Ethiopia has commissioned the largest industrial park in Africa, signalling its intention to become one of Africa’s manufacturing hubs. Ethiopia, which is among the fastest-growing economies in the world, recently unveiled the Hawassa industrial park, 275 km south of Addis Ababa, which is core to its efforts to become one of Africa’s manufacturing powerhouses.
The industrial park is located on an area of 1.3-million square metres, making it the largest in Africa. The mega-facility costing $250-million, is intended mainly for textile and apparel manufacturing and agro processing. Ethiopia aims to export textiles and apparel worth $2-billion a year by 2020, up from $250-million currently.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegnsaid the industrial park was part of government’s efforts to achieve growth through increased manufacturing output, attract foreign investment and ensure sustainable economic development. Hawassa industrial park would create 83 000 jobs and the construction of 16 similar industrial parks would be undertaken throughout the country.
The Hawassa industrial park has already attracted 15 major manufacturing companies from China, Indonesia and the US.
