On the 8th and 9th of July 2017, Ethiopia inaugurated two additional industrial parks. Together, these two new sites are expected to create about 40,000 new jobs and accelerated the development of the country’s economy.
Speaking at the inaugurations of the two parks, Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said industrial parks will pave the way for the renaissance of the country and are becoming the engines of the country’s development. By developing special economic zones in different parts of the country, the government is working to sustain the double digit economic growth and realize a structural transformation from an agriculture-led to an industrial-led economy.
The Kombolcha Industrial Park, inaugurated on the 8th of July, will gather companies engaged in the textile and garment. The CEO of the Industrial Parks Development Corporation, Sisay Gemechu said that companies to occupy the nine sheds constructed in the first phase of the industrial park will create jobs for more than 20,000 individuals. According to him, companies from the U.S., Korea and Italy have requested to plant their industries in the industrial park. Of the total shades, 70 percent is dedicated to foreign anchor companies, while 30 percent will be occupied by local companies. The park’s closeness to the Djibouti port (480km) is expected to catch the attention of many global anchor companies.
The industrial park in Mekele was inaugurated on the 9th of July. It is built on 100 hectares of land and is also expected to create jobs for 20,000 individuals. Dr. Arkebe Oqubay, Board Chairperson of Industrial Parks Development Corporation emphasized the role that the Mekele industrial park will play in promoting technology transformation and economic integration.
Ethiopia has the ambition to become a manufacturing hub in Africa, earning 1 billion US dollars annually and providing ample employment opportunities to citizens. The government has commissioned the construction of 15 industrial parks across the country. Industrial parks in Adama and Dire Dawa are expected to be inaugurated in about six months. The country’s first industrial park in Hawassa was inaugurated in 2016.
