopian Banks >
This I believe is a win win sitauation for the Government which wants foreign Currency and the Diaspora who needs a home in his won country > Once this is solved and the diaspora has a home in his country he then will think of Investing , Vacationing , sending his Family bringing foreign investment etc etc
In one paragraph what all embassy officials should do to involve Ethiopians and origin of Ethiopians all over the world to become partners of this noble cause is the engage them regularly. Streamline the process for anyone to invest. Have one office , one roof, where all Diaspora investors can process their application to invest. The embassy can also facilitate by proactively helping investors and regional governments where the investment will be . That is have representatives of regional governments in hand to answer questions. That way the investment is spread all over the country and no region is left behind. I am just afraid of the potential for disenfranchisement if the development is not spread across as much as possible!
/Zeru
@Eliaskebede, You are talking about housing. That is very sad, In the name of millennium, many many Diaspora took land freey but they all sold it and left the country. But we Ethiopians living in the country serving the country and its people could not find a plot of land for years. We are have been lobbying just a 170 sq.m plot of land just in the regional cities. But thanks to Mekelle Municipality they all sucked our Money 5000 ETB *200 housing unions * 20 plus members each. Imagine how much money. It was 1998 E.C that is 5 years before. Look at the money value today. No interest, no plot of land for HOUSING and no reply to our request. Very sad when you are talking about home for diaspora. But I do not personally loose hope because of 5000 ETB. I have been studying abroad and Now I am going back in a couple of month.
@aiga, A friend of mine asked you this issue some time ago. But u never even answered his/our question. Many many many messes are going on how are you talking about propaganda. Please do not intend to say what the government said. Try to add something about what the people say. Why is difficult for you to challenge very few corrupt people in the government you are supporting day and night.
About the Transformation, it is a great idea, but needs great commitment from the government and from its cadres, equivalent to the propaganda unless it will end up being a plan.
thanks!!
With the right policy and the right attitude in place, the majority of the Diaspora could have come home in droves and the government has neither of them. Sad.
In the absence of accountability it is easyfor the government to promise any thing.
How ever regardless of what the government promises and delivers, every citizen is dutybound to contribute his/here share in reconstructing Ethiopia.
I have never voted in my life. If Ethiopia lets me cast my vote while I am living abroad, then we talk about cooperation and I can comment on their transformation. For the government that I didn’t vote, why would I cooperate.It is their transformation not mine. I stand with you all, who challenged Aiga to be critical of the propaganda we kept hearing from home.That is the kind of mind Ethiopia needs for real transformation.
That is My say Aiga.
I am very optimistic that my say would make it to the discussion board because I have seen more critical comments that made it already.
To be honest I am very much satisfied with the performance of Meles Zenawi and the Ethiopian government so far – particularly with regard to the economy. I have no doubt the in the coming five years they will also attain the major goals and objectives of the Transformation and Growth Plan. But I am afraid a lot needs to be done to win the hearts of the Ethiopian people and the diaspora – first and foremost every Ethiopian has to be treated equally without regard to his ethnicity; secondly, positions in the government should be given based on merits rather than loyality to certain groups; thirdly the federal systems should lay the foundation for genuine powersharing among the regional states; fourthly pro-goverment groups such as Aiga should stop being partisan and pro-certain ethnic groups against others and enage in constructive criticisms and debates. In the long run I have do doubt that the current goverment will win the credibility of everybody and it want be long that we beg Melest to stay in power – because in the main he is really a smart politician and dedicated leader.
Hey annonymous, It is not the secondary or tertiary schooling who makes difference. 1.5 Million I strongly disagree that most of this diaspora population is richer. How do you assess the rich diaspora living in U.S and Europe? It is really bad and is pretending. We know how this population is living outside. 16 hrs of work even hard to be informed about issues in Ethiopia. So main factor to Ethiopia and its Development is the rest 80 Million living in Ethiopia.
first thing first, distinguish between who is a genuine Ethiopian and who isn’t. cos genuine Ethiopians are being denied the Ethiopian ID by birth simply because they can’t prove their birth date and place due to the way asylum is claimed in most cases. I am sure we all understand it … At the same time we have seen some die hard Ethiopia-haters who could even pause a threat to Ethiopia’s security obtain the ID just because they can speak Amharic and Tigrigna. ( I personally know, a Shabian embassy employee who has it) ..clear that mess first, cos you may be dreaming of growth and transformation with explosive under your pillow….learn from your past mistakes, or else you will take ethiopia down with you…
The call for the Ethiopian diaspora to participate in the process is great offer as always but I doubt if Ethiopia can transform its current status by obsessively depending on foreign resources.
For instance we can take these two countries after 1950s: while S.Korea was industrialized by labour intensive exports coupled with the US financial Aid, Brazil still remains middle-class economy with one of the most unequal soceity mainly because it failed to promote export while become import-intensive and that it has been excessively dependence on foreign resources. As a result, debt grew and led to crises of balance payment (Kohli, 2004).
As the Growth and Transformation clearly states, Ethiopia must agressively mobilize endigeneous enterpreneures by fascilitating financial and skill sources THAN depending on foreign direct investment or excessive debt as this may eventually hurt the country in the unpredictable and changing condition of the global economy.
As the government has sucessfully mobilized the people at all levels to work hard to realize the “ambitious” GT plan, it has to do the same with all business community in the country and Ethiopian diaspora for investment. I don’t mean that Ethiopia has to ignore foreign direct investment but this should not be the main drive behind the growth of the country’s economy. Thus, the long-term negative effect of reliance on foreign resources should be an issue to think seriously.
The rest, I applaud the overall effort of my government and the people in the country. Cheers
It is very good to have a plan to change the situation in Ethiopia. The foreign missions and embassies should not be discouraged from the bullying of few radical diaspora members. At the same time the government should have a double passport rule for diaspora who were born in Ethiopia but who have other country’s passport. To increase the engagment of the diaspora the corrupted civil servants should be controlled.
Embassies could get us current developments and incentives for the diasporas. We do not get much of the needed information from them. The concept of the Diaspora’s involvemnet in Ethiopia’s emerging development is a boble one. I belive all Ethiopians should do our best to be part of this historic transformation of mother Ethiopia. Governments will come and will go, but Ethiopia shall remain Ethiopia. Thus, we need to do our best to invest in Ethiopia.
However, as for now the housing issue in Ethiopia for prospective diaspora investors is relegated to none. Do we stay in Hotels while looking to invest in Ethiopia? Why are decent house-pricies in Addis way higher than most American cities? House prices in Addis is three times that of the prices in American urban cities. How can investing in Ethiopia be attractive when the basic necessities are too high?
With this at hand it is imperative that the Diaporas get some kind of housing incentives so we can invest with no hindrences. Where are the informations we need to know about the Housing Market, Government Incentives, Market Analysises, import and export incentives etc…?
How can we help as Diaspora Ethiopians? What areas of inverstments are highly needed?
The above questions must be answered to all. I do not think the embassies think: “Zemta Worq New” is the way to go. It just seems to me that the communication mechanisms are not there to reach all Diaspora Ethiopians. Yes, we have heard that there was some meetings with Diaspora Ethiopians in Shearaton and elswhere, but how did they get to know about that? How is that most of us do not know anything about these informational meetings?
The twisted logic: “I didn’t and don’t vote for the Ethiopian Government, so I do not want to invest in Ethiopia” is like saying, republicans cannot invest in America because they did not vote for Obama. How childish it would be. Is not Ethiopia bigger and more sovereign than any of its govenment? Come on, guys, let be mature!
We need to invest in Ethiopia, bacause not doing so would only infect the majority of Ethiopian population with negative conswequences.
Remember, the Indians, Vietnamese, chinese, and Brazilian Diapora are investing in huge numbers in their own countries. Why can’t we learn from them?
I think the Diaspora should organize to engage in the industrial sector as much as possible, in the manufacturing and agro-processing. The government has made it very easy for the Diaspora to engage in this sector: Land will be given virtually for free for manufacturing plants and farms, upto 70% of loan financing is available and there is a great demand for all kinds of manufactured goods within Ethiopia and for Export. Diaspora Ethiopians can do so with joint ventures with foreign companies and investors Ethiopians I think this is the best way the Diaspora can help the country. If Ethiopians don’t get involved in this sector, most factories in Ethiopia will be foreign owned, which is unnecessary.
I wouldn’t invest a penny in a country that is made up of “nations and nationalities” because it is like a UN. The future is up in the air….so if you seriously care to talk about INVESTMENT, the first requirement is to amend the constitution and make Ethiopia a COUNTRY. Then redraw the local regions non-ethnically in more pragmatic arrangement, ban all political parties and affiliates from business activities, wipe out corrupt leaders and continue the good infrastructure work being done by the gov. ….So why even bother building something that can be lost so easily…
@Tenkir
Canada, India and Switzerland are liguistic federations like Ethiopia. And they are doing pretty good if u ask me. So your prognosis about Ethiopia is not backed by Historical facts. By the way, did you know that Switzerland is a federal country based on 4 linguistic regions – German, English, Italian, and Romansh?? I highly doubt it.
Justin,
I have many friends from India, Canada (from both French and English speaking) and Switzerland. Comparing Ethiopia and the socio-political realities among these countries is like saying apple and orange are the same. btw for instance Indian government is a proud pan-Indian but still they have ethnic libration fronts and they are the first to tell you that they don’t like the arrangment…..
@Tenkir
I am sure some people don’t like such arrangements. But the fact is these countries with linguistic federations are doing pretty well and they have remained intact for quite a long time. Bet you if you tried to impose non-linguistic federal arrangement on these countries, they will fall apart very quickly.
justin,
as I told you, don’t expect me to compare how the French speaking people feel about Quebec and Canada to that of the Somali speakers in Somali region in Ethiopia etc. The dynamism is completely different.
For many reasons that I really don’t have time to list them here, the fabric of trust is broken so bad that if we see a government official from a certain ethnic drives a BMW that we think everybody from his/her background drives a MBW and that it is done at the expense of the region named after our ethnic. In short mixing ethnic with politics is a bad cocktail in Ethiopia. Indian for religion and many other reasons are very different from us. Also there is no historical foundation to draw regions based on ethnic because Ethiopia is such an old country with not much changes during colonial era.
The saying that non-linguistic federal structure will bring down a Ethiopia is a fantasy that EPRDF supporters carry in their head and convince themselves. Sorry I am not suggesting you are one….just saying.
All,
The blog is created for those willing to invest and do some good with their money in Ethiopia to have a say! That is to express their ideas out loud, so to speak, how the Embassies can help .
Those of you who want to preach us the sky is falling over Ethiopia can wait until we open another blog for you to express your thoughts out loud too! Otherwise we will remove out of topic comments not to mention the uncivilized comments! Thank you!!
It is interesting when the goverment calls for diaspora investment while there are insurmountable challenges and they have put obstacle after obstacle to frustrate investors, that the call for the diaspora involvment in the transformation of the country is a mokery.
I have a first hand knowledge and exprience and hence I should be able to tell the government that investent in Ethiopia is near imposible for the following reasons 1) No land available to lease or buy. 2) No cooperation from the government offices that give license or permit for this and that beyond the investment office 3) Importing vehicles for business and personal use is prhibitively expesive ( can any one imagine paying 200% tax not on MRP but on its retail value, transport cost, insurance, and most egrigeous of all tax on each tax which are 6 layers of tax levied on each tax six times…..crazy. isn’t tax on tax illigal in most counties?)
4)Housing price is so inflated that it is easier and cheaper to buy a house in any of the metropilitan cities where we reside than AA. 5) Some of the buerocrats consider the diaspora invester as cash cow they have to milk for this and that favour 6) Finally and most cucial most diaspora ethiopians can make their money work better for them in the secure businesses that they are familiar with (and after all didn’t they accumulate the money where they are)….except there is always a sense of belonging, and yearning for one’s own country and people most of us are willing to take the risk of investing in our country.
How does the government want to attract it’s detractors when even its admirors and supporters know that it is very hard to invest in Ethiopia.
I know people who have tried to invest millions of dollars and who found it hard to navigate through the maze of buerocracy and stabling blocks put in front of them intentionally that they have abandoned their initiative. A freind of mine got his investment permit in one day he was extatic he mobilized a huge sum of fund to invvest but he could not move an inch beyond the investment bureau that the fund he mobilized was losing money put on hold( for the investment) instead of generating surplus that, he had to abandon the endevour of investing in Ethiopia. Tell me what should he have done more than commit to invest a huge some of money?
Yes the PM said “fight for your right” and I agree that we should not expect a red carpet but then we are not fighters we are investors and we chose the world of business and not politics for that reason. By the way there are cities and towns that recieve you with red carpet in many countries if you are wiling to invest that kind of money and there may not be the drive to fight but only to invest.
This said my comment is not to condem the government but to bring to the attention of the responsible autherities and persons who are working day and night to bring the transformation that there are things that need to be changed/ fixed if you want to attract diaspora investors beyoned a tour to diaspora land and convetions.
Hi Tenkir, I think it is too late to destroy the linguistic federation system and to redraw the regions like the old ways. I do not think it is a choice anymore. even the morst backward regions of ethiopia are now difficult to put them back in the old trap as they are enjoying their freedom and very much in control of their regions. I think this will be only a dream to think we can go back there.
I think the investment the gov is talking is for those ethiopian diaspora with resources such as in education, wealth, and patriotism to their country. therefore this is not a call for all Ethiopian diaspora so do not worry that you are not investing in ethiopia.
as to aiga i thank you for allowing us discuss this important issue. I believe the gov can play important factors in helping us investing in our country ethiopia. for instance, incentives, guidance or information. i know of many ethiopians who want to invest with a group in the axion system but most of them have fear of trusting the members as experience shows many people loosing their money due to some unloyal people. i wish the gov itself involoved in establishing a union of investors. i believe this will creat confidence in many of the people who have this concern.
Meles Zenawi last playing card is Investors? After failing to make any dent to tackle poverty in Ethiopia in the past 20 years, now he is in a sale out spree of every national assets to foreign.
Aiga, you tell you again, if a country is not lifted up by its citizens, it will never be lifted by foreign investors. There is no single country in the world which has prospered by investors. No country on the eath.
If Meles could not make a dent in 20 years, it is a pipe dream that he will make it in 5 years. Meles has miserable failed in a long litmus test. He is a failed self-elected despot who have run out of fammunition.
5 Years is tomorrow. Leave alone in 5 years, even in another 20 years, Meles cannot bring any change. It is simple and the reality right on the ground in Ethiopia.
Apart from building few high rise building in addis Ababa, Meles has failed flat on his head. The sell out is a desperate game card when he could not get anything new in the past 20 years.
The main reason, there is no human development in Ethiopia. Citizens are not motivated to work and to make a difference. All Ethiopians who got the opportunities to leave Ethiopia are leaving. The simple reason, Ethiopians hate Meles Zenawi. We hate him to our bones. The talk of development has been going on day in and day out for the last 20 years.
There are 13 million Ethiopians who depend directly and indirectly on handouts as before which shows nothing has changed.
For instance, in Tigray, the situation is not different from the time of derg. It is all the same. Even during derg there was war. But now there is cold war where the military stationed there for the past 20 years. The new opportunities for Tigreans young girls is prostituttion to the militaryin Tigray. Anyone from Mekele inside would tell you how bad the situation in Tigray. Tiny poor Tigreans girls becoming prostitutes and having babies who have no father. The news coming out of Tigray heart breaking.
Aiga, you are the enemy Tigrean in particular and Ethiopian in general. You and your despotic boss have hijacked the struggle of our people. I lost 100s of my families members but you betrayed them. First you duped them by convincing the whole Tigray to be land-locked and not to use Massawa. What our people have got at the end is prostitution industry and sitting in Tigray and not allowed to go anywhere. Tigreans used Massawa , the whoel red sea for millennia, but you idiots fooled the whole population to be land-locked and now the 7 million people in Tigray is being held hostage by you.
Aiga, go to hell with your five year transformation. Leiyabu. Ketefti, Nebse bela, bealaeti nebsie. Rugumat, kebdamat. Ab bereka ab hamedn dksu kemzeyneberekum, hiji, hizi, Niti hizbie kihdkum ab arat kilo tnebru? Ketefti, sereki, adimetfaeti
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Good idea and ofcourse anything to get us out of poverty.
First i don’t want to complain too much about past failed attempts to reach the majority Ethiopian diasporas but here are some solutions.
Most diaspora would like to help but majority of us don’t know how to make Ethiopia food sufficient as we are too busy making the cash that can make it happen. So…
Send your best sales agents with balls who can stand tall and loud in the Embassies and not shy, afraid or intimidated selling Ethiopia to Ethiopians…instead of some softy who tells us simply to go to Ethiopia…there is good investment opportunity.
Don’t expect us be equipped on the how to of investing in this sector, instead have your sales agents walk us through it and convince us to draw it out of our fat bank accounts.
Don’t send us to Killil’s investment offices where the bureaucrats are unhappy that we don’t speaks the Killil’s language….that was the case with land allocation issues.
Don’t let’s us work with unregulated private companies so we don’t have to wait a life time for a return on our investment after we through our money on them….that is the case with most real estate companies as a single house takes more than ten years to be built…sometimes not being built at all.
Resolve the problems of diasporas who Are strggling with the housing market and Restore the faith of the disappointed diasporas by real estate companies as their faith is hyjacked by Anti Ethiopian elements propaganda
not to invest in Ethiopia again.
An average diaspora won’t even blog here as he/she is busy spending their hard earned foreign currency….so set up an outreach community who can reach the waitress who makes $100-$400 a shift, parking hussler who hassles $100-$500 a day and the shy academics who are earning $50K to $100K a year.
Send your best sales agent who sees a diaspora as human as Ethiopian but as a walking bank account who needs to be told how to invest in his home country….
This is how they sell mortgages, auto mobile leases, fitness memberships and so on.
Come and get our money! Ethiopia needs it as much as we like to help our country and eventually come home.
It is well known that embassies are de-facto spy agencies for any government. However, embassies are also civil service institutions for citizens as well as foreigners interested in that country. Unfortunately, it seems the Ethiopian embassies have completely forgotten their duty as civil service institutions and have focused too much on the spying part, both on their own citizens and on others. That is one big mistake that has to be corrected, should the government desire to attract the Diaspora. The Diaspora is composed of both EPRDF-haters and EPRDF-lovers, the embassies have an obligation to cater for both groups without any discrimination since their purpose is serving Ethiopian citizens but not party affiliates. The Embassies are ETHIOPIAN embassies but not EPRDF embassies … therefore the government first should place competent professionals who understand their duty as well as know what they are doing … and second, separate to the professional work of consular business, the gov’t can have a different department that deals with intelligence gathering. Once that is established and appropriate policies are enacted (such as dual citizenship status), I believe it will be easier to attract the Diaspora, both that support and oppose the ruling party.
We got it wrong in Ethiopia when party and state became one and the same. Real democracy requires the separation of party and state where government operations are non-partisan.
Aigawoch,
First I would like to commend your dedication for decimating information regarding our home land. To my understanding and follow up I do not think I would be mistaken if I say aiga is very much engaged much more than the government institution back home. Saying this I would like to say something about the topics you invited your readers.
It is obvious that Diaspora Ethiopians can play a positive role for the transformation of our country. But in my view there is very important point that the government or any one playing in the Ethiopians politics failed to take a note. Not only in politics, but in anything that involves two parties there should be a TRUST between any two parties. To this date we Ethiopians are not blessed to have a government that we trust. As far as I am concerned all EPRDF supporters are not courageous enough to let alone deal with this issue even if ever it cross any EPRDF’s supporters mind. If there is a trust in the political system there is nothing that hinders the transformation of our country. There are many issues that needs to be dealt with before inviting Diasporas to participate in this issue. First and above all as I said the government should win the trusting hurt of the people that it governs. It is not a few millions of Diaspora that will transform the country. Of course they can contribute, but the first thing that the Meles administration should consider is how the government or the its poetical system treats the local business men in the trustworthy manner. The clear example that I can mention is the resent Meles’ speech at the meeting with the local business men. I do not think any rational thinking leader would tell his people” …. will cut your finger”. This speech does not show that the country is governed by low; rather it shows that the people that run the government machine can bend the rule to their will. I can imagine if the prime minister does not prohibit himself from this kind of speech in public, he is much worse if one engages with him in person with an opposing view. So with this kind of intimidation, coupled with the well known lack of accountability of the government institution how do you expect diasporans are encouraged to invest in this kind of environment? In my view, EPRDF has a lot to work at home before wining Diaspora Ethiopians which I believe is a secondary issue.
I agree with Yoni above and some others who have said their say on this issue.
The fact of the matter is who knows what the actual growth and transformation of the gov. is all about? Has the government thought long and hard about engaging the diaspora? not at least where I live in Europe as far as I am concerned.
The diaspora is in need of people who are naturally active, eloquent, honest, free from government or opposition parties propaganda but willing to serve his community and his country and easy to talk to persons more alternatively, from the diaspora community so that they can built that trust which is lacking at the moment for so many reasons at the moment, I’m afraid. It could be a selected or elected committee among the diaspora.
This way the government can not only bridge its self with the diaspora but also can fulfill the over ambitious plan to some degree. This committee can also align and closely work with the Embassy which at the moment can not or fail to engage with the diaspora on their own.
Members of the diaspora are fade up of long faces in Eth. Embassies every where, who lacked professionalism @ their work. They only count their years and when it is time they act on plan B, which is defection. Some of the diplomats can not sell onions let alone selling and advocating Ethiopia’s commodities as well as culture and tradition. This is not personal but rather the mare fact. I could go on and on, however, there is no need for that.
What we need is change in the way how best the country can benefit from the diaspora using a bi-lateral kind of relationship. The government need people who can sell the idea of growth and transformation with in the diaspora world clear and loud. Only then we can envisage the out come of the five year plan to be successful. Finally would like to wish best of luck to the government of Ethiopia.
@derebew
The taxes on cars in Ethiopia is ridiculous. It’s not only for diasporas who want to bring in their cars, but also for all Ethiopians who want to buy a car in Ethiopia. In most cases, the tax on the car is more than the value of the car. Frankly, Ethiopia has to be the most expensive place to buy a car in the entire world. It’s like government officials do not want Ethiopians to own a car. Their logic totally escapes me. If their aim is to boost tax revenue, it’s very misguided. The gov. could collect the same amount, if not more, by lowering the import custom tax to about 30% as most countries and collecting as much if not more in total tax from more buyers and importers, for cars will be affordable to a lot more people. The purpose of any tax is to raise revenue for the government without inflicting hardship on its citizens. But this tax totally fails that basic test. If the government believes not owning a car is not a hardship, then all their talks of about lifting the Ethiopian people from poverty to the middle-class is Hot Air! As one of the Diaspora lady said during the recent Diaspora meeting regarding the car tax, we did not work our butts off in foreign countries to improve our lives and standard of living to be poor again if we want to go back home. The same applies for those who are currently living in Ethiopia – it’s unfair to ask them to fork all their hard money to the government if they want to improve their standard of living by buying a car.
Aiga,
with all due respect, your response to commentators seems to have a tone of take it or leave it, and it is undemocratic to say the least…people need to have confidence in the system before they even contemplate investing let alone approaching the embassies. and it is up to the system to listen to people’s concerns cos every thing that happens in Ethiopia, be it the ethnic politics or the ethnic related bureaucracy has a direct or indirect impact on investment….some of us don’t even know where in Ethiopia we belong this days cos our ethnicity isn’t as clear cut as we are expected to be by the system, therefore lacking confidence in approaching the embassies for the fear of being forced to ethnically identify ourselves..plus, there seems to be ethnic segregation in the diaspora just as there is official ethic politics in Ethiopia. If there is an Ethiopian cafe owned by a Tigrian, the likelihood is it is full of Eritreans who behind the Tigrians talk all the doom and gloom of Ethiopia, terrorizing people of visiting Ethiopia let alone investing. I don’t know if you realize it, but perhaps the well intended ethnic divide is being exploited by some who don’t want to see a strong a stable Ethiopia..anyways, there is basically so much confidence building that needs to be done before insisting on investment..
@justin, I strongly agree with your idea in the tax for cars. It is really hard to think of buying a car. Not only that but also this is being used as a means of soring the pricing of locally assembled cars to dramatically high price. Abay car was 140,000 then because that was the only affordable for the high middle class citizens, now it got to be 220, 000 +. Amusingly 80,000 + with in 2 years. This is totally unacceptable. The government should lower the tax and many people can buy and gov’t can raise revenue. Instead of putting the tax at the point of non-reachable.
Corrupt ppl can only buy cars today in Ethiopia.
Tenkir,
The points you are saying should be annuled from the Ethiopian constitution so that ‘you’ invest in Ethiopia are Pillars of the existence of Ethiopia. If any one or two of these Pillars is/are pulled down, Erthtiopia will for sure collapse and we will have many states. So no one will these days welcome you if you stretch your hand to dismantle the Pillars. Ethiopia would rather miss your investment than see itself dismantled. That is is, my friend. This is the hard truth you have to take, Mr. investor.
justin,
I agree with you, The car tax is shortsighted and selfish to say the least..nothing to do with protecting the country’s long-term interest, instead it is all about making as quick money as possible and limiting car ownership to those government officials who don’t have to pay tax to import cars….what they fail to understand is Ethiopians choose their country not because the system offers them any thing that Kenya or even other better developed countries don’t offer for reasonable price, but for a simple fact that it is their country. But if the system turns the country in to an exploitative mom, then there is a limit to how much we can compromise for the love….let’s put it this way, how ever much I miss my country and wish to live there it makes more economical sense to invest, live and drive in Kenya and visit Ethiopia every weekend.
Having said that, I can understand some of their concerns about the privilage being abused cos it happened in the past, but they should learn from their own failure to design a good system and improve it instead of shutting everything down….if they can collect a finger prints for tax collection, why not for duty free privilege for example…but the truth is there is just that abesha thing “lack of goodwill”..a prevalent disease all over ethiopia. they probably see improved living standardized in a negative light…the bureaucrats often say ‘come tomorrow’ when they can do it today…
What the Ethiopian govt should do is fight the entrenched bureaucracy in Ethiopia before sending emissaries abroad, however well intentioned. For the most part, most of those working in the respective embassies are trying to flee as their meager wages abroad wont let me live reasonably let alone comfortably. The proof is in the pudding. If only things worked properly, the govt can do a better job by hiring competent marketing and public relations firms for a fraction of what it costs to send a diplomat( god forbid his families as well) half way across the World to more or less brain wash folks. Above all, it will be advisable for the govt to allow on top of all the positive advices hitherto mentioned, to allow a vibrant and transparent stock and bond exchanges which are open to both local and foreign residing ethiopian investors. There are stock exchanges everywhere in major African cities like Nairobi and Johansberg. There is an ‘ informal one’ in Ethiopia too without regulatory oversight if one considers the banks and others. The core of such exchange can be partially ( 49% to begin with) privatized profitable ( ELPA, Ethiopian Airlines, Telephone company, Cigarette company, sugar industries, tea plantations etc). Some of the stock can be allocated to employees and average citizens and the rest to diaspora. It is common knowledge that it is easier to dollar cost average one’s investment than dive in with the whole parachute, be it golden or otherwise. Once this phenomena the whole World has discovered centuries ago is born, Diaspora can invest through their brokers or mutual funds. Specially exciting is the potential of the Hydro electiric potential of the country(given the ever rising oil price) as well as the massive gold and potassium reserves which are being exploited by penny stock companies with very little background. A million diaspora can raise a lot of money and invest some of the money he or she sends to his family in such a scheme. What made countries like the US prosper and what the Chinese seem to pursue is the same risk distribution scheme or ( 50 lomy theory). any sane individual cannot invest in a country where there is no credit rating system, little legal remedy and numerous hurdles. When the fundamental economic situation which is allowing indian stock listed companies ( Khartori) or gold and potash mining companies ( listed on London , toronto stock exchanges) is on a plain playing field for all Ethiopians, the country will be the winner. This said, I am sure the Ethiopian embassies have a role to play, along with honorary consuls amongst local residents ( usually non Ethiopians who have roots or have done business or lived there and are respected in their communities for their ethics and benevolence).
This is, by no means, to refute the impeccable advance the country has made and is known to the whole World. I am just stating as it is. A lot more can be achieved by copying what the rest of the World has been doing for ages. We dont have to reinvent the wheel we just see what has worked in other countries. Sincerely, i have doubt if any govt or publicly run company can do an efficient job. ( telecom companies executives are facing jail terms as i write this thread). I am sure the Electric company has its share of problems judging by its lackluster performance ( Gibe projects etc). It is better for the govt to privatize them partially and allow dynamic proven resourceful companies to run them efficiently. The govt should allow some companies to remain in their current status , as a matter of public interest, but it will collect more revenue in taxes than it gains by letting such gigantic nepotism filled dynosaurs keep on bleeding the country.
It is interesting to read diverse views from different writers. Keep on discussing the issue and look more wider on some of the issues for further discussion.
The sick Gezae, you have not left Ethiopia because Meles has failed to bring change for the country. Nor “all” Ethiopians hate the PM; it is just handful former Dergists and Eritreans surrogates like you gone wild of a sickness of hatred. I understand that you have lost your sense long a go, but what I wonder is that there is no one who helps you out of this serious sickness. Alas…zemed yelelh kereh.
Gadaruma
Tesfaywolduhagos@yahoo.com
. Ethiopian Foreign Policy Background
Under Mengistu, Ethiopia maintained a strong military alliance with the USSR, which provided the country with arms. When this alliance ended in December 1990, a casualty of the end of the Cold War, military assistance came to a halt. Before and after the flight of Mengistu, the U.S. government played a key role in supporting the EPRDF’s effort to enter the capital city of Addis Ababa. Although a U.S. official attended the conference held in Addis Ababa only as an observer, Washington officials appeared to be involved in the preconference proceedings. Now that Meles has embraced democracy, the U.S. government expects the foreign policy to be less ideological and more pragmatic. In return, the Ethiopian government will expect substantial economic and democracy supported integral developemnt assistance from foreign policy.
Since the collapse of communist regime, the government of Ethiopia has effectively embraced peace with its neighbors as a beacon of its foreign policy. It played the role of peaceful mediator in the civil war in Somalia, in Rwanda, and in the conflicts between Eritrea and Yemen. Meles is the architect of this policy and has often emphasized the promotion of fraternal ties with Ethiopia’s neighbors. The peace mission is strikingly consistent with the Organization of African Unity (OAU) mission of promoting and protecting peace in the continent of Africa. Meles was elected chairman of the OAU in June 1995, the headquarters and secretariat of which are located in Addis Ababa.
2. What is Integral development mean?
As we all exercising and having experience, the Ethiopian government and Ethiopian people are deeply engaged in the Integral development Plan. Integral Development is one of Ethiopia’s dream and action, which is the most unique and experienced leadership and management consultancies, providing a comprehensive range of best practice leadership and organisational development services. In order to success in this line and Ethiopian government recently has done the renewal and improvement of Embassy’s human resources and trying to improve the continuation of foreign policy. This is very reasonable transformation for the good of today’s Ethiopian political, social and especially for economic development.
3. Embassy and diplomacy with foreign policy
An ambassador is typically an appointed political figure. Most ambassadors have foreign service training, and receive additional training before they are deployed to ensure that they act as responsible representatives of their governments. In addition to members of the foreign service, embassies often use staffers from other agencies. Staff from other agencies may provide supplemental information or support to the embassy. For example, most national embassies are secured by representatives of the military. A limited number of embassy staff may come from the host nation as well.
It is Diplomacy based Integral development what he is saying and wishing for his country, as he was started from very beginning of his responsibility and accountability. Because, a diplomat engaged in the diplomacy should be an active as prime minister or foreign minister, being appointed by these two important offices of public administrations. Therefore, the role of embassy in the relationship of the sending and receiving nations can and must deal in different fields of the common good of the two nations. This is in a diplomatic line. After that, we can ask “ what is diplomacy”?
Diplomacy is the art and practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of groups or nations. It usually refers to international diplomacy, the conduct of international relations through the intercession of professional diplomats with regard to issues of peace-making, culture, economics, trade, and war. International treaties are usually negotiated by diplomats prior to endorsement by national politicians.
Diplomacy is a board game, war game, and strategy game set in Europe in the era before the beginning of World War I. Diplomacy was the first commercially published game, which is in the public domain, saw significant postal play earlier. Diplomacy was also the first commercially published game to generate an active diversion with the invitation of investment makers and investment recipient — healthy relationship keeping — for both party benefit.
To sum up, in order to work for an embassy, employees must generally pass background checks and receive extensive training. Since diplomats are living representatives of their home nations, spotless characters and manners are required of embassy personnel.
Typically, a diplomat is deployed for a period of several years, ensuring that he or she establishes connections in the local community and contributes to the enrichment of relations between the two countries.
Please tell our bosses in Tigray to be as democratic as the other regions before they start inviting diasporans to invest in this unlucky region. Many people are being harasse
ከአስር ቀናት በፊት አቶ መለስ ወደ ምክር ብቅ ብለው”ያቋቋምናቸው ኤምባሲዎች ሌላ ምንም ስራ የላቸውም የመጀመሪያ ስራቸው ኢንቨስትመንት መሳብ ነው::ሁለተኛው ስራቸው ኢንቨስትመንት መሳብ ነው::ሦስተኛው ስራቸው ኢንቨስትመንት መሳብ ነው…ሌሎቹ ከዚያ በኋላ እሚሰሩ ናቸው::”ማለታቸውን አስታውሳለሁ::
ኤምባሲዎቹ የዜጎችን ጉዳይ በ103ኛም ደረጃ ለማየት አለመፍቀዳቸው ብዙ ሊያስገርመን እንደማይገባ ይህ ንግግር ጉልህ ማስረጃ ነው:
መልካም…ፈላሽወገን (diaspora) ለእድገትና ልውጠት(transformation)መርሃ ግብሩ የድርሻውን መወጣት እንዳለበት አምናለሁ::ጥያቄው ኤምባሲዎቻችን ፈላሽ ወገንንም ሆነ የዉጭ ባለሃብቶችን በአግባቡ ሊያስተናግዱ የሚችሉ ባለሙያዎች አሏቸው ወይ ነው?ብዙ ሃገራትን ዞሬያለሁ ኤምባሲዎቻችን በሙያ ብቃት ሳይሆን በፖለቲካ ታማኝነታቸው ብቻ በተመረጡ ግለሰቦች የተሞሉ መሆናቸውንም ታዝቤያለሁ::አሁን ሞስኮና አንካራ ኤምባሲ አለን ሊባል ነው?ሩሲያኛውና ቱርክኛው ይቅር እንግሊዝኛ እማይናገር ዲፕሎማትና አታቼ ስራው ምንድን ነው? የሩሲያ አዘርባይጃንና የካዛክስታን ባለሃብቶች ወደ ሃገራችን ገብተው መስራት ይፈልጋሉ::ግን መረጃ በማንና ከማን ያግኙ?ዛሬ ኢትዮጵያ ውስጥ የሚታዩት የተወሰኑ የቱርክ ባለሃብቶች አዲስ አበባ የሚገኘው የቱርክ ኤምባሲ የስራ ዉጤቶች ናቸው::በይነ-መረብ (Internet)ላይ Ethiopian Embassy in Turkey ብለው ይፈልጉ ትክክለኛ አድራሻውን እንኳን አያገኙም::በአንጻሩ አዲስ አበባ የሚገኘው የቱርክ ኤምባሲን ድረ-ገጽ ቢጎበኙ “ኢትዮጵያ እንዲህ ነች ይልዎታል::”ብዙ የምስራቅ አውሮፓና የቱርክ ባለሃብቶች አሁንም ወደ ሃገራችን መግባት ይሻሉ::ስለዚህ በነዚህ አካባቢዎች ያሉ ኤምባሲዎቻችንን በብቁ የሰው ኃይል እናጠናከር ወይም እንዝጋቸው::
ዘውዱ ባንትይደር
እግዚአብሔር ኢትዮጵያን ይባርክ!
Dearest Aiga,
Thank you for this interesting topic of discussion. To your question, “What can our embassies do to enable us to contribute to materializing the GTP?” my answer is as follows:
1. PROMOTE ENTREPRENEURSHIP: Success of GTP is dependent upon entrepreneurship so Embassies must deal with it strictly like business, not as charity.
2. WORK MUST RESUME IMMEDIATELY: Time flies. There are only 1570 days left including today.
3. ALLOCATE A BUDGET: Funds must be made available to materialize the plan.
4. CREATE GTP OFFICES: The first step needs to be the creation of GTP Offices within the embassies.
5. INITIATE DONOR RELATIONS: Identify donor US/European organizations that are interested in empowering the Diaspora to participate in the development of their country and engage them with GTP offices.
6. HIRE FUNDRAISERS: Funds must be raised to empower the offices to empower their clients.
7. HIRE EFFECTIVE and EFFICIENT IMPLEMENTERS: The new offices need to be headed by wise, tactful, friendly, patient and inspiring individuals, individuals who lived abroad for at least a decade as professionals.
8. INVOLVE THE YOUTH: Hire eloquent young Ethiopians born and raised in America or Europe with educational and work background in public relations or marketing to assist the GTP Offices in reaching out to their age group.
9. HIRE IT EXPERTS: Online public relations and fundraising are necessary. GTP Offices must communicate with the public all aspects of the program and progress on a daily basis.
10. BE TRANSPERENT: All funds raised and their effects must be reported online if not monthly, at least, quarterly.
11. BE INCLUSIVE: GTP offices must reach out to all—friends of the Ethiopian government, members of opposition groups, young Ethiopians born and raised abroad, African Americans, other Africans, Blacks in the Diaspora in general, non-blacks interested in Ethiopia and ALL interested in investment.
12. EXTRA EFFORT TO RELATE TO OPPOSITION GROUPS: Create groups that will hold dialogues with opposition groups with genuine interest to create peace that we can transfer to the next generation for the foundation of development is peace. Enable members of opposition groups to have their share in the development of their mother country, the country they dearly love. Special efforts must be made to heal their wounds.
13. CREATE GTP ANGELS: Encourage formation of clusters of investor groups—GTP angels—made up of several small investors enabling Ethiopians who have low-paying jobs but aspirations to contribute their share to materializing the GTP. Besides, small investments make up big investments.
14. ENABLE ETHIOPIANS TO GIVE BACK TO THEIR IMMEDIATE COMMUNITIES: Businesses that create jobs on both sides—US/Europe and Ethiopia—must be given priority.
15. DOCUMENTED INFORMATION: Prepare specific projects with the required specific amount of funds so interested individuals can have ideas of their options. All business plans must have “Plan A”, “Plan B” and “Plan C” so potential investor groups can have alternatives.
16. SCALE UP EXISTING BUSINESSES: Have information ready of existing businesses in Ethiopia with potentials to expand by partnering with the Diaspora.
17. EMPOWER WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES: Businesses owned by women and/or businesses with 51% women employees must be given special incentives.
18. CREATE EVENTS FOR GTP ANGELS TO BOND: Hold special dinner parties with entertainment quarterly to reward devotion and hard work.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my empathy to Wondim Derebew and Wondim Tazabiw whose love for their country is well communicated. I feel their hurt. They have raised some good points that I would like to see our government addressing them. Aiga, please don’t tell such individuals to not express their concerns. Instead, communicate our concerns to our government and bring us back answers. Respect our rights to question. Having said that, I would like to remind all of us of the January 1961 speech by John F. Kennedy, “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.”
Tenkir seems to have problem with both the concept of federalism as well as the reality in India and Canada.
If an example of the living world is not good enough then what? A custom made system for Ethiopia?
I myself lived in India and am currently residing in Canada. You would be surprised by the similarities of those countries specially India to that of Ethiopia. For example India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on and most of the states are divided along linguistic /ethnic lines. The states have their own official language and are encouraged to develop their own culture
The question of Quebec is by the way similar to that of Ogden, It was national question for independence from Canada, which is now defeated by the rule of majority for unity.
In conclusion Linguistic Federalism is not perfect but what better choice do we have? The Old (unitary system) was the reason for all the misery, conflict and poverty of the past century, I think it is worthwhile trying new.
My fellow Ethiopians, remeber what kennedy said in his innagural speech.
“ASK NOT WHAT YOUR COUNTRY CAN DO FOR YOU- ASK WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR COUNTRY”
Those of you who are cappable of helping your country should do so, because you have an obligation to do so no excuses.
God Bless Ethiopia!!!
@Dani
If they are worried about abuses of duty free privilege on cars, they can easily solve that by forgetting the privilege and just lowering the custom tax for everyone to about 30% – Tanzania and Kenya i believe both charge around 30% for importing cars for sale or personal use. In Ethiopia currently everyone pays 100% to 200% in car tax, whether you are a Diaspora bringing in your car or an Ethiopian resident buying from a car lot or private individuals. The Diaspora will happily give up the duty free privilege on cars for a reasonable custom tax. The current confiscatory tax is not in the interest of all Ethiopians, especially the average Ethiopian who want to work hard and improve his/her life.
Mr Justin,
I think your comment does not reveal the whole truth about Switzerland. The country is a confederation of 26 powerful cantons rather than ethnic regions. The population of the cantons could belong to the German, French, Italian or Roman ethnic groups. In fact one of the cantons is made up of three of the four ethnic groups. If Ethiopia were to follow the Swiss model the zones of the current federal states could develop into something similar to the Cantons each retaining its language and culture – wouldn’t that be a smart arrangement?
A,B,C of Condusive Foreign and Diaspora Investment
1.Get the Information Out to potential Investors
2.Create a stable financial environment.
3. Keep a track record of low inflation which in turn means
4. A low fiscal deficit and monetary policy
5.Low inflation = bedrock on which to build a market economy.
6.”[F]oreign investors value the freedom to repatriate profits.Restrictions on taking money out of the country are a major disincentive to foreign companies.”
7.Create a good trading environment means by
7.1. Abolishing import controls,
7.2. Removing export subsidies (when necessary),
7.3. Allowing prices of gas, electricity and oil to move to world
levels gradually;
7.4. In due time, privatizing overstaffed and inefficient state
industries;
7.5.Streamlining the legal system;
7.6.Bringing accounting standards into line with international
practice;
7.7. Making companies transparent; and
7.8. Removing foreign exchange restrictions.
In my view, the above measures are to be best implemented not at once but bit by bit in the right moment of the economic progress of Ethiopia.
While the role of the embassies in enhancing foreign investment is pivotal, it at the same time is important to see the real matter behind the matter of investment in Ethiopia. In my view, the idea of promoting investments in Ethiopia is indispensible. But the grand matter behind all this is conduciveness of the situation on the field.
It is true that there is a lot to improve in Ethiopia. But we should also see the improvements that have been made so far. I think looking into the issue through one eye only, is wrong. Let us look at the whole using both eyes, i.e. the cons and the pros of the reality at hand in Ethiopia.
I think one reality that hampered foreign investment to a major degree was the wrong currency exchange the Ethiopia had for a long period of time. It did not match up to the reality at hand and it did hinder direct foreign investment. I am talking about the currency exchange of 9, 10, 11 Birr to one Dollar that Ethiopia had for a very long period of time while inflation was rising alarmingly and house prices where skyrocketing in Ethiopia.
At that time but also right now, it was and is more attractive and more profitable to buy houses in major cities of America, Sweden or elsewhere in the West than in Ethiopia. Here is the core of the matter.
For years I asked why Ethiopia is not devaluating her currency in order to attract foreign investment. This was the right way to go if we or any other foreigners are to invest in Ethiopia. Because what we produce in Ethiopia should have an international value and competitiveness.
In the beginning of the 80s, the Swedish currency imbalance with that of the US became an obstacle for the Swedish economy. Oil prices became higher and Swedish products had hard time competing at the world market. In September 14, 1981, the then Swedish coalition right wing government led by Mr. Fälldin had to devaluate the Swedish Kronor by 10% as an economic measure to mitigate the investment and import and export gaps and inbalances. To combat rising prices they at the same breath also lowed the Taxes(moms) by about 20%.
Again one year later, on October 8, 1982 the Swedish government led by the leftist Social Democratic government devaluated the Krona by as much as the whole 16% in order to strengthen the Swedish export industry and foreign investments or as the Swedish econimists Erik Åsbrink and Mischa Sohlman put it: “den svenska industrins konkurrenskraft skulle förbättras med hjälp av en kraftig devalvering”(The Swedish Industries’ competing power will be improved by a big devaluation).
I remember members of the Swedish industry complaining with loud voices as they were experiencing such a big surprise when their kronor was devalutaed. It was a surpise to them because it happened a day after Swedish Finance minister Mr. Kjell-Olof Feldt told journalists that the Swedish Krona would not be devaluated att all. He had to protect the Ktrona’a international currency values.
The subsequent years to come, however, became one of Sweden’s most prosperous times. Unemployment dropped to its historic low level. The demand for Swedish goods skyrocketed. The export industry could no get enough people who would work for them in Sweden. Therefore, they asked the government to get them people from foreign countries.
I am writing the above examples as true measures done to enhance the economy and foreign investment. In my view the current devaluation of the Ethiopian Birr is in the right direction. We need now to invest and help others invest in Ethiopia. We also need to have Agro-industries and many other industries. When the time comes when need to devaluate the Birr to its right place in the economic currency market so we can attaract more hard currencies into Ethiopia.
In Ethiopia’s case not only lowering taxes in imperative after devaluation, but also reasonable price roofs (limitations) must be set in place on very essential commodities and basic necessities.
melkamut@yahoo.com
One thing the Ethiopian government must avoid is the copying of the western system be it in terms of social, economic, education or any other aspect of life. Things that work in North America or Western Europe will not work in Ethiopia. There are many social, economic and political problems in the west but the relative affluence of the west has covered the problems and contradictions in western societies. Therefore the government should seek home made solutions for the problems in Ethiopia.
It would be great if the PM appears more frequently and gives briefing on a regular basis, a weekly or monthly address would have been great, something like the WEEKLY Radio address we have here by US presidents.
Bereket Simon started last year but it is not happening any more.
Information is key.
The country has to give INTERNET the utmost and immediate priority to catch up with the 21st century:
INTERNET, INTERNET, INTERNET> I can’t emphasize this more!
We are lagging behind even in African standards!!!
You are right Zelalem. It would detrimental if Ethiopian government copies Western policies at face value. Contextual matters should be taken into consideration in the course of the economic policymaking. However, the right way to go is still towards a market economy with homegrown policies that enhance and not hinder the economic progress of Ethiopia. It must also be noted that some homegrown issues may need to be uprooted so the economic locomative of Ethiopia may glide freely.