The State of Oromia is conducting a study in the aim of setting up an autonomous organ that will carry out the tasks of industrial development. If the organ is established it means the current structure, Industry and Urban Development Bureau (IUDB), will no longer be in charge of industrial developments.

Addis Ababa already took the same step and established an autonomous body which it dubbed Industry Development Bureau back in November. It is now recruiting staff and expected to be open in less than two words, Yohannes Bekele, Industry Development Burea head officer, explained.

According to an industry service expert at the IUDB, Yasin Mohammed, the move by Oromia came after consulting with the Ministry of Trade to form a single responsible autonomous body. The move will enhance entrepreneurs that want to invest in the industry sector to get a centralized and specialized support, he furthered.

Oromia Civil Service College is consulting IUDB and started the study in December 2014. The study is expected to be completed in the coming three months.

Yasin noted the organ is going to be established as a bureau or department or agency. If it is established as an agency or a bureau, it will be responsible for the regional government, but if it is a department, it will still be under the regional Industry & Urban Development Bureau having its own department.

Currently there are 218 small enterprises, 258 medium enterprises and 158 large enterprises in Oromia and this figure makes the State the second largest state when it comes to number of manufacturing companies, Yasin explained.

Source: Fortune