SEZs Driving Diverse Investments, Sustainable Market Linkages for Farmers: IPDC  Chief Investment an

SEZs Driving Diverse Investments, Sustainable Market Linkages for Farmers: IPDC  Chief Investment and Marketing Officer

Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in Ethiopia are delivering tangible results by attracting diverse investments and establishing sustainable market linkages for farmers, according to Zemen Junedi,   Chief Investment and Marketing Officer of Industrial Parks Development Corporation (IPDC).

Speaking to the Ethiopian News Agency (ENA), Zemen emphasized that recent economic reforms have significantly enhanced Ethiopia’s capacity to implement government projects with improved timeliness and quality. He noted that the reforms introduced essential amendments to operational regulations and directives, helping to eliminate longstanding bottlenecks in the investment sector. These improvements have created a more conducive environment for both domestic and foreign investors.

Zemen revealed that out of the 177 industrial sheds available across the SEZs, 150 are currently occupied. He cited growing investment interest in  in Jimma SEZ, Bahir Dar SEZ, and Hawassa SEZ. Over the past nine months alone, 80 new investments were secured—surpassing the corporation’s initial targets.

The Chief Officer highlighted a strategic shift away from the previous textile and garment-centric focus toward a broader diversification of investment areas. This includes integrating SEZ operations with local resources to support a wider range of industries.

One notable initiative is the Dire Dawa Free Trade Zone, which serves as a logistics and trade hub, offering a new model for facilitating diverse investments. According to Zemen, the transformation of industrial parks into SEZs has not only attracted a wider array of investors but has also fostered substantial employment and economic integration.

A key achievement has been the creation of sustainable market linkages, with over 85,000 farmers directly connected to industries within the SEZs. For example, a foreign company specializing in agricultural product processing began operations in the Bahir Dar SEZ with an investment of USD 1.5 million. Similarly, in Jimma, a firm engaged in avocado processing is contributing to local employment and value addition.

Zemen affirmed that Ethiopia is fast becoming a leading investment destination in Africa, supported by the robust infrastructure within its SEZs. Beyond traditional sectors, these zones are now targeting global priority industries such as renewable energy. A case in point is a foreign company in the Hawassa SEZ that has launched solar energy operations with a registered capital of USD 100 million—another milestone achieved in the past nine months.
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በዌብሳይት - https://ipdc.gov.et/ 
በፌስቡክ - https://www.facebook.com/IPDCEthiopiaofficial 
በትዊተር (ኤክስ) - https://x.com/EthiopiaIpdc 
በቴሌግራም - https://t.me/ipdcofficial 
በሊንክድ ኢን - https://www.linkedin.com/company/ipdcethiopiaofficial 
በኢንስታግራም - https://www.instagram.com/ipdc_et 
በዩቲዩብ - https://www.youtube.com/@industrialparksdevelopment622 
በቲክቶክ - https://www.tiktok.com/@ipdc_ethiopia 
በቴሌግራም ቦት፡- https://t.me/ipdctchatbot
በዋትስአፕ፡- https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakCUHKJP21D0s3OEB30