Addis Ababa — The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has urged Ethiopia to make its rapid economic growth inclusive and embrace significant part of the population.
Achim Steiner, Administrator of UNDP, who has been in Ethiopia for tow-day official visit told ENA on Wednesday that Ethiopia has shown high growth rate during the past few years, however, the growth needs to be inclusive.
“Ethiopia has made a great stride in GDP growth rates as all of you know. But as we have learnt not just on Ethiopia and the African continent but across the world high GDP rates need to be disaggregated to see that their economic growth is inclusive,” he stated.
Hoping that Ethiopia’s development trajectory and the ongoing wave of reforms that have swept the country this year, an inclusive and sustainable development could be attainable for the coming few years, Steiner indicated.
“I think over the next few years as Ethiopia progresses, the country’s development strategies would enable to attain inclusive growth with vision of a green economy of a 21st century as a middle income country,” he underscored.
Noting that UNDP has been part of Ethiopian journey on many development programs during the past four decades, the administrator said adding that it will consolidate its engagement in various areas to the national development strategies of the country.
He added that Ethiopia is striving to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which have been adopted by the United Nations and its member states.
“I would say that the United Nations’ family but also UNDP has engaged in Ethiopia through the perspective of SDGs seem to be highly compatible with the Ethiopian government priorities. Therefore, we are trying to rethink our role how to enhance support for the changes have been made in this country.”
Acknowledging the reforms being undertaken in Ethiopia, UNDP’s administrator said “the reform is symbolic of the East African peace initiative that will allow countries to invest less on arms and conflict management.”
He further said “it has actually enormous consequences for economic opportunities in the horn of Africa.”
He also expressed a firm commitment of UNDP in taking Ethiopian development into the next lavel.
“For UNDP this is a movement which we want to step forward, offer our support and enhance our assistance for the development initiatives and directions Ethiopia is taking,” he said.
During his official visit to Ethiopia, Achim Steiner met with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and other senior government officials.
Source: ENA
