The youth in Addis and around Addis are changing their lives after they join a Chinese-owned jeans factory in the Eastern Industry Zone.
Youngsters like Selamawit Kegna, who joined the company on the outskirts of the capital Addis Ababa, are able to earn 1,500 to 2,000 Ethiopian Birr (ETB) per month.
Selamawit is proud that the pairs of jeans she and her colleagues produce not only serve the Ethiopian market but can also be exported to other African countries and even Europe.
The factory employs over 300 young people who are mostly from nearby areas, with the majority of them being women.
“I have a savings account now and deposit 700 ETB (26 dollars) every month. I may return to my hometown and open my own shop,” Selamawit said.
Ethiopia’s textile and apparel industry has experienced major developments in recent years, thanks to the wide availability of raw materials, cheap labor and low energy costs.
The Chinese-built industrial zone, inaugurated in 2010, currently hosts 83 factories.
Source: en.people.cn
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