Addis Ababa, December 26, 2024 (FMC) – Ethiopia’s far-reaching reform under the leadership of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has been bringing about a significant shift through addressing the long-standing issues and creating a more inclusive political-economic establishment in the country, according to State Minister of Finance, Eyob Tekalign.
In an interview with ‘Ethiopia in Focus’ by Office the Prime Minister Press Secretary, Billene Siyoum, Eyob underscored that the year 2018 is a turning point in Ethiopian history as the country initiated a reform to address a lot of controversy around the state formation in Ethiopia.
Noting that the nation-state building process of Ethiopia is an incomplete project, the state minister said that generation after generation has attempted to transform the country in the pursuit of progress, development, and prosperity.
However, Eyob argued that yet these goals have remained elusive, believing the backlog of Ethiopia’s past has significant political impacts and difficulties in making progress today.
He added that over the decades, Ethiopia has grappled with issues related to its political and economic structure, which have often been contentious and divisive.
The current Ethiopian government that came to power in 2018, inherited numerous challenges, including war, economic instability, and deep-seated grievances, he recalled.
Fortunately, the reforms initiated in the stated year represent a significant shift in Ethiopia’s trajectory, aiming to address long-standing issues and build a more inclusive and equitable political and economic system.
“The reforms are sweeping….. for instance, the political reform is so deep and a new political culture is in the making, ” Eyob revealed.
For him, the establishment of the prosperity party is consequential, in particular.
The Party is changing the political narrative and culture in Ethiopia, he said, adding that for the first time introducing an inclusive political agenda.
Speaking on the economic aspect, Eyob revealed that the reforms have focused on fostering a more resilient economy, improving public sector efficiency, and promoting a more inclusive political culture.
For instance, the ongoing reform has also rebalanced the role of the private and the public sector, the state minister pointed out.
He added that the reform has created an enabling environment for the private sector to become an engine of economic growth with about 70 percent of bank loans now going to the private sector as opposed to going to the public sector before the reform, local newswire service reported, citing the State Minister’s conversation with the PM Office Press Secretary.