2merkato

The first Ethiopian briquette factory, the African Briquette Factory, was inaugurated. The inaugural ceremony was attended by Wondemu Tekle, State Minister for Water and Energy and Dr. Tewoldeberhan Geberegziabher, Director General of the Federal Environmental Protection Authority as well as other guests.

The factory is producing 120 quintals of briquette, in one work shift, and is marketing the product in 10 and 50 kilogram packages according to Gerd Ladstatter, General Manager of the factory.

The briquettes are an important alternative to firewood in light of urbanization and population growth he said. It helps combat deforestation and environmental pollution by using recycled material explained Ladstatter.

Salasar Compounds plc, Indian owned manufacturer of plumbing fittings is to launch products. The company will be manufacturing cover faucets for bathrooms and kitchens under the Abay brand.

The plumbing fittings will be manufactured in three styles all with anti-rust qualities for use in all types of bathroom and kitchen faucets. The three styles have been labeled Classic, Diamond and Eco.

Salasar expects to have 20 products on the market within six months according to the company.

Toner Assembly and Manufacturing plc launched its toner assembly and re-manufacturing plant in Ethiopia last week. The company is aiming to market its products on the domestic and regional markets.

The plant is geared towards the assembly and re-manufacture of toner cartridges, inkjet cartridges, and ribbon cartridges for Hewlett Packard, Epson, Cannon, Xerox, , Dell, Brother Lexmark, and Samsung products said Jazir Teja, Managing Director of the Company.

The products will all be branded as Cartridge King.

The Ministry of Industry, Ethiopia and the Oromia Regional State signed an agreement with Turkish Investors for the development of 640 hectares of land.

The contract establishes that the investment on the land will include pharmaceutical, garment, leather processing and paper and packaging factories amongst others.

The zone will also include social service institutions such as health care, schools, technical and vocational training and hotels.

The complex will be one amongst the series of new industrial parks to be developed around the country.

The first workshop designed to enhance cooperation between Ethiopia and India to bolster cooperation in enhancing the product, design and quality of the leather sector in Ethiopia was held this week.

Ethiopia has the largest resource of livestock in Africa which can serve as a reliable source of raw materials for the leather sector said the representative of Tadesse Haile, State Minister for Industry.

The country is not getting as much benefits from the sector in terms of exports and employment creation because of a range of challenges including lack of know how, technological deficiency, and limited market access said the Minister through his representative.