Made in Ethiopia Initiative Boosts Manufacturing Growth, Export Performance: Ministry

Addis ababa: The Ministry of Industry affirmed that the 'Made in Ethiopia' initiative, along with targeted policy measures and improved access to finance, has contributed to significant growth in manufacturing production, exports, and import substitution. Speaking at the manufacturing export performance review and recognition program, Industry Minister Melaku Alebel said the sector's progress demonstrates the impact of the national 'Made in Ethiopia' campaign and the government's continued support for industrial development.According to Ethiopian News Agency, the forum provides an opportunity to review the manufacturing sector's performance during the 2018 Ethiopian Fiscal Year and identify priorities for the 2019 Ethiopian Fiscal Year. The minister noted that the event also serves as a platform to refine the country's export strategy and recognize companies that have made outstanding contributions to manufacturing and export development.During the program, Melaku presented certificates and crystal-level awards to companies recognized for their strong export and manufacturing performance during the concluded fiscal year. He commended the top-performing companies, saying their achievements offer important lessons for domestic and foreign investors working to strengthen Ethiopia's manufacturing sector.Melaku emphasized the government's focus on manufacturing to transform the country's economy, highlighting it as one of the five priority sectors. He attributed the sector's improved performance to the 'Made in Ethiopia' initiative and sustained government support introduced since the 2014 Ethiopian Fiscal Year, which helped revive idle factories, attract new investment, and expand production capacity.He highlighted improved access to finance as one of the major achievements of the initiative, noting that manufacturing enterprises received 40 billion Birr in credit when the program was launched, while annual financing available to the sector has now increased to more than 115 billion Birr. The manufacturing se ctor's share of total bank lending has increased from 12 percent to 18.8 percent, while financing allocated to small and medium manufacturing enterprises has reached 5.4 percent.The sector has expanded the production of exportable manufactured goods and achieved about 5.9 billion USD in import substitution within a single year. Ethiopia generated more than 607 million USD in annual export earnings from key manufacturing products, including meat and dairy products.Despite the progress, Melaku acknowledged persistent challenges, including limited foreign currency availability, shortages of machinery, and constraints in accessing industrial raw materials. He reaffirmed the government's commitment to addressing these challenges through continued policy support, expanded financing, and targeted interventions aimed at improving competitiveness, increasing production, and further strengthening manufacturing exports.