Speaking at the 15th founding anniversary of SEPDM here in Addis Ababa, Federal Affairs Minister, Siraj Fegesa said the economic growth registered during the reported period is the first of its kind witnessed in the region.

Siraj, who is also executive committee member of SEPDM, said the efforts of the organization to mobilize the public for development over the past years were successful.

The number of SEPDM members has increased to 1.2 million from 162,000 over the past few years.

He said the region has currently attained 100 percent primary education service coverage and 75 percent health service coverage.

Encouraging results have also been registered in enhancing education and health service quality in the region, according to him.

Efforts are underway to further expand irrigation development, road and clean water facilities as well as telephone and electric power services to most of the localities in the region.

Efforts made to enable farmers enhance productivity have also beard fruits and made several farmers in the region wealthy, which attests appropriate polices and strategies of the organization, he said.

Senor government officials, natives of the region and invited guests have attended the ceremony colored with the cultural costumes, cuisines and music of the nations, nationalities and peoples of the region.

R:5:30-6:31pm

E07:34pm

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