Chinese shoemaker takes operational charge of Jimma Industrial Park in Ethiopia

On May 30, a Chinese shoe producing company named Huajian signed an agreement to manage and operate Ethiopia's Jimma Industrial Park.

The agreement signed between Zhang Huarong, President of Huajian Group and Lelise Neme, Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopia Industry Park Development Corporation will see Huajian invest up to USD 100 million to construct shoe manufacturing plants and coffee processing plants.

According to Zhang Huarong, Huajian has been pumping out funds in Ethiopia's budding manufacturing sector for the last eight years and the latest agreement intends to further enhance the firm's business presence in Ethiopia.

"Huajian plans to persuade fellow Chinese firms to set up plant in Jimma Industrial Park, in addition to its own anticipated investment in the industrial park. Huajian also plans to set up coffee processing plant in collaboration with other firms within the perimeters of JIP, with a view to eventually exporting coffee products to China," he said, Xinhua noted.

Zhang opined that the industrial and agricultural products produced in JIP wouldn't be restricted to being sold in foreign markets, with the local consumer market also eyed as an additional market. "Huajian has invested in Ethiopia for the long term, abiding by local rules and regulation, engaging in transparent business practices and is committed to helping Ethiopia achieve its export ambitions," he said.

Huajian entered Ethiopia's manufacturing industry in 2011 In August 2016, it inaugurated another factory in Ethiopia in its own industrial park on the outskirts of the capital. Its two factories jointly provide direct jobs to more than 7,000 Ethiopians. Every year in the two factories, about 5 million pairs of shoes labelled "Made in Ethiopia" are shipped to the US and European markets, fetching some USD 31 million for the East African nation in foreign exchange earnings in 2017, as reported by Xinhua.

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