In a recent interview with AMICO regarding current affairs, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) highlighted significant agricultural, industrial, and tourism milestones in the Amhara region, revealing that the region's annual agricultural yield has more than doubled from 90 million to over 205 million quintals.
Recalling the period following the national reform, the Prime Minister acknowledged that studies had confirmed the Amhara region had not benefited from development as much as it deserved. He noted that this development gap, which reflected a broader national issue, is now seeing promising and significant progress, directly addressing the core economic questions raised by the public.
As part of these ongoing efforts, the Megech Dam project—which had been delayed for 18 years—is now nearing completion and will soon begin operations. This crucial project aims to solve Gondar’s severe drinking water shortage and expand irrigation networks. The Prime Minister emphasized that the allocation of billions in budgets to complete various dams in the region represents a monumental achievement that should not be underestimated.
These infrastructural investments, coupled with the provision of fertilizers, agricultural machinery, and the widespread distribution of water pumps, have yielded tremendous results. This concerted effort is what drove the region’s annual agricultural production past the 205 million quintal mark. While describing this growth as highly encouraging, Prime Minister Abiy stressed that it is still not enough and that much work remains to be done.
Beyond agriculture, the reform years have sparked massive industrial revitalization across the region. The Lemi Cement Factory, now the largest in Ethiopia, was built with substantial government support and is fully operational. Additionally, new industrial parks have been constructed in Bahir Dar, Debre Birhan, and Arerti, alongside the successful completion of the Tana Beles Sugar Factory. Debre Birhan has notably welcomed a massive ceramics factory—the premier facility of its kind in East Africa—which, together with numerous edible oil plants and private industries, is rapidly transforming the region into a new industrial hub.
The tourism sector is also witnessing historic milestones as the government resolves long-standing challenges related to tourist destinations and accommodations. The Gorgora project, designed as a legacy for future generations, joins the remarkable renovation of the deteriorating Fasilides Castle and major infrastructural upgrades from the airport to Piassa in magnifying the beauty of Gondar.
Furthermore, in collaboration with the French government, extensive renovation work has been carried out on the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela. The breathtaking Lake Logo Resort is also now attracting international conferences and foreign visitors alike. The Prime Minister concluded that these significant works in tourism infrastructure, including the upgraded roads leading to Debarq, stand as major achievements that have drastically transformed the region's overall image.
