Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2011 21:37:42 +0100
Eritrean Cabinet of Ministers conducts meeting at Denden Hall
http://www.shabait.com/images/stories/pics/aapp1.jpgAsmara, 20 December
2011- In a meeting it conducted today at Denden Hall here in the capital,
the Cabinet of Ministers approved the budgetary allocation and
implementation of overall national development in general and the integrated
development plan for 2012, following the
http://www.shabait.com/images/stories/pics/aapp2.jpgpresentation of a
working paper by President Isaias Afwerki outlining the political,
socio-economic, cultural strategy for the nation's progress.
In the working paper, the President pointed out that endeavors towards
ensuring food security would continue in an intensified manner both in an
organizational and operational sense. He further explained the programs
underway to reinforce agricultural development through rainfall and
irrigation farming, with particular emphasis on developing export- oriented
production and for internal consumption. President Isaias also enumerated
action plans to develop infrastructural facilities for the fisheries sector
on the basis of internal resources and partnership, besides raising the
capacity of salt works. He also explained action programs for effective and
judicious utilization of the country's land, water and environmental
resources, as well as upgrading professional and organizational capacity for
the realization of such tasks.
The President also elucidated the work programs mapped out for the expansion
of electrification across the country and reinforce power generating
resources, in addition to mobilizing resources for harnessing mineral
potentials, introducing solar and wind generated power resources, among
others.
As regards trade and industrial sectors, the President outlined programs
drawn up to develop domestic trade and export both in quality and scope. In
this regard, he indicated that due attention would be given to promote the
private sector and create broad investment opportunities for the private
sector, as well as strengthen service- rendering institutions. Moreover,
President Isaias gave a detailed outline of the envisaged work programs to
streamline tax collection methodologies, establish large and small- scale
processing industrial plants, among others.
In connection with the transport and communications sector, he pointed out
that efforts would be stepped up to further develop land, air and sea
transport facilities at substantial expenditure. To this end, the President
explained action programs dealing with the development of airline service,
reliable land, railway and sea transportation, along with the requisite
facilities. He also indicated that work programs have been outlined to
upgrade existing road network in the country, and that the asphalting of
Asmara-Mensura-Agordat, Agordat- Adibara-Tessenei, Asmara ring road,
Tessenai-Omhajer, Medefera-Barentu, Foro-Assab, Massawa-Karora, Keren-Nakfa,
Foro-Adi-Keih and Agordat-zara roads would get underway in 2012. Repair
activities on roads in different parts of the country would also be
undertaken, the President added. Moreover, he outlined actions programs
envisaged for the New Year regarding the upgrading of airports, sea ports
and navigation services, in addition to constructing secondary level
airports.
In the domain of water conservation programs, President Isaias pointed out
that more projects would be launched to cope with the growing demand of
water supply for domestic and agricultural purposes, and that the
construction of micro-dams, irrigation canals and the like would be give due
attention. Similarly, he indicated that the necessary strategy for the
construction of residential building complexes on the basis of reliable
supply of cement, wood and iron materials, among others, has been mapped
out.
In connection with programs drawn up to enhance the expansion of education,
health and social security services, the President explained the strenuous
endeavors underway to promote education that is up to standard both in
content and scope, as well as enhance the capacity of teachers. In this
connection, President Isaias gave directives dealing with teaching
methodologies towards streamlining courses in the Arabic language in all
schools in the country.
Regarding health service, he explained that continued attention would be
given to the task of expanding health and social security services. As far
as enhanced social security services are concerned, the President emphasized
that action programs in the provision of social security services should
give close attention to enabling beneficiaries strive for self-reliance as
opposed to being mere recipients of assistance.
Regarding the information and diplomatic efforts, President Isaias explained
the outlined programs to reinforce popular, political, socio-economic,
information and cultural rebuff and clarified on the efforts to qualitative
programs strengthening of the presentation and dissemination of visual,
audio and written information materials.
Regarding the judicial institutions, the President gave extensive account on
the need to enlarging the infrastructural facilities of justice facilities
throughout the county so as to ensure efficient and timely rendering of
services that would ensure stability, peace and justice.
With regards Local Administration, President Isaias pointing out that the
study that has been conducted to clarify the objectives and to streamline
the structure and organization of the Head Office of the Local
Administrations, regions and its offices as well as sub-zones is already
concluded, and is ready for implementation and explained the expectation of
contributions of line ministries in ensuring the congruent implementation of
national and regional programs. Concerning national development activities
and streamlining national strategic policy, the President underlined the
need for compiling development programs of all ministries at the documents
of the national development programs and pointed out that the policy
regarding international cooperation and partnership is on process.
Proceeding to the financial sector, President Isaias gave extensive
explanation on regarding budgetary allocation for charted development
programs by line ministries and local administrations. He also extensively
clarified on the program charted to realize macro-policy program, to protect
the balance of income and expenditure, exploit general resources, and
strengthen the collection of income, completion of market administration and
revising monetary policy.
President Isaias who explained that we have been able to register big
development activities is because unlike what we witness in other countries
we possess committed a government and government employees who work without
expecting salaries expressed his appreciation for the EDF members and
government employees that endured all life challenges and pointed out that
salary adjustment would be made step by step to government employees and
study has been initiated for its implementation.
In conclusion, President Isaias gave briefing regarding programs to
strengthen study and research institutions in all sectors, human resources
development and developing professional and institutional capacity.
The Cabinet Ministers upon hearing the detailed presentation of the
President discussed on the short and long term programs sector by sector and
with national development measurements.
The Ministerial Cabinet in its extensive and deep discussion assessed the
integral national development programs and projects that would be
implemented by different sectors and the contribution they would have in
improving the lives of citizens. It further evaluated the short and long
term programs of every sector could have in improving the existing and
future demands of citizens, in stabilizing market, in expanding trade and
industrial activities, in creating job opportunities and increasing
productivity.
The Ministerial Cabinet also conducted sector by sector in-depth discussion
on sectoral policies and development programs and their impact in ensuring
food security and shelter, provision of basic energy, water, transport,
education and health services. Furthermore, the Ministerial Cabinet citing
the contribution of all the development programs in introducing modern
technology and recruiting human resources equipped with profession and
capacity, underlined the contribution of integrated development programs in
improving the living standard of citizens in transforming the socio-economic
and developing the culture of citizens, recommended the continuation of the
efforts to strengthen capacity of governmental and public sectors coupled
with modern information technology.
In conclusion the Ministerial Cabinet, adopting resolution and directives on
the implementation of the discussed national development programs concluded
its one day meeting.
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