Industrial sector in Ethiopia

Ethiopia's industrial sectors classified into four basic groups: agriculture, food processing, construction, resources and energy and tourism. Agriculture constitutes over 50% of economic sector in Ethiopia, and the largest dependable economic activity. It includes production of livestock products (milk, egg, meat), beverages, leather and textiles industry. Besides, Ethiopia is the largest exporter of coffee involving over 15 million active workers.

Construction industry has been the second largest economic sector in Ethiopia with annual growth of 11.6%. Infrastructures and buildings of residential or non-residential are regularly constructed with government intervention in policy to encourage sustainable growth, and foreign direct investment from Chinese and European investors.

In energy and resources, Ethiopia has abundant natural resources that generate 60,000 MW of electric power from hydroelectric, wind, solar and geothermal sources from different major rivers, the Blue Nile, Awash, Shebelle, Omo, and Gilgel Gibe River. Tourism is the most popular economic sector impacting the GDP growth. Tourist attractions include Semien Mountains National Park, Rock-Hewn Churches in Lalibela, ruins and stelae in Axum, Harar Jugol, Negash Mosque, Gondar Fasil Ghebbi and among others.

Agriculture

Over 50%,

Coffee has been the most exported product of Ethiopia. Over 15 million workers involved to cultivation and processing. In 2016/2017, annually export revenue estimated about $881 million. By 2019/2020, the government planned to increase export revenue by 2 million dollars. Subsistence livestock farming is an integral agricultural activity in Ethiopia which is practiced in the lowland region. They produced mutton and beef and goat meat, which contributed $97 million worth whereas raw hides exports revenue amounted about $74 million in 2017. In general, the agricultural activity in Ethiopia cultivated for other nascent industrial sectors such as for machinery manufacturing and even for wholesale and retail businesses.^[1]

Ethiopian farmers often frustrated to secure foot at large, primarily due to ecological factors. Population growth, climate change, declination of available natural resources, unemployment, political unrest and inflation are fundamental problems to challenge sustainable growth. In one instance, inflation could heavily impact the growth, requiring food demand. From 2005 to 2012, maize grain in Addis Ababa drastically increased from 1,469 to 5,013 ETB per ton, and the price was tripled in the last five years. Overall, the food price inflation was increased from 7.4% to 15.8% between 2014 and 2019 years.^[2]

Food processing

Food processing industry is the second largest sector in Ethiopia after agriculture. In 2009/2010, it accounted for 39% of gross value of production in medium and large sized manufacturing, employing 1 million people that comprises about 2% of overall economic activity.^[3][4] The food sector produces large amount of revenue to the government of Ethiopia, which requires one million workers. Products typically are meat, butter, sugar, bakery, grain milling, pasteurized milk, frozen food, fresh fruits, bakery products, sugar, and cheese—together cover 47% of total gross value product (GVP).^[1]

Meanwhile, the sectorial analysis shows quality and standard problem in supply. In other secondary manufacturers, raw materials badly deformed. Thus, upgrading the quality and stability would alleviate the problem and contributed for sustainable growth.^[3]

Injera marketing is evolving rapidly, employing more than 100,000 people in urban areas. Rice routinely importing for almost 200 million USD in 2015, so that rice is important for Injera makeup.^[4]

Construction

Rapid infrastructure development increasing across regions contributed annual growth of construction sector by 11.6%. Building residential or non-residential areas transformed people to more employment, easing trade and industry beneficiaries. Energy and infrastructure sectors cover the larger construction activities in Ethiopia, responsible for providing cost-effective homes for benefit of low-income households, and increased the country's GDP to 9.5%. This segment employs 1.8 million workers, which makes the second largest sector in Ethiopia.^[1]

The government also intervenes to address various restraints on management of industry and facilities implementation of laws. Foreign countries such as China and other European investors helped a significant role in the development of both industrial and infrastructural unit, plus the Ethiopian industries linked it's partnership with suppliers, consultants, contractors and engineers etc.^[1]

Resources and energy

Mineral resources like

The energy sector played preliminary role in million people's lives, contributing to social, economic and ecological impacts. Major hydroelectricity generated from the dams stationed in Blue Nile and tributaries, Awash, Shebelle, Omo and Gilgel Gibe rivers. The government is constructing new hydroelectric dam and expanding power stations to various parts of the country. This will lead to rural electrification.^[1]

Ethiopia has abundant renewable energy resources and potentially generate 60,000 megawatt of electric power from hydroelectric, wind, solar and geothermal sources. This makes boosted its GDP growth rapidly, and electricity demand always increasing as well. Despite its growth, the Ethiopian energy sector do not complying with public demand as a result of energy shortages and load shedding to feed 110 million people and the demand predicted to grow by 30%.^[5]

Tourism

Tourism plays an important role to Ethiopian industry, with employment of thousands of local people. In 2015, the European Council named Ethiopia "World's Best Tourism Destination". In 2006, it contributed to 5.5% of GDP with private companies played significant role. Major tourist attractions include the Semien Mountains National Park, Rock-Hewn Churches in Lalibela, ruins and stelae in the place of Axum, Tiya stelae, Negash Mosque and in the cities like Harar Jugol and Gondar Fasil Ghebbi.^[1]

Church of Saint George (Beta Giyorgis) (top) and Obelisk of Axum (bottom)

The diverse culture of Ethiopia generally itself garnered tourism attraction. This would lead to government initiative to bring economic development and reducing poverty.^[1] In 2020, Ethiopia totally registered 518,000 tourists, being 126th rank in the world. It generated 2.28 million dollars in the tourism sector alone, corresponds to 2.1% GDP and approximately 5.4% of all international tourism receipts in East Africa.^[6]

References