In a move to achieve goals set in the ambitious Growth and Transformation Plan, lots of projects are underway in Ethiopia among which sugar development projects are the one.
Previously, there were only three sugar factories in the country Fincha, Wonji and Metahara. Though these were serving with utmost capacity, the ever growing domestic demand has pushed for additional sugar factories in Ethiopia to be established. The rapid expansion of investments especially in the areas of food complexes such as juice, biscuits, soft drinks, among others inevitably require adequate sugar supply.
To this end, the Federal Sugar Corporation has been undertaking the construction of four new sugar projects -Tendaho, Beles, Wolkaite, Kuraz projects. These huge projects are expected to satisfy the current demand when completed.
The Federal Sugar Corporation has said that the construction endeavour is being carried out at a fast rate that the projects are undertaking the activities with full commitment in order to achieve the vision set by the late Prime Minister. The Corporation has also reportedly said the Wolkaite and Tana Beles projects will be operational in the 2006 Ethiopian budget year.
Following the construction of these projects, thousands of temporary and permanent job opportunities have been created and more will be created for citizens. And people around the projects would be primary beneficiaries from the infrastructural development such as schools, human & veterinary clinics and farmers’ training centers.
Apart from satisfying the domestic demand, sugar development would also help to boost export trade which enables Ethiopia to earn foreign currency. Thus, it will play a glaring role to support the national economy as well.
Therefore, the government in collaboration with stakeholders need to exert effort in financing, hiring professionals in order to foster the projects as they are vital to technology transfers and thereby contribute a lot to socio-economic development of the country.