Africa’s largest eco-Industrial Park Launched
July 14, 2016
The Ethiopian government has launched Africa's largest eco-industrial park, dedicated solely to the textile and garment sector on Jul7 13, 2016. The 1.3-million-square-metre facility, designed and built by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, will have thirty-seven factory sheds and its own renewable electricity source.
Built in less than one year at an estimated cost of $250 million, and located in Hawassa city, 275 kilometres southeast of Addis Ababa, the Park will create jobs for the country's young population - up to 60,000 workers at full capacity - and is expected to generate annual export revenues of up to $1 billion. It has so far attracted 15 major manufacturing firms from countries including China, Indonesia, India and the US, as well as six local manufacturers. The Park is set to employ 80,000 when an expansion project is completed in November.
Briefing NEPAD two days later (15th July), Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn emphasised that without such infrastructure “it is difficult, if not impossible, to realise the expansion in investment that we plan to achieve, So, to attract investment, we have intensified construction of industrial parks, complete with some of the basic infrastructure services such as industrial sheds, power, telecommunication links and roads. The industrial parks also enable us to provide one-stop services to cover visas, customs, logistics and transport.
The PM described the Hawassa Industrial Park as “an archetype that we will emulate in constructing 16 similar industrial parks throughout the country, a number of these will be sited in Adama, Dire Dawa, Mekele and Kombolcha.
“Manufacturing’s share of GDP for many years stood at only 5%”, showing the need for structural change if the country is to meet its economic promise. The eco-friendly industrial park will show that environmental protection and development can go hand in hand.”
The Park employs Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) that facilitates the recycling of 85% of sewerage disposal water. It has an additional area with shared facilities and will operate a double shift system.