Shaggar City's Bold Reforms Deserve Fair Reporting, Not Fortune's Misdirection

Shaggar City's Bold Reforms Deserve Fair Reporting, Not Fortune's Misdirection

Mar 18 , 2025.

Dear Editors,

Your March 9, 2025, coverage on Shaggar City Administration inaccurately portrayed our efforts as harmful to private investment in the name of revenue mobilisation. This depiction does not reflect reality.

Over the past two years, the Shaggar City Administration has focused on strengthening the rule of law and ensuring efficient resource utilisation. Actions undertaken included accurately valuing and grading land, rectifying unlawful land access practices, and addressing issues of investors who previously acquired land beyond legal allocations. Importantly, these necessary corrections were implemented by revising land lease prices and strictly adhered to national and regional land regulations.

Contrary to your report, not a single investment ceased operations due to these measures. The Administration carefully assessed individual financial and production capacities of investors and employed varied strategies to sustain operations. These thoughtful and innovative approaches improved the investment climate.

As evidence, more than 1,000 previously stalled investment projects have either begun operations or completed construction following the establishment of Shaggar City Administration. We successfully addressed over 700 backlogged land allocation issues inherited from previously fragmented city management structures. Within the first six months of the current fiscal year alone, the Shaggar City Administration facilitated loan guarantees exceeding 15 billion Br for local investors.

Overall investment operational rates increased by 35pc within the two years of our administration. The city introduced online services, established clear investment standards, and developed comprehensive operational manuals to enhance transparency and accountability.

It is unfortunate that your coverage seemed aimed at undermining our efforts rather than objectively reporting them. We believe journalism should maintain professional integrity, accurately informing readers rather than misleading them.

Shaggar City Administration remains committed to developing a transparent, law-abiding, and investor-friendly environment. We hope future reporting accurately acknowledges our city's achievements and potential as a vibrant economic centre, benefiting Ethiopia and the broader Horn of Africa.

Sincerely,

Teshome Adugna (PhD), Mayor

Shaggar City Administration

PUBLISHED ON Mar 18, 2025 [ VOL 25 , NO 1299]