The Nanyang Technological University posted on 30 January 2023 a 30 minute podcast on its Singapore-Africa Conversation titled "State Intervention and Industrialisation of Ethiopia" with Arkebe Oqubay, former special adviser to the Ethiopian prime minister.
Oqubay explained that Ethiopia is following the East Asian (China, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, South Korea) model of economic development. He said the "Washington consensus" model is not appropriate for Ethiopia. Oqubay discussed the role of state intervention in an economy where the private sector is the primary actor. Ethiopia's most important economic advantage is its demography, especially its young population and investment in skills training.
Comment: This is a highly positive conversation. There was no mention, for example, of the impact of conflict on the Ethiopian economy.
