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Transcript
It always is wonderful to be in these kinds of gatherings. It is a personal pleasure and really an honour for me to attend the 10-year anniversary of iceaddis and deliver a few remarks. I remember halfway or probably even earlier in this journey when I went to visit iceaddis the idea of a startup ecosystem was just in the making. A little bit of an ideal state if you like, look how far we have come. Congratulations!
Well, I don’t think these 10 years were really easy for you. I think the courage, the optimism, and the belief in your own visions in the Ethiopia you really wanted to see is not lost on me. I’ve been part of that frustration myself, so in a way from where I stand today it’s such a great pleasure and fulfillment to see that we’ve moved significantly forward. Because, people in this startup ecosystem [has] believed in a different Ethiopia, in a vibrant Ethiopia, Ethiopia driven by private sector and Ethiopia that celebrates entrepreneurship and innovation, Ethiopia that provides tools for its people, for its young people to create, to lead and to transform.
But, in a way you were clapping in one hand or I don’t think you had the right partner in government. Let me tell you this, you now have a strong partner in government! We believe in this vision!
Gone are the days when you murmur on the sidelines about digital transformation or the digital Ethiopia. We’re now dancing with you; we’re now on the floor with you. If it takes two to a tango, let me assure you that the Ethiopian government is fully committed. My ministry is fully committed to see this vibrant Ethiopia that you’ve seen earlier than every other person.
But I can’t find a better time to celebrate the 10 years anniversary of iceaddis because it’s just a few days ago , not even a week. When was it announced to the world that Ethiopia is providing a new telecom licence to a private consortium of providers.
This doesn’t only reflect the single largest FDI into Ethiopia but it kind of ends the century old monopoly on the telecom sector. It’s bringing a new dawn in the Ethiopian telecom industry. We said to the world we want to create a world class telecom industry. We said to the world that Ethiopia is going digital and nothing stops it. I think as a government we’re vindicated.
How far we’ve come over the last 2 years and how difficult that journey has been, I’m sure you understand. As the Prime Minister said last week, delivering on this difficult reform in a very transparent and effective way was not an easy journey. But we have achieved this for our youths, for Ethiopia we wanted to see for the next 10 years. So the last 10 years were tough.
I think there are ups and downs but what I see in the next 10 years is what keeps me up, keeps me running everyday. I know the brilliant minds in young Ethiopians are now going to be set free. – Set free to innovate,to think, to create a startup nation as we say we would create.
Who else can celebrate this other than those who were talking about the startup ecosystem for decades and fighting for it and today as we stand here looking back over the last 10 years let our kids know that they are going to see a very very different 10 years, 20 years down the road.
Again congratulations for what you’ve done! Just want to say a few things before I conclude this opening up, nothing more than anyone else is beneficial for creative minds. That’s how we say it. We have a prime minister who thinks in terms of technology; who is obsessed with this and his passion I think is infectious and I think it did affect most of us. I really urge you to take advantage of the opportunity ahead of us.
We have to make sure that this opening up works for the average young Ethiopian. Our desire is to level the playing field for all not just the large firms, not for Huawei of the world, not for Safaricoms, Ethio-telecoms of the world. But for startups, for young kids who are thinking in that garage and hoping that one day the product that they’re working on would provide a solution for the entire world and change our challenges in Ethiopia into opportunities.
So let me congratulate you all on this success and wish you a much better journey ahead. Thank you!
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