The grand production inauguration ceremony of the Hawassa Industrial Park in Ethiopia was held on 20th June 2017 with the participation of the Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, senior Ministers of the government, Ambassadors, senior government officials and the company owners etc.

The Industrial Park has attracted 18 leading global apparel and textile companies which includes the two Sri Lankan companies namely Isebella Socks Manufacturing PLC and Hirdaramani Garments PLC who commenced their product operation.

The production operation began in the presence of Hailemariam Desalegn, Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Dr. Arkebe Oqubay, Minister in-charge of Industrial Parks Development in Ethiopia, Sumith Dassanayake, Ambassador of Sri Lanka in Ethiopia, Hemantha Perera, Managing Director of Isebella Socks Manufacturing PLC and Vinod Hirdaramani, Director Hirdaramani Group of Companies.

At present Hawassa Industrial park in Ethiopia has approximately 120 Sri Lankans working there and it is a blueprint of the Katunayake Free Trade Zone in Sri Lanka and it has the capacity to create 60000 employment opportunities.