Addis Chamber, October 22, 2024: Addis Chamber, in partnership with Danish Industries (DI), has been conducting successive platforms to advocate and enlighten current agricultural opportunities and to address challenges existed in Ethiopia.
In a latest engagement, Addis Chamber has brought together key stakeholders of the agricultural sector and agro processors to share their views and concerns regarding the subject matter. Among those panelists include representatives from ministry of industry, investment commission and business communities among others. Dubbed as, “Innovation and Industry Collaboration for Advancing Agro Processing” the workshop intends to enhance the current status of agro industry, challenges and prospective with the lens of envisioning vibrant and competitive agro industries in Ethiopia. In a round of papers shared to participants, experts of the sector and concerned entities have shared their working practices, challenges and experience regarding the subject matter. Since 2010 four agro industrial zones have become operational in various corners of Ethiopia accommodating agro processors that are producing packed food & drink for local and international markets. According to Admassu Yifru, CEO of Infrastructure Development and Capacity Building at the Ministry of Industry, the government is fully committed to support business communities that are interested to invest in agro processing sector. To respond to such a move, agro industrial parks are equipped with modern infrastructure ,one stop shop, housing service for industry workers and their ideal proximity to the nearest airports and dry ports, reiterates Admassu. He however listed out the diverse challenges facing agro industries such as weak supply chain management in hampering value chains, post-harvest loss, poor road connectivity and high cost of cooling machine for agro products that need to be resolved. Yet the current initiatives known as Ethiopia tameret Let Ethiopia Produce is a promising initiative to enhance synergy and close collaboration among industrial players and actors of value chain, he added. In another round of presentation,Alemayehu G/Tsadik, highlighted the advantages of such agro industries in creating jobs as well to supply animal feed to respond to the current shortages of fodder that owed to low production of milk in urban and rural areas of the country. He however suggests for the need to carry out existing laws, the need to create vibrant agricultural research institute and breeding centers, application of technology, providing lease financing, providing opportunities for academic university research linkages among others.
