Paper short abstract:

This research uses a learning lens to explore the dynamics of policy translation of Chinese SEZ experiences in Ethiopia. The roles of Chinese actors as policy entrepreneurs and epistemic communities are highlighted, who have interacted with local political institutions to shape the policy process.

Paper long abstract:

Among other African countries, Ethiopia is widely considered as a notable case in the continent to draw lessons and learn from major East Asian economies for latecomer industrialization. From institutionalization of the Japanese Kaizen approach to the establishment of sectoral institutes in line with the South Korean model, learning from China's industrialization especially taking the "Special Economic Zones(SEZs)" approach become increasingly evident in recent years. With the ambition of transferring Ethiopia into Africa's light manufacturing hub by 2025, more than 10 specialized industrial parks (a type of SEZs) have been established in different urban centres since 2012 mainly led by the Federal Government of Ethiopia.

As one of the most successful countries to achieve far-reaching economic transformations by leveraging SEZs, China has been active in this process. The earliest industrial Park in Ethiopia was developed by a Chinese investor as a part of MOFCOM initiatives. Beyond the park developers, Chinese actors have also been intensively engaging as investors, infrastructure contactors and knowledge partners. Through tracing the policy learning process of the Ethiopian state over the evolution of industrial park programme— more specifically the interaction between different types of ideas, institutions and actors, my research aims to contribute a better understanding of the agency from both Ethiopian and Chinese sides that have shaped the policy and politics in the context of Ethiopian late industrialization and urbanization.