ADDIS ABABA, July 25 (Xinhua) -- A total of 16 billion birr (about 114.8 million U.S. dollars) worth of import-substituting goods has been manufactured in Ethiopia's special economic zones (SEZs) and industrial parks during the just-concluded fiscal year, local media has reported.
Zemen Junedin, chief officer of investment promotion and marketing at the Industrial Parks Development Corporation, told the state-run Ethiopian News Agency on Thursday that the import-substituting products, which were produced during the 2024/2025 Ethiopian fiscal year ending on July 7, created job opportunities for over 45,000 citizens.
He said that through the "Made in Ethiopia" program, the production capacity of industries in SEZs and industrial parks has increased markedly.
Efforts are being intensified to boost the production of import-substituting goods in the pharmaceutical, construction, and chemical sectors within the SEZs, Junedin said.
About 1.2 billion U.S. dollars in foreign direct investment has been attracted into these SEZs during the past Ethiopian fiscal year, according to Junedin. ■
