Awash Melkassa Chemical Factory Enhances Import Substitution and Exports.

Awash Melkassa: Awash Melkassa Chemical Factory has been playing a vital role in enhancing import substitution and generating foreign currency by exporting its products. This was remarked during a workshop organized by the factory to discuss with its pertinent actors on the opportunities and challenges the factory's chemical production. The factory, located at Awash Melkassa; East Shoa Zone of Oromia region, 105 km from Addis Ababa, produces several chemicals that are vital raw material to different factories in Ethiopia.According to Ethiopian News Agency, sulfuric acid, aluminum sulfate, hydrogen peroxide, and oleum are some of the products of this factory. The factory supplies its products to paper and pulp factories, sugar industry, leather and tannery factories, textile industries, beverage industries, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries among others.Speaking during the workshop, Awash Melkassa Chemical Factory Manager, Ahmed Motuma said the factory has been playing a vital role in terms of suppor ting the country's efforts to enhancing import substitutions and generating foreign currency by exporting its products to neighboring countries. As the factory is almost covering the local market, its role in playing import substitution is considerable, it was learned.The factory has played a remarkable role during the outbreak COVID-19 pandemic by manufacturing various chemicals vital to prevent the spread of the disease, he noted. The factory, established before 40 years ago as one of the manufacturer industry, has been the backbone for the industry sector in supplying 14 types of chemicals, he indicated.Manufacturer Industry Development Institute Deputy Director General Hadgo Haile Kiross on his part said the Manufacturing Industry policy focuses on boosting product and productivity, enhancing the technology leverage and creativity, enhancing the export and import substitution and establishing sustainable manufacturing system.