Abiy Ahmed continues to push for wide-scale economic reform in Ethiopia, which is now considered Africa’s fastest growing economy.
By Rahma Ouled Cherif
Rabat – Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali plans to host a fundraising dinner that costs more than $175,000 per person, according to the office of the prime minister. Abiy hopes to use proceeds from the dinner as capital to finance the development of infrastructure.
The dinner will fund Abiy’s “Beautifying Sheger” project, a three-year project to be executed by Varnero construction company.
Rather than rely heavily on foreign loans, Abiy Ahmed plans to fundraise $1 billion from the dinner.
The Sheger initiative includes the development of Addis Ababa, the expansion of green spaces, and investment into the green economy.
The fundraising dinner is just one of the unique ways that Abiy has raised funds for the development of Ethiopia. In an event in Ambo, 100 kilometers west of Addis Ababa, that raised about $14 million, Ahmed sold his watch for $175,000.
Since he came to power in 2018, Abiy Ahmed has taken measures against corruption among members of the country’s previous regime.
This drew criticism and led to Abey being targeted in a bomb attack on June 23, 2018, which resulted in two casualties at a rally in support of his government.
Among Abiy’s reforms is his willingness to reconcile with Eritrea, which has long had tense relations with Ethiopia. On June 26 last year, Abiy met delegates of Eritrea in the hope of repairing ties between these two nations, after over two decades of animosity.
Abiy Ahmed continues to push for wide-scale economic reform in Ethiopia, which the International Monetary Fund considers Africa’s fastest growing economy.
