Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn held a discussion with King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia in Riyadh on matters related to mutual cooperation of both countries, Ethiopian News Agency reported.
Prince Fahad Bin Mugrin Bin Abdul Alziz Al Saudi, who is also the owner of Recon International Africa, expressed his interest to invest in the Agricultural and infrastructure sectors of Ethiopia.
Saudi Cargo has announced plans to start transporting meat from Ethiopia to Europe by the end of 2013. It has selected five Ethiopian exporters; Hashim Nuru Slaughter, Luna Expert Slaughter House, Modjo Modern Export, Elfora Agro Industry and Export and Organic Abattoir Slaughter for the operation.
Abu Thiyab Holdings Co, a Saudi company, announced that it was poised to inaugurate its water bottling plant in September 2011 in its factory in Ethiopia. The construction of the plant in Gelan, a 35 million birr investment on three hectares of land 35 km east of Addis Ababa, is almost finished.
The Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture is to provide 130 thousand hectares of land to Saudi Star Agricultural Development plc pending discussions that are currently underway between the two parties according to Haile Assegide, Chief Executive of Saudi Star sister company Derba MIDROC.
Saudi Star is currently raising rice in Gambella Regional State on 10 thousand hectares that it previously acquired. The company was established by the Ethiopian born Saudi billionaire Sheik Mohammed Ali al Amoudi with an initial capital of half a billion birr.
The company is also in the process of acquiring 300 hectares in Gambella and 200 hecatres in Amhara and Benishangul Regional States according to sources.
