ADDIS ABABA, June 5 (Xinhua) -- The Executive Committee of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), Ethiopia's ruling party, said Tuesday it will partially liberalize key sectors of Ethiopia's economy.

In a press statement, the EPRDF Executive Committee said decision has been made to expand mixed ownership or outright full privatization of state-owned enterprises such as railway projects, sugar development, industrial parks, hotels and other manufacturing industries, reported state media Radio Fana.

Ethiopia until now has resisted liberalizing key sectors to foreign and local investors, saying it needs to protect its economy from multinational firms and ensure domestic ownership of the economy is kept intact.

The committee said it also decided to allow minority shares in Ethio-Telecom, Ethiopian Airlines, electricity generation projects and the Ethiopian Shipping and Logistics Services Enterprise.

The statement further said the move to partially liberalize key sectors is intended to increase the constructive role of Ethiopia's large diaspora population and foreign investors.