by Engidu Woldie
ESAT News (June 6, 2018)
The meeting of the ruling EPRDF that decided to “fully accept” the ruling of the Ethiopian Eritrean Boundary Commission and the Algiers agreement yesterday, has also made a decision to open up key sectors of the economy that has so far been closed for private investors.
The statement issued by the EPRDF at the end of a day long meeting said that while the government maintains the lion’s share, local and foreign investors would be allowed to have stakes in Ethiopian Airlines, Ethio-Telecom, Hydroelectric projects, shipping lines and logistics.
The EPRDF also decided that government enterprises such as Railways, sugar production, industrial parks, hotels and manufacturing would be fully or partially privatized.
The statement said the decisions have been made to bring about “inclusive growth” and “keep the momentum of the fast growing economy.”
It however said the implementations of the decisions would be made in line with the “developmental state” policies of the country and bring about a “speedy and uninterrupted growth.”
The decisions by the ruling party has been viewed as a major policy change in an economy that is controlled by the government and ruling party conglomerate.