As part of structural transformation, Ethiopia envisages the manufacturing sector as a key component and strategic input to up line the country towards renaissance.
Strategies were being formulated, best practices scaled up adopted setting growth and transformation plan. The micro and small scale enterprise was believed to shift gear on the country’s ambition to achieve stretching national goal.
States’ men were frequently observed to say, they were determined to pull the trigger of development and rejuvenation of Ethiopia with an amalgam of state led economy emanated from the Far East.
However, it was crystal clear that the service and the construction sector outweigh the manufacturing sector as relevant authorities attributed to attitude.
Indeed, the transformation was more associated with a party issue and served the then despotic regime to sustain its chair. The quota leadership coupled with stubborn stance long remained to be Gin and Tonic for the citizenry.
Those who had been committing moral crimes caused national death and denounce the initiatives of some optimists. The nation was clumsy about the performance of the manufacturing sector as TVET and the provision of shades and other motivating factor were mainly based on possessing huge fan on political arena and securing benefit for kinship.
In the meantime, the State of Oromia under the leadership of the emerging spirit managed to show the great works of the day not only in words, but in practice as well. Being one of the blessings in East Africa with potentiality of growing and rearing, no doubt the newly emerging young leaders are playing their card well in crystallizing thought to matter.
Trade fair and exhibition play crucial role to swift market exchange and promote one’s ability to produce and productivity. If it is thought to take advantage of diverse climatic zones producing yields in respective altitude and organize the huge man power in the manufacturing sector, Ethiopia could be an instance of success and shield for the rest of Africa.
The Oromia State has made a good stride and continues to mesmerize in settling situations in a good manner despite worrisome.
The bazaar is one of the markets in which the manufacturer and the consumer are directly involved. While they do this, they are believed to have the potential to stabilize the market.
Bazaar, which is a major factor in stabilizing the market, is undoubtedly important at this time of year when the consumer is complaining about the high cost of living.
The bazaar, in which the producer and the consumer are directly connected, is of great benefit to both the consumer and the producers, and its contribution to the country’s economic growth is not insignificant.
Recently, a five-day Bazaar Market Enterprise Development Transfer Program was also held in Adama, Oromia State. A bazaar and exhibition with the participation of enterprises engaged in various zones and cities of Oromia State was held from March 30 to March 31.
The bazaar was attended by 100 enterprises from different zonal administrations and cities of the state.
According to Abdulrezak Ahmed, Deputy Head of the Oromia Regional State Bureau of Labor and Industry, the bazaar is a place where producers and consumers meet and trade is a big business.
According to him, producers of fruits and vegetables, pulses, grains, coffee, honey, incense and other agricultural products are being produced in the zonal and urban areas, and industrial products are being supplied with various products and other products.
In addition to agriculture and industrial products, various innovations have been presented by five technical and vocational schools in the state. He said the bazaar and the exhibition have a role to play in reducing the cost of living and stabilizing the market.
It was a time of great upheaval as it was the time of the Orthodox fast and the beginning of the great fast of Islam, Ramadan. Taking advantage of the opportunity, the bureau launched a massive campaign. As a result, many consumers are able to trade in the bazaar.
As the bazaar was set up in Adama, a large number of customers from the four directions of Adama participated. He said the high volume of buyers and sellers has benefited the consumer and the producer in particular.
He added that preparations are underway to provide similar market opportunities to consumers and to stabilize the rising cost of living in various zones and cities of the state.
He further said the same bazaar will soon be held in Jimma, Adama, Shashemene and other towns. The market is a platform where the consumer can connect directly with the manufacturer and trade directly the desired agricultural and industrial products, he noted.
In addition, due to the upcoming holiday season, preparations are underway to expand the bazaar in major cities, including Addis Ababa. Via arrangement of the bazaar, the market can be stabilized by connecting consumers and producers, he said.
Abdulrezak related that the five-day bazaar market was well attended and had a good marketing activity. He pointed out that a lot of work needs to be done to connect the manufacturer to the consumer without any interference by organizing such events.
“To this end, manufacturers need comprehensive monitoring and support to expand their supply and sell their products at a better price. Producers have high potential and should be used by the community,” he said.
The Oromia Regional State Job Creation and Skills Bureau is providing significant support and supervision to enable manufacturers produce products that are able to meet the domestic market demand.
He said the necessary support will be provided including various trainings; the producers are working to meet the demand of the local market by using the training they receive and by strengthening their capacity with the help they receive.
“If manufacturing industries, including agriculture, can compete by increasing the quality, type and volume of their products, they have the potential to supply them to neighboring countries,” he said.
He further said the producers will be able to stabilize the market as they will not only reduce the country’s foreign exchange challenge but also enable them to buy at a reasonable price locally.
The current situation in the country is facing various challenges in the manufacturing sector which has a significant role to play in stabilizing the market. Among the challenges, he mentioned are financial, manufacturing and sales areas.
He also said that most producers do not realize that they are trying hard to expand their reach beyond the local market, which is due to lack of awareness and marketing skills. “Especially now that we are in the age of digitalization, it is important to strengthen our connection with technology,” he said.
The remaining works need to be identified to enable the producers in the state to identify their gaps and enable them to produce their products more efficiently and effectively. In addition to the various trainings provided by the Oromia Regional Bureau of Works and Skills, Sinke Bank is also working as a backbone to address the financial problems faced by the producers, he said.
He also said that various production machines are being offered to the manufacturers. As for the production and sales areas, there is a shortage of shades and they are building and supplying shades in different areas. However, it is unlikely that sales and production problems will be solved by simply building shades. If producers can produce in a limited area, they can sell their products in the digital market without looking for a place to sell, he added.
For years, micro and small enterprises have been active in various sectors in the country. Just as there are small and micro enterprises that have not been successful and have not been able to generate wealth, there are many who have worked hard in their respective fields and successfully transitioned to medium enterprises. Prosperous and successful people engaged in agriculture and industry during the five-day bazaar and exhibition in Adama.
During the five-day bazaar and exhibition in Adama, successful and determined manufacturing enterprises engaged in agriculture and industries have been transformed into a medium enterprise, he said.
In particular, transferring outsourced and capitalist enterprises to a medium-sized enterprise not only encourages others but also increases productivity.
At the 12th Bazaar and Exhibition held in the region, 740 enterprises have made the transition. Sinke Bank is also the backbone of the enterprise to improve the financing of the enterprises. Of the transferred enterprises, 198 are in the manufacturing sector.
Speaking on the occasion, Oromia Regional State President, Shimeles Abdissa said the region has not created enough job opportunities as to the region’s potential. The government is ready to address the problems of the enterprises. Bazaars and exhibitions will continue playing an important role in stabilizing the market, he promised.
BY LAKACHEW ATINAFU
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD THURSDAY 7 APRIL 2022
