Ethiopia: Dangote Set to Diversify Investment in Ethiopia
Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn conferred with the Nigerian business tycoon Aliko Dangote Friday.
(All Africa) – During the course of the meeting, the premier assured the African billionaire that his government is fully committed to support the Group in the efforts towards diversifying its investments.
He said that government encourages companies such as the Dangote Group to engage in Ethiopia so as to boost employment opportunities and knowledge and technology transfer as well as economic development.
After the discussion, Dangote told journalists that he is ready to diversify his investments in Ethiopia.”The Group is ready to engage in packaging and sugar investment in Ethiopia.”
As Dangote Cement Factory has been importing cement bags from abroad for its products, costing it millions of dollars, he said.
The Group, which also engages in packaging, has decided to establish a huge packaging plant in Ethiopia over the coming few months to substitute imports, he added.
“We are also opening a very big factory to produce cement bags. We used to import all bags from abroad in millions. But right now we are going to establish the factory and actually to be ready in the next few months this year,” he said.
Dangote also said that his company is looking at Ethiopia’s sugar sector.
According to Dangote , the violence occurred few months ago in parts of the country do not affect the Group’s investment in Ethiopia.