2merkato

Zablon Trading Private Limited Company opened a processing plant for oilseed and pulses on 1 October 2011.  The plant is expected to clean and sort over 1,200 quintals of export standard oil seeds and pulses every year.

The company has exported oil seeds and pulses valued at approximately 5 million dollars, last year and is planning to raise its exports to 25 million this year said Biniam Bedewi Owner and Managing director of Zablon.  He said that they hope to achieve this through developing human resource and creating stronger links with local banks.

National Oil Ethiopia Plc (NOC) is exploring the launch of operations in the East African Nations of Southern Sudan and Djibouti. NOC will install fuel stations and depots to provide complete oil retailing services in these countries, once a final decision has been made.

“We have only a plan and we are only exploring business opportunities in these countries. We are not sure whether we will be entering these markets or not” said Tadesse Tilahun, CEO and shareholder of NOC. The CEO explained that NOC is just investigating business opportunities in neighboring countries and has not made a final decision to enter the regional markets.

Some of the machinery ordered by the Ethiopian government for the building of the Renaissance Dam started arriving in Port Djibouti. The machines that arrived at Port of Djibouti and are ready for transport were imported primarily from the United States and Italy.

A couple of US made Caterpillar family trucks, (990) at a cost of 1.5 million dollars each and Italian Astra machinery (including RD 40 and RD 50) at a cost of 250,00 euros each are currently at Port Djibouti awaiting transport to the project site. The imported machinery consists of bulldozers, dumpers, rollers, graders as well as other heavy duty machines to be utilized in the construction of the Dam said Mr. Pierre Kothari, Agent for Salini Contractors in Djibouti, on Wednesday.

Boeing announced this week that Ethiopian Airlines placed an order for four of its 777 freight aircraft. The deal between the Seattle based aircraft manufacturer and the Ethiopian airway is estimated at 1.1 billion US dollars. A joint announcement on Wednesday made in Seattle explained that Ethiopian Airlines was the first African Airline to order the twin engine aircraft.

The Airline's freight capacity and range will be greatly enhanced by the new acquisitions according to Tewolde Gebremariam, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines. The planes demonstrated operational and economical efficiency that is sure to strengthen the position of prominence enjoyed by the airline in Africa, said Tewolde.