Public Private Dialogue in Ethiopia - Investment Climate

Public Private Dialogue in
Ethiopia :Communication
measures
By
Abebe D Abebayehu Chekol
PSD Specialist
Network of Reformers
Lusaka, Zambia
May 09,2013
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Outline
General Introduction
The State of PPD in Ethiopia
Communication Measures
Challenges
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General Introduction
The business community’s wish list…
Conducive business env’t:
Predictability
Transparency
Ease of starting ,doing and exiting business
Low cost
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General Introduction
Government’s wish list…
An activist state that wants a private sector which can
Comply with law
Generate employment and revenue
Have a regard for public safety and national security
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General Introduction
“Trust-deficit” must be addressed
Trust!
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General Introduction
Dialogue is KEY !
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State of PPD in Ethiopia
EPPCF established by an MoU between MoTI and ECCSA on July 8
2010 after a long drawn process
EPPCF has the mandates to:
Serve as a forum where agenda are submitted, thoroughly
considered and solutions sought;
Implement solutions as agreed and approved by the government;
Enlighten the private sector about gov’t development programs;
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State of PPD in Eth…
So far about eight dialogue fora organized :
Tax Issues and Implementation
Trade Logistics and Customs Procedures
Commercial Registration and Business Licensing
Tourism Sector
Public Procurement
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Choosing the right battle
State of PPD in Eth …
On balance trust is growing
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Communication Measures
EPPCF communication strategy centers on :
Stakeholder engagement at every step of the dialogue process
Communication activities
Communication to the business community aims at:
creating a shared understanding both on the diagnosis of the
problem as well as the needed reform and its implementations
Nurturing sense of ownership of the platform
Garnering enough support from the private sector
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Communication: Direct Engagement
Business community engaged at various stages of the PPD process:
Identification and prioritization of dialogue issues
Diagnosis of the problem- preparation of position paper
Validation of position paper
Selected key champions participate in strategic meeting on how
best to convince the gov’t
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Communication: Direct Engagement
Attend the PPD forum
Co-chair forums
Members to high-level committees
Site visits planned
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Other Communications Mix
Press:
Press release
Opinion editorial
Print:
Position paper
Brochures
Chamber newspaper
Report on state of implementation of reforms
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Other Communications Mix
TV and Radio
Event coverage
Interviews
Online
Interactive website under development
E-newsletters
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Challenges
An activist state demanding careful approach in what and how to
communicate
Slow process in implementations of reformsproviding
little to communicate
Many suffering from” meeting fatigue”
Limited use of IT by the business community
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THANK YOU!!!
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