2merkato

A Delegation of French business paid a two day visit to Ethiopia. The delegates represented firms interested in involving in the country’s transport and power sector.  

The delegation consisted of fifteen companies representing several sub-sectors including machinery and equipment, urban development,  Infrastructure, energy, transportation and logistics, engineering, high technology, services to government and international trade, insurance and law firms.

The business delegation met with Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn,and held in depth discussions on the development policies and strategies adopted by the country.

Westin Hotels and Resorts is currently negotiating with MIDROC Ethiopia to manage the new African Union Grand Hotel. The hotel is currently under construction in the compound of the headquarters of the African Union in Addis Ababa.

Westin is in the final stages of discussions as part of the process of taking over the management of the new grand Hotel being built by MIDROC. The Hotel is expected to launch operations staring from 2013. The opening of the Hotel is intended to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the African Union, it was said.   

International firms are showing interest in the possibility of a contract to take over the management of the Ethiopian Shipping and Logistics Services Enterprise according to sources.

Dubai based, DP World, is said to be one of the companies who have expressed interest in running the Ethiopian enterprise. French logistics company Bolloré Africa Logistics is also known to have held talks with Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn and Diriba Kuma, State Minister for transport this week.

Bolloré Africa is aware of the multifaceted problems that the enterprise is encountering in meeting the demands of the Ethiopian import and export sector efficiently said Jason Reynard, East African Manager for the company speaking to Diriba.

Ethiopian Revenue and Customs Authority is negotiating with ethio telecom to acquire independent network service. ERCA has requested ethio teleco to install a separate network service for reliable and efficient data transfer from cash register machines installed by taxpayers to its central servers. The project is estimated to cost ERCA about 40 million Birr.

The authority decided to acquire its own network because of the data transfer form cash register machines to the authority’s server is frequently disrupted by poor network connections.