The project fund was originally pledged during an event organized by Ethiopian Ministry of Trade and Industry . The event was organized by the Ministry of Trade and Industry after African Development Bank pledge for project funding.
Minster of Trade and Industry, Fetlework G/Egziabher, the state minster, higher level regional officials and project managers were present during the pledging ceremony.
The sponsorship for the project for agricultural processing comes from the African Development Bank, the Korea Exim Bank, the European Union, the United Nations industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and Big Wynn.
In an opening remark, Fetlework G/Egziabher said in accordance with the second phase of the Growth and Transformation Plan (GTPII) the ministry will be more focused on the manufacturing sector.
‘It is very essential that the government give more emphasis to boost the manufacturing sector,’ the Trade and Industry Minister said. ‘Bringing significant growth in the manufacturing industry can play a leading role in job creation, technology transfer, structural shift in Ethiopian export, and address trade imbalance.’
‘The government strategy mainly focusses on the implementation of project programs which gear towards attracting quality investment, enhancing production and productivity, boosting export shares, accelerating technological learning and strengthen the linkage among industry,’ she added.
Fetelework G/Egziabher said the government is working to update the sector and that encouraging results have been recorded throughout the process.
The construction of integrated agro-industrial parks pilot project in four regional States are the blue prints for the progress made by the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
‘The development of these parks has a positive role in boosting agricultural productivity, and the government will build rural transition centers around the park,’ said Fetlework G/Egziabher. ‘We will work on increasing productive capacity, building on an already-strong infrastructure project pipeline (particularly in hydropower, road and rail), and reforming the business environment that drive growth for the Country in the past few years.’
According to report, the money from the African Development Bank will be used for the construction of integrated agro-industrial parks in four regional states in the Country.
Source :– Ezega. com