Ethiopia – Emperor Haile Selassie opens ECA exhibition in Addis Ababa 7th February 1969
Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia opened a 17-nation exhibition of small-scale industries as part of the 10th anniversary session of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in Addis Ababa. United Nations Secretary-General U Thant, delegates and observers to the ECA session and diplomats attended the opening of the exhibition.
In a speech to visitors to the exhibition, the Ethiopian leader called on African countries to produce larger varieties and bigger quantities of goods domestically. He asked African nations to re-double their efforts to achieve greater self-reliance through the efficient utilization of financial resources and skills available, and by adapting methods and techniques that had proved useful elsewhere.
Countries from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North America are taking part in the exhibition. Mr. Robert Cardiner, executive secretary of the ECA, also made a speech at the exhibition.
The intention of the exhibition is to focus attention on the importance and significance of small-scale industries on the economies of African countries. It was also meant to show examples of what individual countries have achieved with low investment costs in the development and promotion of these countries.
