Happy New Year to you and to us all!
Time is a workbook given by the Creator to humanity, containing a set number of pages for every individual. Until the final page is completed and the cover closes, the right to write whatever we choose remains in our hands. Many have filled their pages with world-changing ideas and technologies, while others have written thoughts and actions that caused destruction, division, and hardship.
The past year leaves behind its scars, achievements, debts, and rewards. What matters now is what meaningful work we choose to write on the pages that remain. Today, Ethiopians are crafting remarkable achievements for future generations. We are building a green economy through the Green Legacy Initiative, expanding tourism through the Gebeta projects, securing food sovereignty through summer wheat production and Ye Lemat Tirufat (Bounty of the basket) initiative, and bolstering manufacturing through the "Made in Ethiopia" drive. We are working today with tomorrow in mind, expanding energy capacity through natural gas and nuclear technology, supplying agricultural fertilizers locally, and broadening our aviation horizons through the mega Bishoftu International Airport project.
The book of our era is actively recording historical milestones: the successful completion of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, the fruits of irrigation projects, record agricultural yields, growing exports, the positive outcomes of macroeconomic reforms, expanded regional energy interconnections, the realization of Digital 2030, and urban corridor developments that reveal Ethiopia’s true beauty. It records how riverbank restoration is protecting our land, cities, health, and water resources, how pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity is expanding, how mineral exploration and sales are healing historical economic fractures, and how the agenda for maritime access has gained international recognition while expanding Ethiopia’s global influence.
Ethiopia enters the new chapter of 2019 E.C. having successfully completed its National Dialogue, a historical consultation requested by citizens for generations as an alternative to resolving differences through conflict. The dialogue achieved three major results. First, it disproved the cynicism that Ethiopians could not consult or reach common ground, proving that diverse viewpoints do not prevent national consensus. Second, it cultivated a genuine culture of political dialogue centered on the public rather than elite power-sharing arrangements. Third, it generated agreed-upon recommendations that will be translated into national policies, legal frameworks, structural reforms, constitutional amendment inputs, and national symbols.
Demonstrating commitment to these dialogue outcomes, the government granted clemency to hundreds of detainees on New Year's Eve. This step aims to begin the implementation of dialogue results in a spirit of forgiveness and peace, fulfilling requests made by participants during the consultations. Those pardoned are expected to play a positive role in advancing peace and democracy, supported by society at large.
The time for weapons and force has passed; the era of ideas and the pen has arrived. The coming year will focus on deepening these achievements, expanding the political space, reinforcing multinational unity, raising economic productivity, and securing Ethiopia’s regional and continental leadership to build lasting prosperity. Reaching these goals requires the active participation of political parties, elites, religious leaders, security forces, manufacturers, businesses, farmers, youth, women, civil servants, and the media.
May the new year write a chapter of new history, ideas, and progress for Ethiopia. May Ethiopia live honored and respected through the efforts of her children, and may God bless Ethiopia and its people.
