Interview with Dr AddisAlem Balema Vice President
of Tigrai, Ethiopia ![]() (Aigaforum) May 25, 2016 - Dr AddisAlem Balema
is Vice President of the Tigrai Regional State and veteran TPLF member
currently serving as one of the executive member of TPLF. Among his current responsibilities are overseeing the economic
development of the region and urban development. He has served as Ambassador of
Ethiopia to Italy, China and as Director General of the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange
(ECX) prior to his current assignment. Dr AddisAlem
was gracious enough for a telephone interview with us. Addisu Bahta
and Isayas Abaye discussed with him about the current economic health of Tigrai, issues with good governance and building democratic
institutions. He also touched the Embasyneyti and Wolqayit /Tsegede issues that confronted
the Tigrai government over the last few months Dr
AddisAlem said, TPLF is a dynamic organization
capable to overcome obstacles. He said there are no challenges EPRDF or TPLF cannot
overcome! However, let alone a front of four organizations which EPRDF is, even
a single organization goes through tough times. Answering about the
relationship between the Amhara government and Tigrai,
he said the two governments are talking on some issues and he has no doubt all
issues will be resolved amicably. Covering the issue with
abduction of people from border areas by the Eritrean government foot soliders, he acknowledge the Eritrean government is a
menace to peace but its negative influence on the economy is minimum and is
restricted to border areas. He said the new rail road that will be completed in few years
will connect Tigrai with Djibouti and make the advantage
Eritrea has over Ethiopia as far as having ports mute! This will further complicate
Eritrea’s fate! Without a similar rail road connecting Eritrean ports to
Ethiopia there will be little need for Ethiopia to use the ports. He said the
Eritrean government is more harmful to its own people and country than Ethiopia. He also noted EPRDF may become a single party down the road
but there is no immediate plan to transform the Front to a Party due to many
reasons. He said things will remain the same for the foreseeable future. Dr AddisAlem
reminded the diaspora to come and invest in the country. He said the investment
culture now is more than ever conducive. |