The Ethiopian Development Research Institute (PSI) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Ethiopia Office, held their second High Level Forum of the Phase III Policy Dialogue on Industrial Development on the 7th of November 2017 at the Sheraton Addis, Ethiopia.
While the first round’s forum of Phase III Policy Dialogue, held in February 2017, focused on issues of income inequality, polarization and youth unemployment based on East Asian counties’ experiences during their early stages of industrialization, this round’s forum turned its center of attention into ‘productivity’. Presentations based on research undertakings in the contexts of Ethiopia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam served to create platform for insightful discussions and experience sharing relating to issues of ‘productivity’.
Presented in the forum are papers on ‘Productivity Enhancing Measures Adopted in Ethiopia and Sri Lanka: a bilateral comparison’ by Prof. Kenichi Ohno from National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) of Japan; ‘Productivity Determinants in Textile and Garment Industries in Ethiopia’ by Dr. Tsegaye Gebrekidan from EDRI; ‘ Productivity and Earnings in the Metal Working Sector in Ethiopia’ by Dr. Girum Abebe from EDRI; ‘A Literature Review: Wage-labour Productivity Nexus on the Ethiopian Manufacturing’ by Dr. Kidanemariam Berhe from the Policy Studies Research Centre (PSRC) of Ethiopia; and ‘Labour Productivity in Vietnam: Data Analysis and Policy Recommendation’ by DR. Nguyen Duc Thanh from Vietnam Policy Economic Research (VEPR) of Vietnam National University.
The forum gathered high-level officials from different ministries, agencies and institutes in Ethiopia; professors from GRIPS and Addis Ababa University; researchers from EDRI and Vietnam National University; experts and mission members from JICA; and other stakeholders.
While H.E. Mr. Ahmed Abtew, Minster, Ministry of Industry and Mr. Ken Yamada, Chief Representative, JICA Ethiopia Office, opened up the forum through their welcoming remarks, H.E. Mr. Mekonnen Manyazewal, Executive Director, with the rank of Minster, of EDRI chaired the forum and gave closing remarks.
The present forum was held as part of the on-going policy dialogue on Industrial Development between the governments of Ethiopia and Japan since 2009.