ADDIS ABABA, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia earned 42 million US dollars in export revenue from industrial parks during the first six months of Ethiopian Fiscal Year 2017/18 which started July 9, an Ethiopian official said on Saturday.

Speaking to journalists, Fitsum Arega, Commissioner of Ethiopia Investment Commission, said manufacturing firms operating inside industrial parks have created job opportunities for 50,000 Ethiopians.

"Hawassa Industrial Park has been completely commissioned; Kombolcha and Mekelle Industrial Parks have become partially operational while construction of Adama and Dire Dawa industrial parks is being finalized," he further said.

Arega commended Chinese investment in Ethiopia which he said considers Ethiopia's development stage and the country's need for mass employment for its estimated 100 million citizens.

China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation undertook the construction of Hawassa and Kombolcha industrial parks. It's also currently undertaking the construction of Dire Dawa and Adama parks.

Mekelle Industrial Park was constructed by China Communications Construction Company.

Ethiopia is currently constructing or has constructed 15 industrial parks which it hopes will all be completed by second half of 2018, as part of efforts to be a top FDI destination and boost its export revenues.