Sunday, March 13, 2011

Gov’t endeavoring to address bottlenecks for GTP implementation: Meles

Addis Ababa, March 12, 2011 (Addis Ababa) - Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said government is assessing all possible means to address bottlenecks for the implementation of Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP).
The premier said nation would likely to attain 11 percent economic growth as it was forecast as base case scenario.  In a press conference he gave to foreign journalists here on Saturday the premier said finance and the execution capacity are the identified hurdles of the implementation of the GTP.

Hence, the government is looking various alternatives to address the finance source including enhancing tax collection, public enterprise, loan and grant among others.

Various measures are being taken to address the execution of capacity, he said and adding, the metal corporation is now able to construct factories and produce spare part for factories.

He said sugar and fertilizers factories would be constructed in the coming years. Asked about government lending cap, PM Meles said government is assessing ways to consider the case. Earmarking loans for some sectors would be one of the means, he said.

Concerning lack of sugar, edible oil and other commodities at the market, Meles said there is no shortage which he said “artificial and addressed soon” but is lack of efficient distribution system.

He further said government has adequate sugar and edible oil would address the distribution problem soon.

PM Meles said government has put in place two legislations to promote transparent and corruption free competitive trade environment.

The premier said there was a major gap between import and export volume and the trend is beginning to narrow.  Government is verifying the fact on the situation in Jimma to address the root cause of the clash, he said and adding, individuals engaged in criminal activities would be taken to court.

Asked the impact of North African uprising to Ethiopia Meles said the unrest in the region is unfortunate but none of North African countries’ unrest would have direct impact on Ethiopia but Yemen.

He said the instability in Yemeni would pose a major security threat to Ethiopia as the country is the hotbed for Al Qaeda.

Meles said government is doing its level best to evacuate Ethiopians from the hostile situation in Libya.  The premier said government is registering Ethiopians in Libya in collaboration with the Sudanese embassy in Libya and working closely with UN agencies to evacuate Ethiopians

Government is taking measures to address land grabbing in Addis Ababa based on tangible evidences. Government’s employees who facilitate for the grabbers would be taken to court.

He said government would ultimately dress the shooting house rent price by improving the supply of low cost houses.  The premier gave reflections on various issues including Nile, the Eritrean government, inflation, fuel, foreign reserve and Somalia.

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