Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:10:35 +0100
Nation's mining activities have a major comparative advantage: President
Isaias
Video-
http://eastafro.com/Post/2011/12/29/video-president-isaias-afwerkis-intervie
w-part-3/
http://www.shabait.com/images/stories/pics/apresdec291.jpgAsmara, 29
December 2011- President Isaias Afwerki said that Eritrea's mining
activities have a major comparative advantage both in terms of time and
significance as they provide impetus to national economic development
programs and their sustainability. The President made the statement in PART
III of the interview he conducted with the national media.
Stating that Eritrea is endowed with rich mineral resources, President
Isaias nonetheless highlighted the fact that economy does not mean
possessing mineral wealth alone. As experience of other countries
demonstrate, one should exercise proper handling, and thus refrain from
pronouncements of undue hopes as doing so may entail negative consequences,
he elaborated. In this regard, President Isaias noted that such wealth needs
to be judiciously exploited in the interest of present and future
generations. He further underlined that the substantial investment the
Government is making towards ensuring sustainable development in all sectors
is aimed at achieving this objective.
In addition to outlining the country's development programs aimed at
ensuring the distribution of electricity supply, expansion of alternative
sources of energy as well as raising the capacity of power stations,
President Isaias said that additional investment is being made to promote
land transport system both in reliability and efficiency, besides programs
of asphalting a number of roads.
Accordingly, the task of asphalting Asmara-Mensura-Agordat,
Agordat-Adibara-Tesenei highway, the Asmara City ring-road,
Tesenei-Omahajer, Mendefera-Barentu, Foro-Assab, Massawa-Karora,
Keren-Nacfa, Foro-Adi Keih, and Agordat-Zara roads would get underway. To
this end, the necessary machineries have been made available, he explained.
Moreover, President Isaias indicated that the development of ports and
docks, especially the Massawa and Asab ports, are among the Government's
major programs, and that steps have already been taken jointly with a
Chinese company to accomplish the task. Besides, the development and
expansion of docks is being given due consideration. He also indicated that
there is a scheme to develop the infrastructure and service provision of
Asmara and Massawa Airports, as well as constructing and upgrading secondary
airports.
Indicating that "ensuring food security is a timely strategy", the President
noted that in the contemporary world there is no economy that could survive
on its own in isolation. He further explained that what we produce should
not only be confined to meeting local market demands but should also be
export oriented. Short of fulfilling these prerequisites, the nation cannot
claim to have guaranteed economic development. As regards this task, he gave
extensive elaboration on the ongoing development activities in agriculture,
fisheries, meat, milk, fruits and vegetables.
Regarding housing, the President elaborated that as development programs are
expanding nationwide, the construction of residential houses and
service-provision institutions and related facilities should be put in
place. He further pointed out that even though the existing national
strategy has to be translated into practice, there exists an overall plan to
build affordable housing complexes in all the Administrative regions, and
that due effort is being made to provide the necessary building materials at
fair price.
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