
ADDIS ABABA – Various efforts are being exerted to revitalize manufacturing industry as part of broader economic transformation, thereby creating over 12,000 jobs in just nine months, the Addis Ababa Industry Development Bureau revealed.
According to the Bureau’s Manufacturing Industry Sector Center’s Director General, the city has recorded notable gains in employment and infrastructure development during the current Ethiopian fiscal year, with over 12,000 permanent jobs generated in the manufacturing sector alone.
“The manufacturing industry is central to Addis Ababa’s structural economic shift. It plays a key role in boosting productivity, enabling import substitution, and driving export potential,” Paulos told The Ethiopian Herald in an exclusive interview.
The city administration has been facilitating land, industrial sheds, and key infrastructure to support the growth of small and medium manufacturing enterprises. Notably, the construction of industrial sheds on 93 hectares of land is nearing completion, which is expected to further support upcoming manufacturing ventures.
In addition, 53 manufacturing firms have been granted land in the past nine months to commence or expand their operations—an indication of the administration’s commitment to industrial development.
Policy reforms, regulatory improvements, and targeted incentives have also been introduced to unlock the sector’s potential and enhance investor confidence. Paulos underscored that encouraging actors in the service sector to diversify into manufacturing is a strategic move aimed at accelerating the city’s economic transformation.
“Stakeholder collaboration is vital to improving standards and boosting global competitiveness,” he said, urging collective effort to support the manufacturing ecosystem.
The city is particularly focused on substituting imports in key segments such as wood, textiles, metals, and leather products. With continuous efforts to resolve structural bottlenecks, the production capacity of Addis Ababa’s manufacturing sector has shown steady improvement, Paulos added.
BY TSEGAYE TILAHUN
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD THURSDAY 5 JUNE 2025