World Bank-funded Kilinto Industrial Park in Ethiopia lures global pharmaceutical firms

The government of Ethiopia has disclosed on May 27 that Ethiopia's Chinese-built Kilinto Industrial Park has enhanced the country’s ambition to lure experienced international pharmaceutical companies across the globe.

The Ethiopian Investment Commission revealed on May 27 the signing of investment agreements with 10 international companies that have "shown great interest" to set up their industrial plants inside the premises of Kilinto Industrial Park.

Ethiopian Investment Commission stressed that the industrial park, once fully finalized, will power the East African country's potential to attract more foreign companies in the pharmaceutical sector.

"The Kilinto Industrial Park is now on the verge of completion, and once completed it will host more than 1,000 pharmaceutical companies," EIC Deputy Commissioner Temesgen Telahun was quoted as saying by Ethiopia's state media Fana Broadcasting Corporate (FBC) on Monday, May 27.

The World Bank-financed Kilinto Industrial Park is currently under construction by Chinese construction giant, Tiesiju Civil Engineering Group Co., Ltd., at a cost of USD 204 million. Sprawling across an area of 270 hectares, the imminent Kilinto Industrial Park lies on the outskirts of Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa. It features 18-km of asphalt road, provision of basic social services, green spaces, warehouses, business centres and car parking space, according to the Ethiopian Industry Parks Development Corporation, as reported by Xinhua.

According to the officials at Ethiopian Industry Parks Development Corporation, the government of Ethiopia plan to commission the park for interested and experienced pharmaceutical companies as of June 2019. The country is currently constructing or has commissioned 15 industrial parks as part of a plan to turn the nation into a light manufacturing hub in Africa by 2020.

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