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A/A, September 17, 2008 (ENA) - EPRDF
chairman Meles Zenawi said, in spite of GDP growth that result
in significant improvements in the livelihoods of the rural
populations, the rising cost of living continued to affect the
low-income segments of urban people.
In his
response to queries posed by participants of the ongoing EPRDF
7th Regular Congress in Hawassa, Meles said the government has
been reacting to the problem with supplies of food grains at
affordable prices.
He said the
rise in the prices of agricultural products followed the
skyrocketing fuel prices in the international market.
This global
trend, Meles said, forced the country to spend much of its
export earnings on purchase of fuel.
The
country’s fuel expenditure in hard currency went up in the
range of four- to fivefold, according to Meles.
The supply
of grains to the low-income segments was being made by lifting
taxes on food products, he indicated.
In its bid
to increase the country’s foreign currency reserves, the
government has been providing support to efforts of
intensifying export activities.
As a
result, Meles said, aside from earnings from tourism and
related sectors, the country’s annual foreign currency earning
has gone up to well over 2.5 billion Dollars.
The
Congress unanimously seconded the report presented to it by
the front and its audit commission concerning the performances
of the past two years.
The
endorsement came after thorough deliberations on the reports
which include domestic and foreign issues. In the coming
session, the meeting is expected to set out plans and general
directions of implementation of works for the next two years.
The meeting
has been on since Monday with the participation of voting
members of EPRDF drawn from TPLF, ANDM, OPDO and SEPDM as well
as non-voting members attending as observers including
affiliate parties.
Political
parties from numerous countries including China, South Africa,
Uganda, Rwanda, Sudan and the Eritrean Democratic Kidan have
also been in attendance. (END) |
