Amhara Regional State issued 1,671 investment licenses with a registered capital of 39 billion Br during the recently ended fiscal year. These investments could create jobs for 204,000 people, according to Yihnew Alem, head of the region’s Industry & Investment Bureau. Dejen Cement Factory and Bure Edible Oil Factory are among the major new investments in the regional state. Dejen Cement Factory is being built by Abay Industrial Development S.C at a cost of 8.8 billion Br. It is expected to be completed in the next two years and start producing 5,000tn of cement a day. Bure Edible Oil Factory, which rests on 30ha of land in West Gojam and was started with 2.5 billion Br in investment, will have a capacity of producing 1,400tn of edible oil a day. This is expected to cover 60pc of the country’s edible oil demand.