guide 2000 English.pub - SNNPR Investment Expansion Process

14II.INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIESOFOUR ZONES & SPECIAL WOREDAS'BENCH MAJI ZONEBench maji zone has a total area of 19965.90 sq. km and lies between 5.33-7.21 latitude and 34.88 to 36.14longitude with an elevation ranging to 2500 meters above sea level. The zone has 10 woredas with a totalpopulation of 489448 (2007) .Regarding the agro-Ecology of the zone, out of the total land size 28.042% is kolla, 15.44% weinadega and56.74% dega .The annual mean temperature ranges between 15.1-27 0 c and the annual mean rain fall ranges 400-2000 mmaccording to land utilization date of the region, 7.65% is cultivated land, 6.37% grazing land , 8.29% forest,bushes and shrub land, 69.88% cultivatable and 7.89% is covered by others.The zone has a total road length of 592.6 km. out of the total length 404.1 km is graveled and 188.6 km ispartially graveled.The livestock resources of the zone, in (2007) was cattle 778.05 thousand 112.79 thousand sheep 91.94thousand goats, 13.59 thousand equines and 528.25 thousand poultry.Opportunities of Investing in Bench-Maji Zone• Favorable climate, sufficient rainfall, perennial rivers flowing through out the year,fertile land• Industrial zone is demarcated in the capital town (21.4ha)• Availability of transportation, social and economic infrastructure.• Unsatisfied demand for health, educational, tourism and other facilities.Feasible Investment Activities for both Domestic & Foreign investorsAgriculture• Coffee,Tea Spices and Oil Crops production and processing, , Cattle fattening,Apiculture, Forest Development, Animal Farming, Poultry, Goat & SheepRearingSocial & Others ServicesMAY 2008AWASSA