Ethiopia’s full service communications agency, 251 Communications, has teamed up with Consumer Insight, an African research agency. The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding on 21 March 2012 in Nairobi. 
“It’s a win, win,” said Addis Alemayehou, CEO of 251. Speaking right after signing the deal, he went on to explain how both companies will benefit from the marriage. “This heralds a new era in consumer research in Ethiopia. We will greatly benefit from Consumer Insight’s African experience, while Consumer Insight will benefit from our local knowledge of our country”.
“Ethiopia,” says a visibly excited Ndirangu wa Maina, the MD of Consumer Insight, “is an understated giant. With its population of over 80 million people, it’s such a vast market that anyone who is serious about the region and Africa can’t afford to ignore any more.”
“We are the first pan African research agency to venture into Ethiopia,” says wa Maina. “And mark my words, others will follow; maybe by next year or even next month, but they will come,” he adds with a chuckle.
Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, Consumer Insight is experienced in the science of gathering market intelligence across Africa, offering “research services that assist organizations reach the best decisions.”
Always presenting itself as the African research agency that knows Africa better than any other, Consumer Insight has steadily pursued a pan African operation since shortly after its inception in 1998. Today, the company’s graphic all-seeing eye on a blue background flag has been hoisted in quite a number of African nations. Besides the head office in Nairobi the proudly African agency has fully fledged offices in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and Kampala, Uganda. It also has an on-the-ground presence in many other countries where it does or has done business. These include Angola, Djibouti, D.R. Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Mauritius, Madagascar, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somaliland, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
251 Communications on the other hand, is a young, fully fledged Communication agency with offices in the Washington DC area and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The firm was established to handle the communication/branding needs of international clients in the Ethiopian market as well as to support US clients reaching to the over 1 million Ethiopian-American market in the US. They offer services in various disciplines including copywriting, graphic design, PR, event management as well as media placement, monitoring and reporting.
Source: Press Release sent to 2merkato.com by Saba Ermyas (PR/Media Coordinator) of 251 Communications, Mobile: +251913611096
