Wide Business plc is set to establish an agro-commercial farm in the Southern Regional State of Ethiopia, under newly established Bura Agro Integrated company.

The conglomerate has invested about 25 million birr in integrated agro-commercial irrigation farming on 428 hectares and expects to launch cotton farming on a further 400 hectare plot of land said Seid Hassen, General Manager of the Wide.

The company also anticipates investing in horticulture farming on 28 hectares of land he added.

The Privatization and Public Enterprises Supervisory Agency of Ethiopia is re-inviting interested parties to invest in the hotel after a previous deal with Prince Aklile Berhan Mekonnen fell through.

The privatization agency is interested in a joint venture with private investment for the expansion and upgrade of the hotel according to sources.

Interested parties, individuals or consortium's, can submit proposals including the price offer and design for expansion before the 2nd of April according to the bid invitation released by PPESA.

Representatives of Turkish businesses lead by Mulatu Teshome, Ethiopian Ambassador to Turkey, are expected to visit Ethiopia soon according to sources.

The delegation will include representatives from agriculture and construction firms interested in investment in Ethiopia.

International shoemaker Bata is planning to expand its market to Ethiopia this year. The shoemaker aims to spread out into Ethiopia and Burundi as part of its expansion plan focusing on the COMESA region according to Nasir Rafiq, Managing Director.

The company is planning to expand to Ethiopia this year with the expectation that upgrade works on the infrastructure linking Ethiopia and Kenya will be completed on time explained Rafiq speaking at the launch of miss world Kenya.