Public Lecture on “Development Plan and Economic Development: The Case of GTP 2011-2015” Given
State Minister of Ministry of Finance and Economic Development Dr.Abraham Tekeste delivered a public lecture on March 10, 2011 to Leadership and Good Governance students at the Ethiopian Civil Service University.
Dr. Abraham first expressed his happiness for being called for this purpose. He described the plan as medium term indicative plan which is based on long term Ethiopia’s vision and International commitments like Millennium Development Goal (MDG). It aims to transform the economy from agriculture led to industry led and it is believed to change social and economic atmosphere of the country, said Dr. Abraham. He further said that
"we need the GTP to prioritize key problems, to identify what we aim to achieve, to design proper intervention schemes and to ensure accountability."
Dr. Abraham also capitalized on GTP as Leadership Exercise. GTP as Leadership Exercise provides inspiring vision, communication and participation, ownership and leading by example. According to Dr. Abraham the objectives of the GTP are at least 11% rate of growth, expanding and improving quality services, establishing suitable conditions for sustainable nation building and realizing sustainable growth.
Students raised questions after the presentation. The questions include what is to be done to enhance saving? What measures should be taken to avoid unemployment? How is the issue of environment entertained in the plan? How is it possible to counter act to black mailing news by out side agencies? What are the mechanisms designed to curve inflation rate during the plan period? and the likes.
Dr Abraham in his reaction to the questions said the government planned to encourage saving by facilitating favorable conditions like opening new branches of Commercial Banks, expanding micro finance institutions, introducing Tele-banking and others. But more importantly it is a matter of attitude, he said. We should believe that we can save and change. Concerning unemployment he said the government is aggressively working to create job opportunities by organizing peoples to work in small scale industries. As to environment protection we will continue to work with international community to curve adverse effects of environmental degradation, he said. He also told the participants that inflation is taken as major challenge during the plan period but strategies are designed to mitigate the problem.
Dr Abraham finally urged the participants to be concerned with and do their citizenship responsibility to uncover the lies of some international Medias.