By Shabait,
A meeting of the Eritrean Cabinet of Ministers opened today (01) at State House here in the capital.
The meeting conducted extensive discussion on the working paper presented by President Isaias Afwerki highlighting the national development programs for the year 2014, including sectorial programs and details of their implementation, as well as the budget proposals thereof.
The paper presented by the President focused on economic and social development vis-à-vis the prioritized programs targeting reinforcement of ongoing activities in all sectors. Accordingly, he outlined the agricultural development programs for 2014 aimed at giving impetus to national endeavors towards ensuring food security. President Isaias underlined that the programs should focus on boosting domestic production of legumes, oil crops, sugar, livestock, dairy, vegetables and fruits.
He further explained that the action programs relating the fisheries sector pertain to upgrading the capacity of the relevant institutions and facilities, as well as harbors. Moreover, the President cited the programs drawn up to develop the sector on the basis of both internal capacity and foreign investment.
As regards development of infrastructure, President Isaias shed light on the projects drawn up to further develop the capacity of Massawa and Assab ports in the next 2 or 3 years in a manner that would meet regional and international standards involving collaboration with foreign construction companies. The President further indicated that the road construction project connecting Massawa, Asmara, Mensura, Agordat and Adibara is among the priority programs to be undertaken in collaboration with foreign firms. In addition, he said that construction of roads, housing complexes and micro-dams would be undertaken through internal capacity.
In reference to the mining and energy sectors, President Isaias presented in-depth briefing regarding the development of electricity potentials nationwide and furthering the outreach to this end, in addition to linking the domestic network with that of the Republic of Sudan – all in line with the scope of the action programs charted for the coming year. The President also referred to the required budgetary allocation aimed at meeting the demand of all sectors. In connection with mining, he noted the experience acquired from mining companies operating in the country, and said that building internal mining capacity remains to be an issue of paramount importance as regards serving national interest. President Isaias also mentioned the necessary adjustments in connection with revising mining proclamations in the course of next year.
In relation with the trade and industry sectors, the President pointed out that increased focus would be made in development of manufacturing with more emphasis on boosting agro-industrial output. Fostering food processing capacity, reactivating domestic capacity of sugar and oil production, as well as raising beverage supply constitute some of the priorities, in addition to the processing of construction and other materials along with computer assembly, he elaborated.
President Isaias went on to state that additional investment would be made with a view to raising the capacity of land transport, and made reference to the plans drawn towards attaining aviation standards and developing airport infrastructure.
The President further outlined the plans charted with a view to revising fiscal policy directives dealing with budget, macro-economic balance, maintaining revenue and expenditure balance, encouraging loan and financing, as well as tax collection potentials.
In the domains of education, health and social welfare, he underscored the need of promoting service quality on the basis of improved managerial capacity, furthering human resource development and ensuring basic supplies, among others.
The Ministerial Cabinet noted the 2014 action programs drawn up in the domains of agriculture, fisheries, public works, trade and industry, as well as transport and communications respectively vis-à-vis the ways and means their implementation could pave the way for improved living standard of nationals.
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In continuation of its meeting held yesterday at the State House, the Eritrean Cabinet of Ministers conducted more deliberations today.
In the course of today’s discussion, the Ministerial Cabinet dealt with the issues of land, water and environment, and assessed the three-quarterly work accomplishments in connection with the sectors. The meeting held discussion pertaining to the implementation of the Land Proclamation, the allotting of land plots, projects concerning prevention of land erosion and enrichment of underground water resource, prevention of environmental degradation, development of enclosure management system, potable water supply, land use, as well as corrective mechanisms regarding illicit land sale, among others.
In its discussion concerning national development programs, the meeting scrutinized the modalities governing relations of partnership at international level vis-à-vis the framework for mutual understanding with partners. Accordingly, it was spelt out that the national development programs remain under the ownership of the State, and that the international cooperation programs should be implemented in line with the integrated national development plan. In this connection, the Ministerial Cabinet agreed that stepped-up efforts need to be undertaken to expand the scope of development cooperation programs with partners.
Pertaining to the health sector, the meeting assessed the accomplishments registered over the past 9 months regarding development and integration of information system for health institutions, promoting outreach of medical services, enhancement of service quality, development of diagnostic technology, control of communicable diseases, furthering child and mother health care, human resource development. It also exchanged views concerning the action programs charted with a view to reinforcing such endeavors.
In the same vein, the Cabinet of Ministers assessed the endeavors exerted at national level towards promoting educational outreach and upgrading the standards thereof, and discussed sectorial schemes for the year 2014. The educational plans thus drawn up encompass the putting in place and renovation of institutions, follow-up and control of educational activities, supplies and introduction of modern educational information system, curriculum development, publication of learning books, in addition to training.
In the domains of Labor and Human Welfare, the meeting reviewed work accomplishments in connection with direct support for disadvantaged citizens, the training programs organized to this end, and the support rendered to disabled nationals as well as families of martyrs. It also conducted discussion focusing on the efforts made to promote employment process, reviewing employment regulations and the like.
In the closing phase of the 2-day meeting, President Isaias gave directives as regards the finalization of the annual work programs on the basis of supplementing them with the ideas put forth in the course of the meeting, concretizing budget proposals and spelling out more elements of integration, coupled with the drawing of the required reference document.
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NOTE: We advised readers to listen to the extensive reportage in the above video to get a detailed and elaborate version of the envisioned 2014 development programs.
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