By Miwodew Muluye.
Addis Ababa (AMECO) — The Amhara region has launched a high-level technical training programme in Addis Ababa to accelerate the development of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and transition its economic resources into export-driven industrial hubs.
Regional officials, urban cluster coordinators, local administrators, and international advisers convened in the capital to establish an integrated functional framework for the proposed zones, which regional authorities view as vital for long-term economic transformation.
Addressing delegates in his keynote speech, Endris Abdu, head of the Amhara Region Industry and Investment Bureau, said sustainable regional growth hinges directly on expanding manufacturing capabilities.
“The present and future economic growth and prosperity of our region cannot be conceived without the expansion and enhancement of our manufacturing industries,” Abdu said. “Developed nations achieved their growth by making manufacturing the centre of their focus.”
Regional authorities expect the SEZs to serve as policy tools to attract local and foreign direct investment, streamline logistics through consolidated manufacturing clusters, and integrate regional output into global trade networks.
The initiative aims to address key structural challenges by bridging the gap between agriculture and industry, allowing local farm produce to be processed into high-value finished goods rather than exported raw. Officials also anticipate that industrial expansion will drive planned urban growth, generate direct youth employment, boost foreign exchange reserves through exports, and reduce import reliance.
While highlighting Amhara’s abundant workforce, agricultural yields, and natural resources, Abdu emphasised that structured systems are required to translate these assets into economic stability. He noted that the success of the zones depends on robust inter-agency coordination, cross-sectoral alignment, and joint execution across all administrative tiers.
Abdu thanked project coordinators and technical experts for facilitating the session, reaffirming the regional government’s commitment to implementing actionable strategies drawn from international experience.
