State Minister underlines need for appropriate implementation of population policy

11 July, 2006

Addis Ababa, July 11, 2006 (WIC) - The government's policy should be appropriately implemented to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) through balancing population growth with economic development, the State Minister of Finance and Economic Development stressed.

Speaking at a symposium marking the 13th anniversary of issuance of Ethiopia's population policy and Population Day, the State Minister Mekonnen Manyazewal said the government is implementing a five-year development plan to speed up an economic development that considers the characteristics of population and alleviate poverty.

He said the plan mainly aims at bringing about economic development that benefits all at different levels and laying firm foundations for the success of the Millennium Development Goals and added that integrated actions of all concerned bodies is required for the success.

Mekonnen said Ethiopia is one of the countries with rapidly increasing population and has currently 75 million people, which is increasing annually by two million people.

He noted that appropriate implementation of the population policy will help address the challenges that follow from the rapidly growing population.

Minister of Youth and Sports, Aster Mamo ,said on her part that the government is implementing youth policy that enhances the role of youth in their nations political economic and social activities.

She added that the efforts underway to ensure sustainable development, eradicate poverty and meet the Millennium Development Goals will enable to solve the social, economic and other problems of the youth and noted that the efforts should be further strengthened.

Guest of honor to the symposium and Honorary Ambassador of the United Nations Fund for Population Affairs athlete Meseret Defar said on her part that all concerned bodies should work together to extricate the economic, social, health and reproductive problems of the youth.

This year's Population Day symposium which focuses on the youth was organized jointly by Population Affairs Department of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, Addis Ababa Care Taker Administration, and Office of the United Nations Fund for Population Affairs.