ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopian government has lauded China's Huajian Group for its "significant contribution" in its investment engagements in Ethiopia.

The statement was made by the Ethiopian Industrial Parks Development Corporation (IPDC), a public enterprise overseeing the country's manufacturing sector, in a statement issued Saturday. The IPDC officials commended the Chinese company for employment creation that benefited thousands of Ethiopians. They also highlighted Huajian's significant contribution in terms of the transfer of technology, knowledge, and skills.

According to data from the IPDC, Huajian has invested in excess of 150 million U.S. dollars in the East African country, generating employment opportunities for more than 12,000 Ethiopians.

IPDC Chief Executive Officer Fisseha Yitagesu, during discussions with representatives of Huajian Ethiopia, underscored the Ethiopian government's continued support of the company's current and future investment endeavors in Ethiopia.

During the meeting, Huajian also expressed its keen interest in investing in the Dire Dawa Free Trade Zone, according to the IPDC.

Huajian, a Chinese shoemaker, started its investments in Ethiopia back in 2011 by setting up its factory inside the Chinese-invested Eastern Industrial Zone. This was eventually followed by a second Huajian factory in August 2016 in the firm's industrial park on the outskirts of Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital.

The company is often lauded as the successful outcome of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, which has been hailed by the Ethiopian government as farsighted with global significance. ■