The President Of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta visits Hawassa Industrial Park of Ethiopia today along with Prime Minister of the host country Abiy Ahmed.
After opening the business forum of the two countries, which attracted around 500 company CEOs from both countries, the two leaders have traveled to Hawassa, one of the emerging industrial cities of Ethiopia located 250 kilometers south of Addis Ababa.
Opening the Forum in the morning Prime Minister Abiy has invited Kenya business delegates to consider investing in the textiles and garment sectors in Ethiopia.
Equipped with modern facilities and one window services for investors such as customs and immigration, Hawassa Industrial Park (HIP) is one of the state owned industrial parks. It has created jobs for 25,000 individuals.
Currently there are 22 international companies operating in the park producing apparel and textiles for export market. After the HIP goes operational in June 2017, Ethiopia has inaugurated similar industrial parks in different parts of the country including Bole Lemi in Addis Ababa, Mekele, Adama and Dire Dawa, among others.
Including the privately owned, industrial parks in Ethiopia have created a total of 64,000 jobs, according to the latest report of Ethiopian Investment Commission.
During his two days visit President Uhuru and Prime Minister are expected to consult on how to take forward the special status agreement the two countries have signed in 2012 to collaborate on trade, investment, food security and infrastructure development.