Ethiopian Metals Industry Development Institute said it is making attempts to substitute import despite the country’s heavy reliance on international market and lack of raw material and hard currency.
Part of these efforts are conducting extensive study and research on the sector and trying to create conducive environment for local and foreign investors engaged in the sector, Institute Communications Director Fite Bekele told The Ethiopian Herald.
On the other hand, the Institute is also working in the areas of building local industries’ capacity, creating connections and market opportunity at international level.
The Institute has supported some 123 industries producing construction materials like aluminum profile, mobile device, office equipment, television and various electrical and electronics product.
In basic metals and engineering 361,213 ton of metals and 6,086,795 million manufacturing products which costs a total of more than three billion Birr were produced over the past eight months, he said adding more than 30 million US dollars also generated by exporting electronic products to south Sudan, Burkina Faso, Israel and India.
Compared to the last year’s similar season performance, this year accomplishment has said to be low due to lack of raw materials and shortage of foreign currency, he noted.
Although there are various constraints, the country is still producing various constructions and electronic raw materials including road and railway construction inputs, mobile devices, car, television and refrigerator, he adds.
According to the Director, electric wire devices also manufactured in local and in the last fiscal year more than 8 billion kilo gram tin product was imported at a cost of 5.6 million USD, he stated.
To curb the problems, the Institute is working with stakeholders in improving import substitution strategy by supporting the local industry to build their capacity, the Director stated.