Arsi has a diverse climate and landscape; from the lowland lakes in the Rift Valley to the mountainous areas around Asella where you find Mount Chilalo, 4108 metres above sea level. The zone has good agricultural lands and the long rainy season has been good according to the Mayor of Asella, Jemal Ali, who is expecting a bumper harvest in the zone. Arsi, however, did not go unscatched from the failing rains of the Belg rains earlier this year, hitting the areas closer to Shashemene hardest. The zone now seems to recover well.
According to the Mayor the main priority of the zone is to develop agrobusiness, to take advantage of the good agricultural lands. There is an obvious potential, but as of now the zone can only boast a few flour mills and a malt factory. The second priority of the zone is, not surprisingly as the zone has fostered some of the finest athletes of the world, to develop sports. The foundation stone for Ethiopia's first academy of sports is to be laid in Asella next Thursday by top officials of the Government. Asella has also attracted important investments from their long distance runners like Derarta Tulu, Haile Gebreselassie and Kenenisa Bekele.
Thirdly, Jemal Ali says that the zone would like to attract investment to the eco-tourism sector, taking advantage of combined visits to the lakes in the Great Rift Valley to mountain trekking. Arsi's proximity to Addis Ababa, a good asphalt road takes you the 165 kilometres to Asella in 2 1/2 to 3 hours, makes it easy accesible. If you want to go deeper into the zone you will not find asphalted roads and a 4 wheel drive is required.
The beautiful landscape, lakes, mountains and the friendliness of the Arsi, mainly muslim, population makes a visit worthwhile.