The Industrial Parks Development Corporation (IPDC) has announced an increase in the participation of local investors in Ethiopia’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs), with their share now exceeding 60%. The overall occupancy rate of sheds and developed land in all 13 SEZs has reached 89%.
Ato Zemen Junedi, Executive Director of IPDC’s Investment Promotion and Marketing Sector, stated that recent macroeconomic reforms had played a key role in boosting domestic investor involvement. He noted that participation by local investors, which previously stood at under 5%, had surged beyond 60%.
This shift, according to Ato Zemen, is a result of targeted support for local investors, contributing to the emergence of a new generation of Ethiopian industrialists. He also highlighted improved employment opportunities for Ethiopian youth, who are now progressing to mid-level management roles within industrial parks.
Ato Zemen emphasized that around 80 legal and policy frameworks have been revised to enhance the investment climate. SEZs such as Bole, Lemi, and Adama are now fully occupied by both local and international investors.
Investment sources have also diversified, with countries like Japan, Vietnam, and various African nations joining traditional partners such as China and India. Moreover, local experts are increasingly replacing foreign professionals.
He noted that SEZs are not only boosting exports but also substituting imports, citing domestic production of military uniforms and malt. The zones have also helped create sustainable market linkages for farmers, driving inclusive growth.
Source: The Ethiopian Herald