Opportunities - Oromia Investment and Industry Bureau

Ethiopia in general and Oromia region in particular have large investment potentials for agricultural development. In the Oromia Region, investment in the agriculture sector is attractive and profitable for various diverse sub-sectors ranging from food products, industrial raw materials to bio-fuel. The region has fertile soils and diverse agro-ecology that makes it ideal for agriculture. Crop production, livestock and forestry account for 49%, 14% and 4% within the sector respectively. The major crops grown in the region are coffee, cereals, oilseeds, pulses, vegetables and fruits. Over 60% of Ethiopian’s top export earner commodity coffee comes from Oromia Region. About 36% of livestock in Ethiopia, 37% of the poultry and 50% of the beehives are found in the Oromia.

The region is the leading investment destination in the country and strongly positioned in terms of infrastructure. In 2014/15, the agricultural sector of the region accounted for 53 % of the Regional Gross Domestic Products and provides over 85% of the employment and is a major earner of foreign currency for the nation. Its climate is suitable to grow almost all types of crop. Therefore, using large surface and ground water, investors can engage in the following agriculture-based activities.

Food and Commercial Crop Production

• Maize
• Wheat and Barley Farming
• Oil seeds and pulses

Industrial/Commercial Crops

• Coffee
• Tea
• Cotton
• Malt barley
• Sugar cane
• Sisal
• Tobacco
• Grape
• Flowers
• Spices, etc

Horticulture

• Grapes and Strawberries
• Cabbage, Kale and Cauliflower, and Egg plant
• Chili, Green and Red Pepper
• Spices, Herbs and Aromatics
• Floriculture

Livestock

• Cattle
• Dairy farm
• Sheep
• Goat
• Apiculture/Bee Keeping
• Fishery Resource

Agro-processing

 Garlic
 Onion and Shallots
 Vegetables
 Tropical Fruits
 Citrus, Juice Processing
 Fresh Beans, Peas and Canning
 (Cherry) Tomato, Tomato Paste and Juice
 Potato, Potato Crisp, Flakes and Flour

 Abattoir & meat processing slaughter house (Fresh & chilled lamb &mutton carcass, fresh &chilled goat carcass, fresh &chilled veal carcass & beef for quarter, fresh &chilled boneless veal &beef, frozen lamb, mutton, goat carcass, veal &beef )
 Export abattoir- 90 cattle/day and 225 shoat/day
 Shoat abattoir 60-100 shoat/day
 Cattle Feed Processing
 Poultry feed & Meat processing Factory
 Cattle Fattening
 Milk Processing plant
 Bee keeping & honey Processing factory (Natural Honey & Bee Wax)
 Cassava & Potato Starch processing
 Coffee Hauling factory
 Coffee pulping (washing/red or wet coffee)
 Pulp &paper processing factory
 Dehydrated onion and garlic Processing
 Fish processing factory
 Potato processing
 Rice milling
 Soya milk processing
 Tea processing
 Sugar manufacturing (Sugarcane & cane molasses)
 Tomato puree/ Paste
 Fruit juice processing &acking
 Tannery (hides &skin processing)
 Corn flakes
 Bee wax processing
 Cotton ginning (raw cotton)
 Nuts processing
 Powder, ice cream powder
 Beer alt production
 Coffee roasting, grinding &packing Industry
 Ground nut factory
 Oat flakes
 Soya sauce brewing factory
 Pea canning
 Mineral water bottling factory
 Champagne factory
 Rum, vermouth &vodka factory
 Soft drink factory
 Orange squash
 Potato/banana wafers
 Popcorn
 Salted/sweetened cashew nuts
 Spice grinding
 Desiccated coconut powder
 Grain mill factory
 Ginger/garlic paste
 Ice cream cone
 Jam/jelly
 Alcohol &liquors plant
 Baby food plant
 Biscuit factory
 Baker’s yeast factory
 Bakery plant
 Coffee percolator plant
 Confectionary factory
 Cup noodles making
 Corn flakes factory
 Edible oil factory
 Coffee processing machine factory
 Flour, pasta, macaroni factory
 Honey processing plant

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The main objectives of the industrial development encompass amongst others, promoting use of domestic raw materials, labor, competitive domestic industrial and private sector development, creating employment opportunities, increasing industrial production and productivity.

Textile and garment industries
Leather and leather products industries
Sugar and sugar related industry
Metal and metal engineering
Chemical Industries
- Cement industry, pharmaceutical industries, construction materials production industry;
- Assembly factory-Vehicles, electronics, agricultural machineries & others;
- Fertilizer factory and;
- Soap and detergent factory.
Some Specific Manufacturing Industries Investment Opportunities
Light manufacturing (textile and garment, leather, agro-industry, electronics),
Basic and import substitution as well as export (steel, equipment, chemical, and pharmaceutical)
Strategic (energy, ICT, and biotechnology)

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Ethiopia is endowed with various historical, cultural and natural attractions, whereby heritages are among these attractions. The country so far has managed to have nine tangible heritages and three intangible heritages recorded to UNESCO (as world heritage). It also has sites and many fossils attesting that it is the cradle of humankind. Ethiopia enjoys diversified culture with authenticity, varied land forms (landscape scenery), unique and diversified fauna and flora, historical and ancient monuments, favorable climate and above all hospitable people.

There are investment opportunities in the Hotel & Tourism sectors in Oromia.

Oromia has a lot to offer to tourists: numerous historical and cultural heritages, attractive scenery, variety of endemic and common wild life and bird species, whole year-round pleasant climate, rich fauna and flora, important archeological sites

Besides the large and endemic varieties of fauna and bird species of the Awash and the Bale Mountains National Park, the Rift-Valley lakes of the region are places where sports, sunbathing and bird watching tours could be undertaken. The hot springs in Waliso and Sodere (about 114 km south west and east of the capital respectively) are popular attraction sites for their medicinal and recreational values.

The Sof-Omar caves in central Bale, with their galleries of polished white cone and chamber of columns are the impressive natural phenomena of great interest and beauty.

The palace of Abbaa Jifaar in Jimma is another historical attraction. Moreover, topographical spectacles of the region add up to make Oromia a perfect tourist destination.

There are around 800 bird species and more than 100 wild animal species in the region. Endemic wild animals such as the mountain Nyala, the Semien Red Fox and Menelik Bushbuck inhabit the Bale Mountains National Park. Awash National Park, the oldest and most developed game reserve of its kind in Ethiopia, consists mostly the east African plain games except Giraffe and Buffalo. It is home to the Oryx, Kudu, Caracal, Aardvark, Columbus Monkey, Green Monkeys, Baboons, Leopard, Klipspringer, Hippo, Semarang’s Gazelle, Gravy’s Zebra and Cheetah.

Awash National Park is also a natural sanctuary of numerous bird-species, some of which include Limburger, Wattle Crane, Angus Buzzard, Evreux Eagle and long eared owls. Water Fowls, Shore Birds and the colorful Ruddy Shelled Duck as well as the endemic Blue-winged Goose are common in the marshy areas of the park

In general, Geda System, Irecha Ceremony, Dire Sheikh Husein, Adadi Mariam Church, Kulibi Gebriel Church, Monastery of Debre Libanos, GohaTsion Mariam and Washa Michael Churches, DebreTsion Mariyam Church, Melka Kunture and Palace of Sultan Abba Jifar are the cultural and tourist attraction sites in the region. Yet there is serious shortage of facilities and infrastructure and the sector is in huge demand for both domestic and foreign investment. Private investors can take part in promotional activities, construction of facilities, service provision for tour operation and tour guide.

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