Premier calls for continued efforts on dev’t of subsidiary dams to enhance irrigation, power supply

Addis Ababa, January 31, 2023 (FBC) – The FDRE Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, called for continued efforts on development of subsidiary dams to boost irrigation and electric power supply.

Recall that Prime Minister and his cabinet reviewed yesterday the macroeconomic sector performance in the last six months of the current fiscal year.

In the meeting, it was indicated that the results recorded in the main macroeconomic indicators are promising for the continuous development of Ethiopia.

With this regard, it is stated that the energy sector including irrigation development, export trade and the development works launched in the mining and energy sector are encouraging.

Based on the macroeconomic performance of the first six months of the current Ethiopian financial year, the annual economic growth of Ethiopia is expected to be 7.5 percent.

The Prime Minister, who set directions and next steps during the evaluation meeting, said that the encouraging development activities started in all sectors should be strengthened and continued.

PM Abiy has praised the results achieved by the Ministry of Water and Energy. Hence, he emphasized that it is necessary to strengthen the development of small dams to boost irrigation and electric supply.

He noted that responding to the demands of clean drinking water from citizens to the required extent and doing a better job should be the direction of further attention.

The Premier recalled that the Ministry of Irrigation and Lowlands played an important role in irrigation by dispatching 48,000 water pumps in six months. He also underlined that this should be continued.

Besides supporting irrigation projects to be completed on time, the focus should also be on building small irrigation dams in each area, he said.

Controlling illegally exported minerals and working to substitute imported construction materials in the country must be the next areas of focus, he pointed out.

The PM, who recalled that Ministry of Trade and Regional Cooperation played an important role in the growth of the economy in the last six months, said the ministry should work next to create a stable economy by controlling inflation.

According to him, it is also necessary to solve the various bottlenecks observed in the trade chain by controlling illegal trade and smuggling.

The premier disclosed that job opportunities have been created for 1.5 million citizens during the stated period, but more works are needed in the future.