Huge Public Mobilization Ahead
T
he Abay River, one of the biggest natural resources to speed up Ethiopia’s economic growth and development, has been in history seen as stranger to its own people. Finally a historic day of event came in March 2011 when the Ethiopian government announced the commencement of Grand Ethiopian Reissuance Dam (GERD) during a ground-breaking ceremony held at the presence of the late PM Meles Zenawi, who said “the Dam will be constructed by us Ethiopians, by our own finance, human resource and peoples’ full participation’’. Nine years ago when the GERD construction was launched, the government had strong confidence that the Ethiopian people will support the government to bring this long overdue dream of the nation to reality. When this huge project was initiated, it was without any kind of support or loan from international financial institutions. The call for the construction of GERD was fully embraced by peoples of Ethiopia.They immediately acted and showed their enthusiasm by conducting big rallies and demonstrations, followed by massive contribution in kind and money. The private sector, civil servants and people from all walks of life, ranging from shoe-shiner to high profile businesses and the diaspora have begun to contribute and buy bonds. Every individual Ethiopian pledged to support the project since its commencement.
“Ethiopian scholars have begun to appear on global media outlets and disclose the selfish and fluctuating stand of Egypt on GERD to the international community. Thus, the usual public support gets back soon.” 28
Abyssinia Business Nework // ABN
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The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, for me, is a living history that breaks up "the spirit of the impossible". It is a symbol of unity and promising development
ልዩ እትም 2012 Special Edition of GERD 2020
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