30.03. - 2 - Speech Of The Day - FOUNDATION STONE TEXTILE FACTORY BASAKA

On Saturday, March 30, 1958, His Imperial

Majesty Haile Selassie I laid the foundation

stone of the Indo-Ethiopian Textile Factory

at Basaka. Below is the Emperor's statement

made on this occasion:

"The satisfaction of man's basic needs, food, shelter

and clothing, have in all times and in all nations been

considered as of the highest priority. In the matter

of food, the wealth that Almighty God, in His abundant

mercy, has bestowed upon Our country is not only adequate

to fill the requirements of Our own people, but

can also enable her to help meet the needs of neighbouring

countries. In the programme laid out by Us for

the development and progress of Our country, We have

given priority to the spreading of education and improving

the health of Our people and to the fulfilment of

basic human needs which We have just described.

Until recently, Our people strove to meet their clothing

needs by spinning at home and weaving on their

ancient hand-looms. But with the increased demands

introduced by modern civilisation, this situation has

changed rapidly, and today We find textiles heading the

list of Ethiopia's imports.

Realizing that the clothing requirements of Our

people could be met only through the erection of an

adequate number of properly organized textile mills,

and the furtherance of Our policy of industrial expansion

and development, We have already caused three cotton

mills to be established in Ethiopia, one each in Addis

Ababa, Dire Dawa and Asmara. However, these three

factories combined are not yet capable of meeting even

a fourth or the total needs of Our people, and in order

to produce at home an ever increasing percentage of

Our clothing requirements, We have caused a fourth

textile mill to be established, the corner stone of which

We take great pleasure in laying today.

We would like to avail ourselves of this opportunity

to state once again that We would welcome to Ethiopia

companies like Messrs. Birla Brothers who seek to

establish industries in Ethiopia.

In the address which We broadcast to Our people

on Our return from Our state Visit to India which We

undertook in 1956, on the friendly invitation of the

Indian Government, We stated that 'the social and

economic problems that face India and Ethiopia are

very much alike". And since the nations of the world

are bound together in inter-dependence, We trust that

both Ethiopia and India will render mutual assistance

in facing the problems of each other.

We wish to extend Our thanks to Messrs. Birla

Brothers, who took the initiative in establishing this

factory as a joint Ethiopian-Indian venture. We trust

that this factory will achieve success and render, many

years of useful service to Our people."

Speeches delivered by His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie Ist Emperor of Ethiopia on various occasions - page 45 -

30.03. - 1 - Speech Of The Day - OPENS LIBRARY AND NIGHT SCHOOL

OPENS LIBRARY AND NIGHT SCHOOL

..... Loyalty inspires understanding, and understanding co-operation; these are the clearest evidence of strength. But the solid basis for all lies in education. It is education which allows people to live together, and makes them avoid the pitfalls of immorality, and induces respect for the law. Truly the attainment of these high aims is based on education, the helping of people to live together, to avoid indulgence, immorality and lawlessness .....

When We founded the Ethiopian National Library Our wish was that the Library should have many branches in the provinces and districts. As it is necessary to increase libraries in order to increase the number of readers, today We inaugurate this one so that it may be an accommodation for those advanced in their education and the night school with it for those who wish to continue further studies.

This Library and Night School is designed to serve those who fall at the present time outside of the reach of the National Board of Education which is devoting its efforts in the education of the youth. We should like to assure them that using these facilities, with hard work, they can improve their education and catch up to a great extent the time lost by the unavoidable interruption of their education.

With hard work and ambition human beings can achieve any goal. As it is essential that the youth should begin their schooling before seven, adults might find it essential to attend school before they are fifty, and derive benefit from so doing. The mastery of the art of learning is never denied to those who will devote themselves to study. You must realize that one’s education is also for the benefit of one’s country. It does not lead to the neglect of your country’s custom nor to the neglect of your faith in God. These can only come about as a result of an evil manner.

If both youth and adults contemplate seriously their education and work assiduously they will together be of great assistance to their country. Therefore, work hard and constructively. If you spend the time for attendance at night school in other unworthy places, understand that you are chasing phantoms and following an illusive dream.

The name of this Institute, “Your Light is Shining Today”, is inspired by a quotation from St. Luke, Chapter 19, verses 42 and 45 which speaks about one’s opportunities. “If thou hadst known even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong to thy peace! But now they are hid from thine eyes .....”

This name is given to inspire the type of work and the measure of achievement which should flow therefrom. We thank the Director and the teachers in anticipation hoping that they might fulfil Our hopes.

March 30, 1948.

Selected Speeches of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie – page 68 –     

28.03. - 2 - Speech Of The Day - INAUGURATING PEPSI-COLA PLANT

INAUGURATING PEPSI-COLA PLANT

….. It always gives Us pleasure to see the rapid establishment of industries in Ethiopia. Big or small, industries are vital instruments for the development and progress of a nation and for the improved standard of living of its people. The services which industries render to a nation are not solely limited to producing various articles for the benefit of the people: they also provide opportunities of gainful employment.

The advent of modernization and progress entail new modes of life, and this new mode of life demands, to a certain extent, the establishment of industries for processing food products.

The expansion of food processing plants should go hand in hand with those producing drinks and beverages. A shortage in the former would create an imbalance in the needs of an improved standard of living. Therefore, We hope that more attention shall be given to the expansion of food processing industries, while setting up beverage plants. We extend our thanks to all those who have contributed in the establishment of this factory. We are pleased to see Ethiopians participate as share-holders in such factories, and it is with pleasure that We open today this Pepsi-Cola factory.

March 28, 1966

Selected Speeches of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie – page 533 –   

28.03. - 1 - Speech Of The Day - VISIT TO INDO-ETHIOPIAN TEXTILE FACTORY

VISIT TO INDO-ETHIOPIAN TEXTILE  FACTORY

One of Our principal aims for Our people in being always to develop industry in Our country, it gives us pleasure to visit once more the Indo-Ethiopian Textile Factory, an undertaking that We have watched with interest from its very beginning, and one which as We have stated on previous occasions, is a fruitful example of bi-national co-operation.

As Mr. Jada just said, not only is this factory an example in co-operation, it is as well one of rapid success, for in less than two years after its birth, it has expanded to the extent that it has doubled its capacity. On this basis We have no doubt that the new projects in hand of producing rayon products and others will equally come to fruition.

The importance of the industrial sector of Ethiopia’s economy could never be over-emphasized. This is why We have spent so much effort in encouraging the establishment of enterprises of this and other natures in Our country, for the employment and the utilization of Our natural resources in the industrial process would aid immensely in raising further the standard of living of the people, one of Our cardinal aims.

We are very pleased to see a large number of people, men and women alike, employed here and engaged in discharging a role that earns them their livelihood.

It is also apparent that in guaranteeing their welfare and rendering them moral support, the hospital that is about to be built for them will inevitably bring about a praiseworthy result.

Birla Brothers, the Board of Directors, the Management and all those who have worked together for the success of this Indo-Ethiopian Textile Factory should be complimented for a job well done. In expressing Our congratulations on the present accomplishments, it is Our hope that the Company would grow yet further and continue to make its contribution to the development of Ethiopia’s economy.

Mar. 28, 1962

Selected Speeches of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie – page 529 –