ADDIS ABABA, June 6 (Xinhua) -- Decision by Ethiopia's ruling party, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), to partially liberalize key sectors of the economy is in line with the government's development strategy, an Ethiopian official said on Wednesday.
In a press statement, Ahmed Shide, Minister at Ethiopia Government Communications Affairs Office, said the decision will support more active participation of the private sector while keeping Ethiopia's fast economic growth.
"The Ethiopia government has been involved in some sectors, including infrastructure and service sectors, where the private sector is reluctant to invest," he said adding that the decision will allow for a more proactive role of the private sector.
On Tuesday, the EPRDF Executive Committee announced plans to allow mixed or outright full privatization of state owned enterprises such as railway projects, sugar development, industrial parks, hotels and other manufacturing industries.
The Committee also decided to allow minority shares in Ethio-Telecom, Ethiopian Airlines, electric power generation projects and the Ethiopian Shipping and Logistics Services Enterprise.
Ethiopia until now has resisted liberalizing key sectors to foreign and local investors saying it needs to protect its economy from multinational firms and ensure domestic ownership of the economy is kept intact.