Stakeholders Cooperating to Improve Sweet Producers Capacity

Addis Ababa October 30/2018 Although there are about 100 sweet factories in Ethiopia, they are neither competitive nor producing up to standard products, Food, Beverages and Pharmaceutical Industry Development Institute expert told ENA. The expert in Sugar and Sweet Directorate of Food, Beverages and Pharmaceutical Industry Development Institute, Berhanu Regassa, said the products of domestic sweet industries are not competitive enough with imported products. “Even though there are close to 100 sweet factories working in the country, many are not producing as per the expected standard,” he noted, adding that improving products must therefore be prioritized.” Ethiopian Sugar and Sweets Producers Association President Gezaye Ambaye said the association has started working closely to overcome challenges that hindered the industry. According to him, series of training are given to members to enhance skills and impart knowledge that help to meet quality and meet standard. Gezaye pointed out that the association is “very close to sign MOU with the concerned government organizations to tackle some of the challenges seen in sugar distribution and to formulate standard for the sweet industries.” Ethiopian Sugar and Sweets Producers Association Board Member Mekonnen Shiferaw said they have started to mobilize members to use government support properly and improve quality of products in order to compete with imported products that dominated the local market. Mekonnen suggested that relocating many old sweet industries in the city to industrial parks is a good idea.