Chinese companies are constructing five industrial zones in Ethiopia as the African nation strives to become the continent's manufacturing hub.

The statement made on Jun 20 by Fitsum Arega, Commissioner at Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC), said among the five zones is Ethiopia's first industrial park, the Eastern Industrial Zone, 37 km south of Addis Ababa.

The park, despite having 66 projects operational on 40 hectares of land, is still under construction on 167 hectares of additional land.