Industrial Parks Development Corporation (IPDC) announced that a free trade zone at the Dire Dawa Industrial Park would be established under the name Dire Dawa Free Trade Zone. Increasing import substitution and export revenue, job creation, and skill transfer are among the goals of the free trade zone.

According to Kiyya Tekalign, Strategy Advisor at IPDC, the Corporation has finalized necessary preparations to establish the zone including legal frameworks, working systems, and infrastructure.

The zone is expected to provide support for the manufacturing, importing, and exporting procedures. Companies would also not be subjected to bureaucratic bottlenecks. In addition, the free trade zone would offer customs duties privileges and play a significant part in reducing the cost of logistics, it was learnt.

As the name indicates, Dire Dawa Industrial Park is located in Dire Dawa on 150 hectares of land 445 km from Addis Ababa. The park is specialized in garment, apparel, and textile and commenced operation in 2018 with 15 factory sheds. It currently hosts companies from China, Italy, Sri Lanka, and Ethiopia.

Source: Walta Media and Communication Corporate and IPDC; Image source: Fana BC