DEMBI DOLO – Kelem Wollega Zone is working to create conducive environment for investment in line with the government’s new investment policy, it has been disclosed.
Kassahun Ayele, Deputy administrator of the Zone, said that currently the Kelem Wollega is taking a lot of action to attract investors and utilize the natural potential of the Zone. One of those is promotional works to change peoples’ wrong perceptions about the Zone, he added.
He noted that as the Zone is endowed with natural resources, investors can be profitable to a large degree if they invest in agriculture, mining, hotel services, tourism, and education.
Although the number of investors who wanted to invest has been increasing, the Zone could not obtain the expected result compared to its potential due to a lack of good governance and other hindering factors.
While, currently large number of coffee investors have been entering, especially in Gidama woreda, Kassahun added that the Zone has concluded a research on the mining sector to navigate potential investment opportunities.
He added that native Diasporas discussed with higher government officials to invest in their home, and the Administration is working to create a conducive environment for them.
Solomon Addisu, Head of the Zone’s Investment Bureau, for his part, said that a total of 1160 investors have been operating in agriculture, industry, and service sectors. 3365 jobs were created in the process, he added.
“Kelem Wollega has great opportunity to attract investment, especially with the construction of an airport at the zonal capital city of Dembi Dolo, which will pave the way for the flow of many investors into the Zone.”
He stressed that though there are investors who stopped their works as a result of border conflict between Gambela and Oromia States, currently almost all of them have been operating in stable manner.
The Ethiopian Herald January 8/2020
BY TAMERU REGASA
