Getachew Reda, the Prime Minister’s Advisor Minister for East African Affairs, has called for a strategic focus on converting natural features that currently pose a liability into viable sources of wealth.

Speaking on the need for developmental foresight, Getachew recalled a visit to the Bale Zone 13 years prior, stating that his perception at the time was limited solely to the region's geography. He argued that the failure to construct essential infrastructure despite the presence of immense natural potential is tantamount to making a deliberate choice to accept poverty.

He cited the Sof Omar Cave as a case study, noting that the site previously constituted a liability, as seasonal floods would cause widespread devastation. He explained that through recent development efforts, this former constraint has been transformed into a utilized asset, successfully mitigating destruction and channeling the resource toward productive development.

Getachew positioned the work undertaken in Bale as evidence that prioritizing development and leveraging inherent natural potential is the key to alleviating public hardship.

“We are not merely discussing Bale,” he emphasized, stating that successful development in these high-potential areas across Ethiopia would ultimately serve to strengthen national cohesion.

He concluded by observing that regions like Bale are revealing resources that extend beyond their geographical and historical definitions. To bring current initiatives to successful completion, he underscored the necessity of institutionalizing a collaborative and handover-based work culture. Getachew expressed his satisfaction at participating in this opportunity to recognize the nation’s full potential.