Oromia Investment and Trade Bureau plans to increase the number of agro-processing industries in the region. Bureau Head Ahmed Idris made the announcement while signing an agreement with local investors to launch 11 projects in the Bulbula Agro-Processing Industrial Park.
The region has abundant agricultural and livestock resources, but its agro-processing sector is not yet fully developed. The regional government is offering incentives, including loans and machinery, to attract investors to the sector. The government has also created integration between farmers and agro-processing industries to alleviate shortages of inputs.
The government is aggressively investing in building industrial parks to satisfy investors' needs. The industrial parks that have already gone operational are waiting for more investors to come and start businesses.
Ethiopia currently has four IAIPs across the country which are supported by the development of associated Rural Transformation Center (RTCs) across their catchment areas for the aggregation and primary processing of agricultural products. According to Ethiopia IAIP, four Regional Industrial Parks Development Corporations which answer to regional boards look after the development of the agro-processing parks and RTCs in their respective regions.
The Government of Ethiopia spent Birr 30 billion to construct and operationalize Bure, Bulbula, and Yirgalem IAIPs. Bulbula IAIP is located in Oromia on 271 hectares of land and linked with 6 RTCs which are situated within 100 km radius of the park at Sashemene, Dodola, Bale Robe, Eteya, Welenchiti, and Meki while Yirgalem IAIP is situated in Sidama Regional State on 294.5 hectares of land and is connected with 6 RTCs within 100 km radius of the park at Dilla, Yirgachefe, Bule, Daye, Aletawendo, and Hawela Tula. On the other hand, Bure IAIP is supported with 7 RTCs located within a 100 km radius of the park at Merawi, Finote Selam, Dangila, Enjibara, Chagni, Amanuel, and Motta. All the RTCs serve as raw material suppliers to the IAIPs.
Source: The Ethiopian Herald and 2Merkato Archives
