Addis Ababa: Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced that 13,800 new small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have become operational following the launch of the Made in Ethiopia movement. Speaking at the inauguration of the 3rd Made in Ethiopia Expo, the premier also disclosed that import-substituting goods worth 3 billion US dollars were produced in the first nine months of the current Ethiopian fiscal year.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, the expo has brought together 288 manufacturers from seven sectors. PM Abiy emphasized that manufacturing continues to play a vital role in the country’s development, serving as a key driver of economic transformation and cooperation. The factories that have become operational across various sectors have contributed to improved export performance, he noted.
For example, gold exports have generated about 2.5 billion US dollars over the past ten months, bolstered by the opening of modern gold production factories. Preparations are also underway to begin export and produce cement for local use by launching new factories. Abiy added that other sectors have shown promising progress under the Made in Ethiopia movement, which has significantly boosted productivity.
Since the launching of the movement, the production capacity of industries has increased from 46 to 61 percent. Additionally, 830 non-operational factories have resumed production, contributing to the revitalization of the industrial sector, according to the PM.
Stating the increasing energy demands of domestic industries, he said activities have been underway to produce inputs that help to generate solar energy domestically. Despite ongoing challenges, PM Abiy affirmed the government’s commitment to supporting continued growth through pragmatic, solution-oriented strategies.