The Ethiopian House of People’s Representatives has officially approved a 2.34 trillion Birr federal budget for the upcoming 2019 Ethiopian fiscal year, aiming to drive economic growth and technological advancement. Passed by a majority vote, this new budget reflects a 21.3 percent increase—amounting to an additional 411.6 billion Birr—compared to the previous fiscal year’s allocation.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed attended the regular parliamentary session to provide a comprehensive briefing on the nation’s economic, industrial, and educational performance. He detailed the strategic allocations within the budget, framing them as essential steps toward stabilizing the national economy and achieving long-term developmental goals.
The Prime Minister highlighted significant progress in import substitution, noting that local production has successfully replaced goods that previously required nearly $5 billion in foreign currency. Furthermore, the manufacturing sub-sector achieved a 20.3 percent growth rate following structural reforms in the cement, glass, steel, and ceramics industries, contributing to an overall projected industrial growth of 12.7 percent.
Looking forward, the government has set a target to generate $1 billion from industrial exports in the next fiscal year. Alongside industrial targets, the administration is pivoting its educational strategy; after eight years of prioritizing basic primary education over new tertiary infrastructure, construction has officially begun on the specialized “Medemer Artificial Intelligence University.”
The new technology-focused institution is scheduled to be completed within one year, intending to position Ethiopia as a competitor in the digital sector. While the Prime Minister noted that ongoing efforts to improve educational quality and eliminate national exam cheating are showing promising signs, he maintained that substantial work remains to fully reform the sector.
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