Chinese Investment in Ethiopia and Its Implications to Environmental Security: The Case of Eastern Industry Zone
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Date
2019-06
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Addis Ababa University,
Abstract
Environmental security, which is very important element of human security, is now highly
challenged by investment projects of which industrial sectors are taking the highest share. The
large scale influx of FDIs especially in sectors such as manufacturing industries is heightening
environmental pressures on the host country. Such FDI related environmental problems may
force the people who are originally living around the areas at where those FDIs operated to
experience a negative impact on their overall security. This thesis is focuses on the implications
of Chinese FDI in Ethiopia to environmental security by taking the case of east industrial zone
which is one of the Chinese owned mega investment projects in Ethiopia with a high potential of
posing environmental challenges. Many argue that most FDIs conducted by China particularly
in developing countries including Ethiopia are always been the subject of criticism most of it
deserved. The overall objective of this study is to explore the implications of eastern industrial
zone to the wellbeing of the local environment. Qualitative research methods with exploratory
research design were adopted. The tools used to gather the data were primary sources (in-depth
interviews with members of the community, key informants interview with concerned experts in
the area and the issue) and via personal observation. Non probability (purposive and snowball)
sampling technique was employed to select the participants. The result of the study reveals that
east industrial zone is posing serious environmental threats up on the communities living near
around it. Among others, the discharge of untreated wastes and effluents, noise and air pollution
and problems associated with its poor drainage system are the major and the most common
environmental problems associated with the zone. Such environmental problems which are
occurred due to east industrial zone are exposing the local residents for a multitude of economic,
social and health problems. According to the study, these environmental challenges are posed
mainly because of the irresponsive and negligence behavior of the companies found in the
industry zone. Companies in the zone are focusing mainly on earning economic profits at any
cost including the environment. The host country‟s weak capacity and commitment for the actual
and strict implementation of the existing legal procedures and regulations and to take
appropriate responses is also another responsible factor for the occurrence of such
environmental pitfalls in that depth. Based on the study result, the researcher therefore
recommends for the responsible governmental body to re-examine the actual implementations of
the legal investment procedures, and re- adjust them in a way that allows the development of
industrial zone in a more efficient and rational manner.
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Keywords
Human security, Environmental security, China, FDI, EIZ