International Investors Concerned About Ethiopia
2020-12-14
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1Ethiopia has invested billions of dollars to build new dams, railways, roads and industrial centers for more than 10 years.
2The goal has been to change the mainly agricultural nation into a manufacturing power.
3In 2017, the African nation had the world's fastest-growing economy.
4A year later, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took office, promising to loosen the state's control on the economy.
5But for the past two years, Ethiopia has faced several problems.
6These include ethnic clashes, floods, swarms of insects and coronavirus restrictions.
7Recent fighting, which started in early November, has led many international investors to become even more concerned about the country.
8When Bangladeshi textile company DBL came to Ethiopia two years ago, the African nation was the clothing industry's bright new area.
9It had a lot of workers and a government that wanted to bring in companies with tax breaks and cheap loans.
10Last month, as fighting went on in the northern Tigray region, DBL's compound was hit by an explosion that broke the factory's windows.
11"All we could do was to pray out loud," said Adbul Waseq, an official at the company, which makes clothes mainly for Swedish clothing company H&M.
12It is one of at least three foreign clothes makers to have suspended operations in Tigray.
13"We could have died," Waseq told Reuters.
14Any concern by investors could create problems for Ethiopia.
15The country's manufacturing export push is not yet bringing in enough foreign money to pay for its imports or keep up with rising debt costs.
16Before the coronavirus health crisis, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had warned that Ethiopia was at high risk of debt problems.
17But Abiy's government said that Ethiopia was pushing ahead with reforms that will help build a modern economy.
18Ethiopia is a small textiles producer with exports of just $94 million in 2016.
19In comparison, Vietnam had $29 billion and China $253 billion in the same year, World Bank trade data showed.
20Ethiopia's top exports are agricultural, such as coffee, tea, spices, oil seeds, plants and flowers.
21But the country's push into the textile industry has been a sign of its hope to increase manufacturing.
22As fighting neared Tigray's regional capital, Mekelle, textile companies began closing factories and pulling out workers.
23"It seemed that the conflict was getting closer to the city, and our worry was that we wouldn't be able to leave," said Cristiano Frati to an Italian newspaper.
24Frati was evacuated from a factory run by Italian company Calzedonia.
25DBL has also flown its foreign workers out of Ethiopia.
26"Everything has become uncertain," its director M.A. Jabbar said. "When will the war end?"
27Even before the recent conflict, insurance companies had stopped giving support beyond Ethiopia's northern Amhara area and the federal capital Addis Ababa.
28An adviser who works with foreign companies told Reuters, "Ethiopia is not a pretty picture right now."
29I'm John Russell.
1Ethiopia has invested billions of dollars to build new dams, railways, roads and industrial centers for more than 10 years. The goal has been to change the mainly agricultural nation into a manufacturing power. 2In 2017, the African nation had the world's fastest-growing economy. A year later, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took office, promising to loosen the state's control on the economy. 3But for the past two years, Ethiopia has faced several problems. These include ethnic clashes, floods, swarms of insects and coronavirus restrictions. Recent fighting, which started in early November, has led many international investors to become even more concerned about the country. 4Ethiopia's rise 5When Bangladeshi textile company DBL came to Ethiopia two years ago, the African nation was the clothing industry's bright new area. It had a lot of workers and a government that wanted to bring in companies with tax breaks and cheap loans. 6Last month, as fighting went on in the northern Tigray region, DBL's compound was hit by an explosion that broke the factory's windows. "All we could do was to pray out loud," said Adbul Waseq, an official at the company, which makes clothes mainly for Swedish clothing company H&M. 7It is one of at least three foreign clothes makers to have suspended operations in Tigray. "We could have died," Waseq told Reuters. 8Uncertain future 9Any concern by investors could create problems for Ethiopia. The country's manufacturing export push is not yet bringing in enough foreign money to pay for its imports or keep up with rising debt costs. 10Before the coronavirus health crisis, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had warned that Ethiopia was at high risk of debt problems. But Abiy's government said that Ethiopia was pushing ahead with reforms that will help build a modern economy. 11Ethiopia is a small textiles producer with exports of just $94 million in 2016. In comparison, Vietnam had $29 billion and China $253 billion in the same year, World Bank trade data showed. 12Ethiopia's top exports are agricultural, such as coffee, tea, spices, oil seeds, plants and flowers. But the country's push into the textile industry has been a sign of its hope to increase manufacturing. 13As fighting neared Tigray's regional capital, Mekelle, textile companies began closing factories and pulling out workers. "It seemed that the conflict was getting closer to the city, and our worry was that we wouldn't be able to leave," said Cristiano Frati to an Italian newspaper. Frati was evacuated from a factory run by Italian company Calzedonia. 14DBL has also flown its foreign workers out of Ethiopia. "Everything has become uncertain," its director M.A. Jabbar said. "When will the war end?" 15Even before the recent conflict, insurance companies had stopped giving support beyond Ethiopia's northern Amhara area and the federal capital Addis Ababa. 16An adviser who works with foreign companies told Reuters, "Ethiopia is not a pretty picture right now." 17I'm John Russell. 18Ruma Paul, Anna Ringstrom and Joe Bavier reported on this story for Reuters. John Russell adapted it for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. 19____________________________________________________________ 20Words in This Story 21swarm - n. a very large number of insects moving together 22textile - n. a fabric that is woven or knit 23evacuate -- v. to remove (someone) from a dangerous place 24insurance -- n. an agreement in which a person makes regular payments to a company and the company promises to pay money if the person is injured or dies, or to pay money equal to the value of something (such as a house or car) if it is damaged, lost, or stolen 25We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.