The Ethiopian Ministry of Industry announced, more than US$135 million has been earned from the manufacturing sector in the first quarter of the current fiscal year.

Ministry Communications Corporate Directorate Director, Melaku Taye, told Walta Information Center, that the stated amount was secured from the exports of textile and garment, leather and leather products, meat and dairy products as well as food, beverage and pharmaceutical products.

The revenue earned in the reported period has shown a 6.9 percent growth compared to the same period last fiscal year, Melaku said.

Melaku indicated that the government is working hard to expand the manufacturing sector with a view to making the sector the main engine of the country’s economy. As part of the efforts to attract more investors to the sector, the government is building a number of industrial zones, he said.

The first phase construction of the Bole Lemi industrial zone, built at a cost of 671 million birr, has been completed, according to Melaku.

Ethiopia is targeting to earn US$1.3 billion from the manufacturing sector in the current fiscal year.

Source: Walta Information Center