May 9 , 2026
A push for import substitution and industrial expansion has prioritised 96 strategic products for local manufacturing. The “Ethiopia Tamirt” initiative reports 4.85 billion dollars in savings, supported by trade fairs linking local producers to domestic and international markets. On average, 700 new projects enter the market annually, contributing to more than 2,800 investments over four years. At the grassroots level, 18,000 SMEs have been established, while 993 dormant factories have resumed operations, strengthening employment creation. Financing has expanded significantly, with SME credit rising from 8.1 billion Br to 50 billion Br, and large-scale industrial lending exceeding 262 billion Br. Infrastructure support includes 3.3 gigawatts of electricity allocation and 2.28 billion dollars in foreign exchange backing. Raw material supply has grown from nine million to 15 million tonnes annually, improving factory utilisation from 47pc to 67pc.