Ethiopia taps Chinese firms to employ growing youth population

ADDIS ABABA - Selam Fantahun, an Ethiopian high school dropout, feels that her prospects have brightened since she landed a job at a Chinese shoe factory in Addis Ababa four months ago.

"I wouldn't say I've learned 100 percent of what I aspired to but I'm getting there, learning new skills everyday," she said.

Fantahun attaches soles to slipper shoes at the new partially finished plant of Huajian, a major Chinese shoe manufacturer. Encouraged by the salary increases and training, she plans to stay a bit longer before planning to start a business.