By the mid-2010s, Ethiopia’s growth narrative leaned heavily on industrial parks, Chinese and Turkish FDI in textiles and apparel, and a developmental-state push to emulate East Asian manufacturing takeoffs.
French and international coverage asked whether the model was sustainable: logistics bottlenecks, power and forex constraints, labor standards, and political risk all loomed even before later conflicts disrupted investment confidence. Hawassa and other parks became symbols of both ambition and fragility.
The debate remains live for policymakers and investors watching Ethiopia’s post-conflict recovery, AfCFTA positioning, and competition with other African manufacturing hubs.
