The Federal Small and Medium Manufacturing Industry Development Agency said that due attention is given to small, and medium manufacturing industry development to maximize its potential at large.
Entrepreneurship Development Directorate Director with the Agency, Sirak Mamo, on a forum held yesterday said that the agency has clustered small and medium manufacturing industries to woreda levels to address needs of small and medium manufacturers and maximize their productivity.
Sirak noted that the industries are expected to be layed on 250, 100 and 50 hectares of land and will be equipped with infrastructures and service delivery sectors.
The industries enable to link markets, provide enough production sites and be easily accessible to farmers and producers to market their productions.
According to Sirak, the industries shall focus on leather, textile, metal and other manufacturing areas at large.
Universities, TVET's and science and technology students will be integrated with the industries to exploit entrepreneurship.
The industries play a significant role in transforming the country from agriculture led economy to an industry led one; hence, all stakeholders should cooperate to realize the targets set in scaling up small and medium manufacturing industries.
Team Leader with United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), Jamieson Saab, on his part said that similar event was organized in Jordan so far; in line with this, cooperation with Ethiopia to support transform lives of women and youth via small and medium manufacturing industries will be strengthened in the future in a well comprehended way.
United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and UK's Department for International Development (DFID) have organized the forum in collaboration.
Walta has learnt that possible advantages and challenges in small and medium manufacturing industries will be discussed by the participants and it will be concluded today in the afternoon.