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From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Wed Sep 14 2011 - 17:30:06 EDT
Meeting of Eritrean Cabinet of Ministers underway
http://www.shabait.com/images/stories/pics/apre1.jpgAsmara, 14 September
2011 – A meeting of the Eritrean Cabinet of Ministers opened today at the
Denden Hall herehttp://www.shabait.com/images/stories/pics/apre2.jpg in the
capital.
The main agenda of the Ministerial Cabinet session focuses on the 2012-2014
National Development Plan, and that the meeting is holding detailed
discussion on the action program drawn up in all sectors for implementation
within the set time- table.
In opening remarks, President Isaias explained that development
opportunities at the national level as of the year 2012 are bound to assume
promising prospects. The meeting would hold discussion concerning review and
streamlining of policies, programs of reinforcing human and material
resources, strengthening food security and reserve tasks, putting in place
the requisite infrastructure, developing energy, land and sea water
resources, the relative advantages and competitiveness of commercial and
industrial activities, the mining sector, transport and communications,
tourism, judicial administration institutions, ensuring and developing
social services and human security, national information and diplomacy
programs, and the role as well as all-round participation of nationals
inside the country and abroad, among others. Moreover, the Ministerial
Cabinet meeting is holding in-depth discussion on the action program of all
sectors from the aforementioned standpoint.
The first agenda item of the deliberations dealt with the progress
registered in the program of ensuring food security and reserve. Following
close review of the projects drawn up relating infrastructure facilities,
land-leveling schemes vis-a-vis introducing modern farming and technological
devices, and the studies undertaken to raise farm output, the meeting
approved a three-year work plan on substantially raising agricultural
output, developing animal resources, expanding agro-industrial plants and
developing human resource capacity.
The Ministerial Cabinet meeting subsequently discussed the activities
undertaken and achievements registered regarding the land, water and
environment sector. Noting the significant progress made in environmental
protection on the basis of internal resources within the context of regional
and global experience, it called for still greater effort to this end, along
with developing animal resources, in addition to efficient land and water
management. The meeting reached consensus on matters relating to future work
programs concerning the aforementioned sector.
In connection with marine resources, the Ministerial Cabinet meeting
reviewed the outcome of work programs dealing with the judicious utilization
of marine resources vis-à-vis endeavors to ensure food security and economic
growth in general. It also conducted extensive discussion on the action
programs that need to be implemented and the work methodology that should be
applied, as well as the necessary policy measures thereof so as to promote
modern industrial fishery activities. Furthermore, it stressed the need to
exert maximum efforts to train and deploy the required human resource
capacity, besides approving the action program charted in the domain of
fishery resources.
The sector that the Ministerial Cabinet meeting reviewed next was the future
work plan of the Ministry of Public Works. Following the presentation by the
Ministry, the Ministerial Cabinet strongly recommended that refraining from
repeating the experience observed in some countries as regards the expansion
of slums and highly concentrated dwellings and learning from the positive
experience of other countries and thus implement housing projects in which
essential infrastructures and services are in place. And noting that such
projects call partnership with other countries, the Ministerial Cabinet
designed detailed work plan. Reminding that priority should be given to the
constructing and renovation of infrastructures, service-providing
institutions, trade and industrial complexes, roads, dams and others; the
Ministerial Cabinet discussed at length the issue of housing and forwarded
important recommendations.
As regards deliberations Energy and Mining sector, the meeting reviewed the
ongoing activities and developments in the provision of Electricity to
different towns and villages from the Hirgigo Power Plant and other sources.
The Ministerial Cabinet also thoroughly discussed the details of plans to
distribute electricity for about 50 villages, the required budget and other
resources needed. Regarding the Mining sector, the Ministerial Cabinet,
after evaluating the status of the sector from issuing licenses for
exploration to the practical, investment so far made, approved the future
plan in the sector.
In its deliberation regarding the transport and communications sector, the
meeting conducted discussion on the structural adjustment and objectives of
the sector in terms of its feasibility vis-à-vis future plan. Citing that
the Government is exerting a huge investment to secure as many buses as
possible and in a way that will allow people get easy availability of
transportation, the Ministerial Cabinet recommended continued subsidy for
the sector. It further conducted discussion on the program of the
construction and renovation of ports, airports and terminals, land
transportation and its facilities, as well as inspection of efficiency of
vehicles and strengthening research and information centers.
In its deliberations regarding the trade and Industrial sector, the
Ministerial Cabinet thoroughly discussed the future plan to strengthen
institutional capacity, review regulations and manuals for developing
directives for issuing trade and investment licenses aimed at developing
internal and international trading activities. It also discussed the plan
designed to raise productivity and innovation of small scale institutions in
the industrial sector.
Regarding the tourism sector, taking into consideration that Eritrea’s
strategic geographical locationf being a resounding advantage vis-a-vis
development of tourism, the Ministerial Cabinet meeting approved long,
intermediate and short-term plans aimed at enabling the sector become hard
currency generating entity, providing employment opportunity, enriching the
government’s financial resource and familiarizing Eritrea and its people
with the outside world. It further discussed the paramount importance of
indentifying the potential tourism destinations and conducting rigorous
advertisements, as well as putting in place up to standard service-providing
facilities.
The meeting of the Ministerial Cabinet will continue tomorrow.
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