Some 11 new local and foreign companies have become operational in horticulture sector this Ethiopian year.
Director-General of Ethiopian Horticultural Development Agency, Alem Woldegerima said today the companies have been cultivating 1,787 hectares of land.
Among the companies, nine are engaged in vegetables and fruit development and the rest in floriculture.
The farms are located in Oromia, Amhara, Tigray and Somali regional states, it was indicated.
The foreign companies engaged in horticultural export development sector are from Israel, Canada, Egypt, Spain, Belgium, India, the Netherland and Kuwait.
In addition, an Israeli company is finalizing the process to get engaged in vegetables and fruit development on over 3,000 hectares of land in Somali regional state, the director-general stated.
Other companies are meeting the preconditions for development to cultivate flowers, vegetables and fruit on 400 hectares of land in Amhara and Oromia regional states, it was indicated.
The number of investors getting engaged in horticultural export development has been growing steadily due to the favorable investment policy of the country and the support given to investors, Alem pointed out.
More than 130 companies are currently engaged in the sector in Ethiopia and the sector has so far created over 180,000 permanent and temporary jobs, it was learned.
[EthiopianNewsAgency]
[Image Source: www.ehpea.com]