By Behailu Ayele
The Prime Minister established a 21-member privatisation advisory council on Friday
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) set up an advisory council, consisting of 21 members. The council will advise the government on the process of privatising state-owned enterprises.
Council members, formed on Friday August 3, come from government, the private sector, academia, international institutions and the diaspora community. On the same day, an urgent meeting was called at the Office of the Prime Minister where the members of the new council held a meeting in the afternoon.
The members of the Advisory Council are expected to meet again this week for further discussions to draft terms of reference, which includes the mandate and responsibility of the various stakeholders.
“When they called me I didn’t expect the agenda to be about privatisation,” said Beyene Petros (Prof.), a prominent opposition party leader, “rather I thought it would be a follow-up meeting from our previous summons.”
The member of the council also includes:
Eyesuswork Zafu,
Zellalem Melesse,
Maaza Birru,
Bekele Gelleta,
Abebe Aemirosellasie,
Lidetu Ayalew,
Tasew Wodlehana (Prof.),
Girma Seifu,
Lencho Batti,
Abraham Tekeste (PhD),
Yinager Dessie (PhD),
Teklewold Atnafu and
Girma Birru.
“We were summoned to express our willingness and commitment,” said Lidetu Ayalew, another opposition party leader.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister welcomed the gathering and explained the purpose of the meeting. During the meeting, a draft term of reference was distributed to members of the advisory council.
The former governor of the National Bank of Ethiopia, Teklewold Atnafu, said the advisory council will set the way forward for the privatisation process through a detailed evaluation process.
“We are expected to submit our recommendation within a year,” Teklewold, who is currently heading the financial affairs office in the Prime Minister’s Office, said. “Yet it depends on variables such as the amount of time the technical studies will take.”
The council will be tasked with analysing the best practices from around the world and advising the Prime Minister, according to Fitsum Arega, chief of staff at the Prime Minister’s Office.
“Technical advice will be given by the Ministry of Finance & Economic Cooperation,” Fitsum told Fortune.
A number of people expressed their support and concern on social media following the announcement.
“I remember being worried about the privatisation of state-owned enterprises. I have to say this list [helps] me sleep a little better [at night],” wrote Yaddi Bojia on his twitter page.
Yet others questioned the suitability of the professional backgrounds of some selected advisers for a process that involves privatisation of state enterprises.
“The members are selected based on their educational background, exposure and experience to create a wholehearted representation,” Fitsum says.
Members of the advisory team with backgrounds in political activism believe that they were selected to help check the privatisation process.
“The part we play will be in the political side of the privatisation of the state enterprises,” Lidetu told Fortune.
Source: Addis Tribune
