By Shire Abdi - Reporter
Mojo (Dawan) — Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed inaugurated a new ceramic building materials factory in Mojo, Oromia region, to boost domestic manufacturing and cut reliance on imports.
The facility, built by Grandeur Ceramic Manufacturing Company, was completed within nine months at a cost of more than 2 billion birr (approximately $12.4 million), according to Ethiopian state media.
The factory occupies an area of 300,000 square metres and is expected to contribute to Ethiopia’s “Made in Ethiopia” industrialisation programme, which seeks to strengthen local production capacity, create jobs and increase the competitiveness of Ethiopian industries.
Officials said around 80% of the raw materials used by the factory are sourced from locations within a 100-kilometre radius of the plant, a factor expected to stimulate local economic activity and support employment opportunities in surrounding communities.
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The prime minister’s office said Ethiopia had saved more than $4.85 billion in foreign exchange over the past nine months through the domestic production of goods that were previously imported, highlighting the government’s broader push for import substitution.
Authorities said the new factory will help reduce reliance on imported construction materials while supporting the growth of Ethiopia’s manufacturing sector and expanding the availability of locally produced building products.
The inauguration comes as Ethiopia continues to invest in industrial development as part of its strategy to create employment, increase exports and ease pressure on the country’s foreign currency reserves.
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