Sri Lankan firms open manufacturing plants in Ethiopia

The grand production inauguration ceremony of the Hawassa Industrial Park in Ethiopia that has attracted 18 leading global apparel and textile companies was held on 20 June at the industrial park with the participation of the Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, senior government ministers, ambassadors, senior government officials, company owners, etc.

Product operation of the two Sri Lankan companies, namely Isebella Socks Manufacturing Plc and Hirdaramani Garments Plc commenced in the presence of Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, the Minister in charge of Industrial Parks Development in Ethiopia Dr. Arkebe Oqubay, the Ambassador of Sri Lanka in Ethiopia Sumith Dassanayake, Managing Director of Isebella Socks Manufacturing Plc Hemantha Perera and Director of the Hirdaramani Group of Companies Vinod Hirdaramani.

The Hawassa Industrial park in Ethiopia is a blueprint of the Katunayake Free Trade Zone in Sri Lanka and has the capacity to create 60,000 jobs. Presently, approximately 120 Sri Lankans are employed at the Hawassa Industrial Park.