ADDIS ABABA-The Ministry of Trade and Industry said the manufacturing sector is set to create 150 thousand jobs this fiscal year.
The Ministry also said that existing and newly constructed industrial parks are expected to create job opportunities for citizens.
Wondimu Filate, Public Relations, and Communications Affairs Office Head at the Ministry told The Ethiopian Herald that the government has also planned to scale up economic benefits from the manufacturing sector.
The government is working to shift the economic share of the sector from 6.8 to 8 percent this budget year.
He also said that the Ministry has been working with all concerned actors and stakeholders to improve productivity and quality and increase the quantity of products. Accordingly, it has planned to increase industrial sector growth from the current 5.5 to 23.4 percent.
For this to happen, the government is providing essential support to investors in the manufacturing sector by building infrastructures such as roads, water and energy supply, industrial parks, and many other incentives.
But the government support alone would not be enough to meet the target, he said. Manufacturers should come up with skilled manpower, advanced technology, and good export disciplines so as to add value to products and modernize their management system.
As the demand for manufacturing products is increasing, the government is willing to provide special support, particularly for local manufacturers. Now, as the situation of peace and stability is expected to get better, manufacturers should strive to produce products to their level of capacity to tap the favorable condition.
Instability in various parts of the country, poor infrastructure, power shortage, limited input supply, and shortage of skilled manpower are some of the challenges observed over the past few years.
But, now most of these challenges have got solutions, creating a favorable condition to attain the targets, Wondimu said. This will enable the Ministry to work cooperatively and responsibly with stakeholders at every level, which is another enabling factor to bring change in the sector.
The Ethiopian Herald October 3, 2019
BY MULATU BELACHEW
