Tiya town opens for investment

By Andualem Sisay

Tiya a town located 85 km south of Addis Ababa has benefited from the Universal Electricity Access Program of the government getting electricity for the first time.

The people of the area along with government officials a nd Tiya -born investors and intellectuals celebrated Sunday November 5, 2006 with demonstrations expressing their appreciation for the long awaited infrastructures inc luding telephone, potable water, and electricity.

Responding to the positive reception of the inhabitants, “This is not something special done for you; as part of country, it is only your right to share the resources and get what you deserve,” said Kassu Illala, Minister of Urban Works and Development at the occasion. The Minister also expressed government's willingness and readiness to proportionally provide infrastructure for every region as much as possible. He explained that the area is well positioned for fast economic growth as it is near the capital, 85 km away, and the recently completed asphalt road can only expedite the development, as it is now easy for the agriculturists to get to the market of Addis Ababa . The Minister further indicated the significance of the road that directly links Tiya to the road leading to Kenya , and encouraged investors to take advantage of it and think in terms of export.

Officials of the area including the Southern Region Administration and capacity building head, Gurage Zone Administration members and Sodo Woreda Administration and cabinet members attending the ceremony indicated on their part their willingness to provide the necessary support for investors who want to participate in the development activities of the area.

“We are ready to provide land speedily to investors coming to our region,” said Ato Kifle Mariam Mekuria, Administrator of Sodo Woreda.

So far, investors in the plastic industry, bricks, flour, wood and iron works have been provided land.

Higher government officials, including Mihiret Debebe General Manager of EEPCo, Tiya-born intellectuals, investors, and religious fathers among others attended the ceremony animated by the Gurage Zone music band that concluded with a lunc h. The event w as organized by the Sodo Woreda Administration in collaboration with Tiya's investors. Tiya is known for its stele, which mark mass graves. It lies near Melka Awash and the Hare Shetan Crater Lake. The town was designated a World Heritage Site in 1980. It is believed t hat the stones were erected some 800 years ago.