|
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, June 11, 2011 – After a three-day work visit to
Ethiopia Dutch Minister for International Cooperation Ben Knapen is
favorably disposed. Despite concerns of human rights and imminent
drought, he sees great potential for development, especially in the
agricultural sector. “This country should be an exporter of agricultural
produce.”
You have donated an extra million euro to help victims of drought in
southern Ethiopia. How bad is it?
“It is hard to tell at the moment but if you consider the continuous
drought and the conditions of crops it is expected to become awkward in
September. The relief organizations I have spoken to are in a rush to
ensure food supplies, because they say the Ethiopian government has been
rather late in their response. The estimated number of people affected
by the catastrophe varies but I get the impression that it might amount
to several millions of people.”
The main reason of your visit is development cooperation. What is the
Dutch approach in Ethiopia?
“We plan to add Ethiopia, if the parliament agrees, to our list of
countries on which we focus our attention. This cabinet spearheads food
security and agriculture but also puts an emphasis on economic growth.
We are convinced that growth will stimulate people to take on issues
such as education and health by them self. What I see is promising. If
you make small adjustments to cow food for example, which is a matter of
knowledge transfer and not costly at all, it will produce ten liters of
milk instead of five. This makes a big difference for a small farmer
that lives of a small piece of land and one cow, because he can bring
spare liters to the market. There are plenty of such opportunities that
make me enthusiastic about the course we have embarked upon.”
What is there to win in agriculture?
“In Ethiopia an estimated 83 percent of the population lives in the
countryside. We want to help the poorest people. If you succeed in
improving the activities of small farmers just a little it will release
you from the continuous threat of food insecurity and possible famine.
This country should be nothing less than an exporter of agricultural
produce. You can see it clearly when you fly over Ethiopia: there is so
much potential.”
Ethiopia leases out large plots of fertile land to foreign investors to
boost its agricultural output. Do you share concerns that this might
affect the existence of small-scale farmers and the environment?
“Ethiopia is aware of the importance of sustainability and the
environment. That is quite exceptional for a developing country. When it
comes to foreign investors it is important for them to include the
Ethiopian population in their business. You can see that in the
horticultural sector in which a lot of Dutch entrepreneurs are engaged.
They have created many jobs. We highly value corporate social
responsibility. You should avoid investors to come to Ethiopia, bring
their own workers, put up a large fence around their company and go home
when the job is done. That is not sustainable development. Indian and
Chinese investors have a tendency to do that and it is an issue that
deserves and gets special attention.”
Despite being an important western ally and a donor darling, Ethiopia
has a somewhat disputed track record when it comes to human rights. The
United States recently voiced their concerns. Is this a reason to change
policy?
“I share these concerns and have discussed them extensively with
Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. It is an important subject for
the Netherlands. We have discussed Ethiopia’s law on civil society that
restricts nongovernmental organizations. NGOs that are funded from
abroad are not allowed to engage in public advocacy. This, according to
the Prime Minister, is an internal affair. I think it should be possible
to create more space for civil society through dialogue. It is important
for us as a partner to identify ourselves with the way things are done
here. I’s a point of concern, but it hasn’t come to a situation that
calls for international interference. We discuss these issues and, in
combination with our other activities, it will create awareness among
the authorities about what is acceptable and what is not.”
The
Dutch in Somaliland
Knapen has
also visited Somaliland, a region of Somalia that claims independence
but hasn’t been recognized as a sovereign country. The Minister says
that Somaliland, as a stable region, has an important role to play in
the explosive Horn of Africa, especially in war-torn Somalia. The
Netherlands actively supports the training of parliamentarians and
prison personnel. It has also build the Somaliland house of parliament
and two prisons (one finished, one on the way) and is involved in
setting up an orderly judicial apparatus.
Source:
Radio Netherlands
|
