Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) involved in Ethiopia's manufacturing sector generated more than 122,000 jobs during the concluded fiscal year (2015, according to the Ethiopian calendar), an official source revealed today.

Addis Ababa.- The executive director of Strategic Affairs of Ethiopian Business Development, Mujidia Habib, said exclusively to state-owned television station Fana Broadcasting Corporate that most of these companies dedicated their productions to substitute goods during the fiscal year.

Habib pointed out that such productions are on the rise in the country because 799 of the small enterprises were upgraded to medium level, while 77 medium-sized ones upgraded their status.

He expressed the commitment to increase production capacities, expand manufacturing sheds and showrooms to help SMEs exhibit and promote their products and generate more jobs.

Given the importance of these enterprises to the Ethiopian economy, the government began focusing on private sector growth and competitiveness support to facilitate the creation of three million jobs each year. (PL)