ECA reaffirms readiness to assist Ethiopia in achieving its dev’t aspirations

Addis Ababa, December 27, 2023 (FBC) – The UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) reiterated its willingness and readiness to assist the government of Ethiopia in achieving its developmental aspirations.

The Commission’s readiness was disclosed during a meeting between Mr. Ahmed Shide, the Minister of Finance, and Mr. Claver Gatete, the UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ECA, at the Ministry of Finance where they engaged in a fruitful dialogue on enhancing collaboration between Ethiopia and the Commission.

During their conversation, Mr. Ahmed expressed his firm commitment to fostering a strong partnership between Ethiopia and the ECA, with the shared goal of amplifying the collective voice of Africans on the global stage.

The Finance Minister also indicated that to realize Ethiopia’s growth and development the government of Ethiopia has been working in Ethiopia’s Home-Grown Economic Reform (HGER) Agenda and some other macro economy reforms in which the government aspires commonly engaged with reliable development partners including the Economic Commission for Africa.

As a current Chairman of the Horn of Africa Initiative, Ahmed stressed that to bring socio-economic change in the Horn countries he is highly committed to working together with the Economic Commission for Africa as regional economic integration is one of the important objectives of the commission.

For his part, the ECA Executive Secretary, Mr. Claver Gatete, disclosed his keen interest to explore more about Ethiopia. Mr. Claver reiterated ECA’s unwavering willingness and preparedness to support the government of Ethiopia in realizing its developmental aspirations.

He said as the Economic Commission for Africa was established for Africans’ wellbeing, the Economic Commission for Africa and African leaders and finance ministers should work together to the African agenda to be put on the forefront.

It is learned that the fifty-sixth session of the Economic Commission for Africa Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development will be held from 28 February to 5 March 2024 in Zimbabwe under the theme: “Financing the transition to inclusive green economies in Africa: imperatives, opportunities and policy options.”

It is indicated that the conference will advise on the process of funding the efforts towards a participatory and green economy. In addition to considering the statutory matters of the Commission, the Conference is one of the premier forums on the continent for dialogue and exchange of views among African ministers responsible for finance, planning and economic development and governors of central banks on issues pertinent to the development agenda of Africa.