A Turkish investor announces plan to construct a big industrial zone in Ethiopia soon. The construction will commence as of next year.

In an interview with ENA in Istanbul over the weekend, the investor, Yusuf Akgün said the industrial zone is believed to help the country to generate export revenue amounting to 10 billion US dollar in ten years time through industries to be established in the zone.

The Turkish investor, who has a long time experience in developing and managing industrial zone in Turkey, is now working in Ethiopia to establish the industrial zone.

The industrial zone will comprise various factories and industries in the areas of textile, leather and leather products, metal, food stuffs processing and pharmaceuticals plants, among others.

Akgün briefed Ethiopian officials and members of the business community during their visit to a similar industrial zone in Istanbul last week.

“We have good experiences in the field as we have been engaged in the sector for many years in Europe and here in Turkey,” Akgün said. “We want to extend those experiences for our new project in Ethiopia,” he said.

Akgün said he has already finalized planning and designing works and is doing further studies.

He said the industrial zone would be constructed with an up-to-date engineering design. It would also pay much attention for environment protection and waste management system.

“I hope the project will maximize benefits to the industrial sector in Ethiopia. The export items that are going to be shipped from this industrial zone are expected to value over 10 billion dollars,” he said.

The industrial zone to be laid on 1500 hectares of land is believed to create from 850,000 up to 1.5 million jobs, Akgün said

During the visit, Trade and Industry Minister Girma Birru told ENA that the zone is expected to lay foundation for Ethiopia’s industrial sector.

Girma said it would also entice local private investors to engage in environmentally friendly industries.

Details of the project are expected to be presented to pertinent officials in Ethiopia at the beginning of July this year, Girma said. The government would provide all the necessary assistances for the project.

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