Addis Ababa,July 22 (ENA)---Foreign and local investors with a capital of an aggregate 76.6 billion Birr have so far been licensed, General Manager of the Ethiopian Investment Authority (EIA) said.

Abi Woldemeskel was speaking here on Monday at the ongoing National Consultative Meeting by executives of investment bureaus and experts in the field.

In a study paper he presented at the meeting, Abi said the number of investment projects in the country has reached 6,920.

The investment projects have so far opened up jobs to more than 400 citizens, according to the general manager.

He said foreign investment accounts for 15 billion Birr of the reported sum.

Some 67 per cent of the projects launched by expatriate entrepeneurs has already gone into operation, he indicated.

The general manager called for all pertinent executive bodies to integrate efforts with the investment bureaus in a bid to bring about improvement both in the number and distribution of investment projects in the country.

Opening the three-day meeting, chief of the Hareri state council, Fuad Ibrahim called on participants to look thoroughly into the implementation so far and future direction of investment activities in the country.

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