UNIDO Commits to Boosting Ethiopia’s Agro-Industrial Sector
ADDIS ABABA: The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has reiterated its dedication to aiding the development of Ethiopia’s integrated agro-industrial parks, which are pivotal in the nation’s economic transformation and rural poverty alleviation.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, Tezera Dejene, the Agribusiness and Infrastructure Director at UNIDO, stated that the organization is actively collaborating with the Ethiopian government to enhance the productivity of these parks. Integrated agro-industrial parks, which are operational in the Oromia, Amhara, and Sidama regions, play a crucial role in linking agriculture with industry, thereby creating valuable market opportunities for local farmers and contributing to import substitution by processing agricultural products locally.
Dejene emphasized the significant impact of these parks in the economic landscape, noting their role in bridging the gap between raw material availability and market demand by connecting smallholder farmers with
industries. He highlighted ongoing efforts in offering training, technical support, and promoting private sector participation in these industrial zones.
The aim of these initiatives is to bolster the parks’ operations and ensure they provide mutual benefits that can spur further economic development and transformation within the sector. This is particularly critical as Africa spends approximately 90 billion USD annually on imported processed products due to underdeveloped local agricultural processing capabilities.
UNIDO’s commitment extends to continuous support for Ethiopia’s endeavors in agricultural processing, acknowledging the substantial role such activities play in reducing the reliance on imported processed agricultural goods. The integrated agro-processing industrial parks have been equipped by the government with essential infrastructure including power, water, by-products treatment facilities, and services for cold and dry products, ensuring they operate at full potential.