Addis Ababa April 01/2018 Preparation has finalized to hold a national investors’ conference aiming at mobilizing and creating clear image about the construction of GERD, according to the National Council for the Coordination of Public Participation on the Construction of GERD.
Ethiopian investors have contributed close to 2billion birr for the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) so far.
In an exclusive interview with ENA, Media and Communication Director of the Office Hailu Abraham said home-grown investors have been contributing for the realization of GERD since the launching of the construction of the dam.
“We have been exerting various efforts to mobilize investors and keeping in touch with GERD. For instance, investors who are engaging in hotel investment, we meet them through Ministry of Culture and Tourism, in education via Ministry of Education, and business community through Ministry of Trade among others.”
Moreover, close to 400 investors had paid a visit to the GERD last month and the visit has clearly created tremendous inspirations among investors, he noted.
Abraham said apart from the preceding efforts, preparation has finalized to hold a national conference of investors which will be led by the Prime Minister of the nation along with high level officials soon.
Giving recognition for fully committed investors and creating further mobilizations are mentioned among the major objectives to be addressed during the conference.
“Investors who fully committed their pledges will be given recognition during the occasion alongside responding concerns (if any) related to their pledge and the construction process of dam beside creating further inspirations”, he further added.
Creating clear picture about the dam and informing investors on the recent phase of the construction of the dam are also among the issues to be prioritized during the conference, according to the director.
Ethiopians at home and abroad have so far raised nearly 12 billion birr for the construction the dam.
The 4.8 billion USD hydroelectric dam has reached its completion over 64 percent. The GERD a 6,450 MW hydropower project is expected to be the largest dam in Africa.
Upon completion, the hydro-dam and the resulting artificial lake behind the Dam would markedly benefit most riparian particularly those in the downstream-both in supplying power and regulated flow of water.