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5 to 7 OCTOBER 2016 UNECA Building ADDIS ABABA ETHIOPIA FIRST INTERNATIONAL AGRO-INDUSTRY INVESTMENT FORUM ETHIOPIA UNLEASHING ETHIOPIA’S INVESTMENT POTENTIAL PROGRAMME Government of Ethiopia United Nations Economic Commission for Africa In partnership with:

FIRST INTERNATIONAL AGRO-INDUSTRY INVESTMENT ......5 to 7 OCTOBER 2016 UNECA Building ADDIS ABABA ETHIOPIA FIRST INTERNATIONAL AGRO-INDUSTRY INVESTMENT FORUM ETHIOPIA UNLEASHING ETHIOPIA’S

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  • 5 to 7 OCTOBER 2016UNECA Building

    ADDIS ABABA ETHIOPIA

    FIRST INTERNATIONAL AGRO-INDUSTRY INVESTMENT FORUM

    ETHIOPIA

    UNLEASHING ETHIOPIA’S INVESTMENT POTENTIAL

    PROGRAMME

    Government of Ethiopia

    United NationsEconomic Commission for Africa

    In partnership with:

  • Copyright © 2016 by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization

    This document has been produced without formal United Nations editing. The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this document do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries, or its economic system or degree of development. Designations such as “developed”, “industrialized” and “developing” are intended for statistical convenience and do not necessarily express a judgment about the stage reached by a particular country or area in the development process. Mention of firm names or commercial products does not constitute an endorsement by UNIDO. Although great care has been taken to maintain the accuracy of information herein, neither UNIDO nor its Member States assume any responsibility for consequences which may arise from the use of the material.

    The document may be freely quoted or reprinted but acknowledgement is requested.

  • 3

    DAY 1 – UNECA, CONFERENCE ROOM 1B2B, B2G AND EXHIBITION ON THE GROUND FLOOR

    8:30 am Registration and welcoming coffee

    9:45 am Participants take their seats

    10:00 am-12:00 pm Opening session

    Master of ceremony

    H.E. Mr. Ahmed Shide, State Minister, Ministry of Finance and Economic Cooperation, Ethiopia

    Welcoming remarks H.E. Mr. Ahmed Abtew, Minister of Industry, Ethiopia

    Statements

    Mr. Carlos Lopes, Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa Mr. Gabriel Negatu, Regional Director, Eastern Africa, African Development Bank, Kenya Ms. Laura Frigenti, Director, Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, Italy Mr. Koen Doens, Director for Development Coordination for East and Southern Africa,

    Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development, European Commission

    Keynote speech

    Mr. LI Yong, Director General, UNIDO Keynote and official opening address H.E. Mr. Hailemariam Desalegn, Prime Minister, Ethiopia

    Group photo

    Official inauguration of exhibition

    Short inauguration by H.E. Mr. Hailemariam Desalegn, Prime Minister, Ethiopia, and Mr. LI Yong, Director General, UNIDO.

    12:00 pm Lunch break

    2:00-4:00 pm Session 1: Investment climate and growth of the private sector in Ethiopia The Government of Ethiopia launched the Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP II, 2015-2020), a

    national development strategy aimed at boosting economic growth with manufacturing at its core. In order to sustain Ethiopia’s high economic growth rate, recent government reforms and incentives have created investment and business opportunities in the industrial sector. This session will discuss the overall business environment and present key policy features that make Ethiopia an attractive destination for companies interested in investing in agro-industries and allied sectors.

  • 4

    Moderator Mr. Henok Assefa, Chief Executive Officer, Precise Consult International, Ethiopia

    Presentation

    Investment in Ethiopia - Current status and future prospects Mr. Fitsum Arega, Commissioner, Ethiopian Investment Commission

    Panellists Ms. Cristina Miranda Gozálvez, Deputy Head of Unit, African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of

    States and Development Issues, European Commission, Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development

    Mr. Zemedeneh Negatu, Managing Partner, Ernst & Young, Ethiopia Mr. Endalkachew Sime, Secretary General, Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral

    Associations, Ethiopia Mr. Daniel Gad, Owner and General Manager, Omega Farms, Ethiopia

    Discussion, Q&A

    4:00-4:30 pm Coffee break

    4:30-5:30 pm Session 2 (part 1): Integrated agro-industrial parks and rural industrialization In an effort to offset regional infrastructure deficiencies and spur rural industrialization and agricultural

    commercialization, the Government is establishing four pilot integrated agro-industrial parks (IAIPs). The session will introduce the concept of IAIPs and provide an overview of the business plans and investment opportunities in such parks. The development of IAIPs is a priority of Ethiopia’s national development strategy and a core component of the GTP II. IAIPs are expected to boost private sector engagement, of both foreign and domestic companies, and address constraints related to land access, infrastructure, trade logistics, customs regulation and skills. The discussion will focus on how IAIPs can trigger rural industrialization, and the commercialization of the agriculture and livestock sector through public and private investment.

    Moderator

    Professor Tekalign Mamo, Senior Director, Agricultural Commercialization Clusters Initiative, Agricultural Transformation Agency, Ethiopia

    Presentation

    Integrated Agro-Industrial Parks Feasibility Study and Business Plan Mr. B. Suresh, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Mahindra Consulting Engineers Ltd., India

    Discussion, Q&A

    5:30 pm Closing Day 1

    6:30 pm Welcoming dinner

  • 5

    DAY 2 – UNECA, CONFERENCE ROOM 1

    B2B, B2G AND EXHIBITION ON THE GROUND FLOOR

    09:00-10:30 am Session 2 (part 2): Integrated agro-industrial parks and rural industrialization

    Moderator

    Professor Tekalign Mamo, Senior Director, Agricultural Commercialization Clusters Initiative, Agricultural Transformation Agency, Ethiopia

    Panellists

    H.E. Dr. Mebrahtu Meles, State Minister, Ministry of Industry, Ethiopia H.E. Mr. Wondirad Mandefro, State Minister, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources,

    Ethiopia H.E. Dr. Gebregziabher Gebreyohannes, State Minister, Ministry of Livestock and Fishery Resources, Ethiopia Mr. Tesfalidet Hagos, Chief Executive Officer, Luna Meat Export Abattoir Plc., Ethiopia Mr. Gao Lei, General Manager of CGCOC Ethiopia, Managing Director of CGCOC East Africa and

    Assistant President of CGCOC GROUP Co., Ltd, China Mr. Sana Jatta, Regional Director of East and Southern Africa, International Fund for Agricultural

    Development, Italy

    Discussion, Q&A

    10:30-10:45 am Coffee break

    10:45 am-12:30 pm Session 3: The Ethiopian textile and garment sector An abundance of raw materials, low wages and low energy costs give the Ethiopian textile sector a

    comparative advantage over other countries and regions. This includes processes from the spinning, weaving and finishing of textile fabrics to the manufacturing of knitted and crocheted fabrics, carpets and sportswear. The Government initiated several reforms aimed at improving the policy environment in the sector, from cotton production to garment exports. In this session, government officials and private sector representatives will discuss opportunities and challenges for the growth of the textile and garment sector.

    Introduction video

    Moderator

    Mr. Zemedeneh Negatu, Managing Partner, Ernst & Young, Ethiopia

    Panellists H.E. Mr. Tadesse Haile, State Minister, Ministry of Industry, Ethiopia Mr. Fasil Tadesse, Managing Director, President, Textile and Garment Manufacturers Association,

    Ethiopia Mr. Yusuf Aydeniz, Chief Executive Officer, AYKA Addis, Ethiopia

    Dr. Worku Zewdie, Owner, Knit to Finish Plc., Ethiopia

    Ms. Erica van Schaik, Managing Director, Velocity Apparelz Companies Plc.

    Discussion, Q&A

    12:30 pm Lunch break

  • 6

    1:30-3:00 pm Session 4: The Ethiopian leather and leather products sector With an annual production of 5 million tons of hides, 8.1 million tons of sheepskin and 7.5 million tons

    of goatskin, Ethiopia has a comparative advantage in the leather industry. There are ample opportunities for investment in tanning, up to the finishing and manufacturing of luggage items, handbags, saddlery and harness, footwear, garments and other leather goods. Over the past few years, the Government of Ethiopia has improved the policy environment for the livestock value chain, from skins and hides to leather products for domestic and export markets. In this session, government officials and private sector representatives will discuss the challenges and opportunities in the sector.

    Introduction video

    Moderator Mr. Michael Hailu, Director, Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation, The Netherlands

    Panellists H.E. Mr. Tadesse Haile, State Minister, Ministry of Industry, Ethiopia Mr. Yigzaw Assefa, President, Leather and Leather Products Industry Association, Ethiopia Mr. Reg Hankey, Chief Executive Officer, Pittards Plc., Ethiopia Mr. Opender Kumar Kaul, General Manager, George Shoe Plc., Ethiopia Ms. Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu, Founder and Managing Director, soleRebels, Ethiopia Mr. Mwinyikione Mwinyihija, Executive Director, Common Market for East and South Africa, Ethiopia

    Discussion, Q&A

    3:00-3:30 pm Coffee break

    3:30-5:30 pm Session 5: Financing private investment in the manufacturing industry and allied activities

    Access to finance for investment in the manufacturing industry has traditionally been a key constraint for the private sector in Ethiopia. A panel discussion featuring representatives of multilateral development banks, international financial institutions and national banks will elaborate on the possibilities for financing private sector investment in Ethiopia.

    Moderator

    Mr. Admasu Nebebe, Director, United Nations Agencies and Regional Economic Cooperation Directorate, Ministry of Finance and Economic Cooperation, Ethiopia

    Panellists

    H.E. Mr. Ahmed Shide, State Minister, Ministry of Finance and Economic Cooperation, Ethiopia Mr. Muluneh Ayalew, Director, Monetary and Financial Analysis Directorate, National Bank of Ethiopia Ms. Josephine Ngure, Country Director for Ethiopia, African Development Bank Mr. Jiyang Shi, President and Chief Executive Officer, China-Africa Development Fund, China Ms. Carolyn Turk, Country Director for Ethiopia, World Bank Mr. Adamou Labara, Country Manager for the Horn of Africa, International Finance Corporation Mr. Christophe Litt, Head of Representation Office to Ethiopia and the African Union, European

    Investment Bank Mr. Tadesse Hatiya, Vice-President, Development Bank of Ethiopia Discussion, Q&A

    5:30 pm Closing session

  • 7

    Key takeaways and the way ahead: Mr. LI Yong, Director General, UNIDO

    Vote of thanks and official closing: H.E. Mr. Ahmed Abtew, Minister, Ministry of Industry, Ethiopia

    6:00 pm Reception

    DAY 3 – B2B, B2G AND EXHIBITION ON THE GROUND FLOOR

    9:00 am-12:00 pm B2B, B2G and exhibition

    12:00-1:30 pm Lunch break

    1:30-5:30 pm Field visit (Dukem, Eastern Industrial Zone)

  • 8

    BIOGRAPHIES OF MODERATORS, SPEAKERS AND PANELLISTS

    Opening Session

    H.E. Mr. Hailemariam Desalegn, Prime Minister, EthiopiaHailemariam Desalegn has served as Prime Minister of Ethiopia since 2012. He previously served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs under Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, from 2010 to 2012. Mr. Desalegn succeeded Mr. Zenawi in August 2012 as Prime Minister, initially in an acting capacity. He was elected as Chair of the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front, the ruling party, on 15 September 2012. He also served as the Chairperson of the African Union from 2013 to 2014. Mr. Desalegn obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Addis Ababa University in 1988. He subsequently worked as a graduate assistant at Arba Minch University, Ethiopia. Shortly after, he obtained a scholarship to attend Tampere University of Technology in Finland and completed a Master’s degree in Sanitation Engineering. Upon his return to Ethiopia, he served in a number of academic and administrative positions, including as Dean of the Water Technology Institute for over a decade.

    Mr. Li Yong, Director General, United Nations Industrial Development Organization Li Yong, Director General, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), has an extensive career as a senior economic and financial policymaker. As Vice-Minister of Finance of the People’s Republic of China and member of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank for a decade, Mr. LI was involved in setting and harmonizing fiscal, monetary and industrial policies, and in supporting economic growth in China. He pushed forward financial sector reform, and prompted major financial institutions to establish corporate governance, deal with toxic assets and strengthen risk management. Mr. Li has given great importance to fiscal and financial measures in favour of agricultural development and small and medium-sized enterprises, the cornerstones for creating economic opportunities, reducing poverty and promoting gender equality. He played a key role in China’s cooperation with multilateral development organizations, such as the World Bank Group and the Asian Development Bank.

    H.E. Mr. Ahmed Shide, State Minister, Ministry of Finance and Economic Cooperation, EthiopiaAhmed Shide is the State Minister of the Ethiopian Ministry of Finance and Economic Cooperation. Prior to that, he served in various roles for the Somali National Regional State, such as Deputy Bureau Head of the Agricultural and Rural Development Bureau, Senior Development Advisor to the President in 2008, Head of the Office of Civil Service Reform Bureau from 2004 to 2005, and Head of the Office of the President and the Cabinet from 2003 to 2004. Mr. Shide was also the Chairman for the Parliamentary Standing Committee for Pastoral and Rural Development in the Somali Regional State Parliament in 2003, the Senior Advisor for the Somali Regional President the following year, and Secretary General for the Somali People’s Democratic Party from 2005 to 2008. Mr. Shide received his Bachelor of Arts in Economics at the Ethiopian Civil Service College, a postgraduate diploma in Managing Rural Resources and Resource Conflicts from the International Institute of Social Studies at The Hague, and a Master’s of Arts in Participation, Development and Social Change from the University of Sussex, United Kingdom.

  • 9

    H.E. Mr. Ahmed Abtew, Minister of Industry, EthiopiaAhmed Abtew has 20 years of experience in high-level positions. He is the former Deputy Governor of the Amhara Regional State and former Head of the Bureau of Industry and Urban Development. For the last 16 years, he also worked as Head of Finance and Economic Development, Trade Industry, Urban Development and other bureaus of the Ethiopian Government.

    Mr. Carlos Lopes, Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic Commission for AfricaCarlos Lopes, Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa Carlos Lopes of Guinea-Bissau was selected as the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) by the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on 23 March 2012. He brings to the position more than 24 years of experience at the United Nations, notably as the United Nations Development Programme Resident Coordinator and Resident Representative in Brazil and Zimbabwe. A member of several African academic networks, as well as a strategist and socio-economist, Mr. Lopes has vast experience in capacity-building and technical cooperation, and intends to focus on consensus building among various stakeholders to ensure that UNECA is a key player in the economic and social development agenda for Africa. Mr. Lopes was most recently the Executive Director of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research and the Director of the United Nations System Staff College.

    Mr. Gabriel Negatu, Regional Director, Eastern Africa, African Development Bank, Kenya Gabriel Negatu is the African Development Bank’s Regional Director for Eastern Africa, based in Nairobi. In this capacity, Mr. Negatu has direct oversight responsibility for 13 countries in the region, namely: Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. His responsibilities include managing an active portfolio of over US $ 6 billion, mainly in infrastructure—power and transport. Mr. Negatu manages the work of project structuring and lending in the public and private sectors. He also oversees the Bank’s non-lending activities, including advisory services and analytical work. Prior to his current position, he was Director of the Bank’s Governance, Economic and Financial Management Department; with operations responsibility for Economic and Financial reforms and the promotion of good governance, in over 30 countries. Mr. Negatu regularly appears in print and electronic media and is a sought after speaker on Africa’s development challenges and opportunities.

    Ms. Laura Frigenti, Director, Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, ItalyPrior to her appointment as Director for the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, Ms. Frigenti served as Vice-President of the Global Development Practice, a United States association of non-governmental organizations operating at the international level in the spheres of emergency and humanitarian aid and development cooperation.Ms. Frigenti previously spent nearly 20 years at the World Bank, which she joined in 1994 and where she progressed to increasingly senior positions: lead specialist for social protection for Africa (2000-2001); Country Programme Coordinator for Turkey (2001-2002); Sector Manager for Human Development for Africa (2002-2007); Country Programme Director for Central American countries (2008-2010); Director of Strategy and Director of Operations for Latin America and the Caribbean (2010-2012) and Africa (2012); and Chief of Staff and Director of the President’s office (2012-2013). She has been active in the development cooperation sector since 1984.

  • 10

    Mr.Koen Doens, Director for Development Coordination for East and Southern Africa, Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development, European Commission Koen Doens is the Director for Development Coordination for East and Southern Africa in the Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development at the European Commission. In 2004, he joined the European Commission as Deputy Head of the Cabinet of Louis Michel, Commissioner in charge of Development and Humanitarian Aid. In 2007, he became his Head of Cabinet. He continued as Head of Cabinet in 2009 when Karel De Gucht took over as Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid. In 2010, he was nominated by European Commission President Barroso as Head of the Spokespersons’ Service, a job he occupied until the end of October 2014. Prior to his work at the Commission, Mr. Doens was in the Belgian diplomatic service, posted in Syria, Iran and the Russian Federation. In Belgium, he joined the Cabinet of the Belgian Minister for Foreign Trade, Annemie Neyts, and subsequently the Cabinet of the Belgian Vice-Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Louis Michel. Mr. Doens is also a philologist and a former Professor of Latin and Greek.

    SESSION 1: INVESTMENT CLIMATE AND GROWTH OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN ETHIOPIA

    Mr. Henok Assefa, Chief Executive Officer, Precise Consult International, Ethiopia Henok Assefa is the Chief Executive Officer of Precise Consult International in Ethiopia, of which he is also the founder and principal. Under his leadership, Precise Consult has led more than 200 strategic engagements with investors, government agencies and development partners. He has a Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degrees in Economics from Fordham University in New York City.

    Mr. Fitsum Arega, Commissioner, Ethiopian Investment CommissionFitsum Arega has over 20 years of experience serving in government offices, mostly in senior positions. In the 13 years prior to his current role, Mr. Arega held positions in the Office of the Prime Minister at different capacities: as Team Leader in the Economic Affairs Sector; Special Assistant to the Head of Economic Affairs (to the Deputy Prime Minister); Assistant Bureau Head of the Capital Budget Projects Bureau; and Head of Planning and Management. Before his appointment as Commissioner of the Ethiopian Investment Commission, he also served as Head of the Addis Ababa Investment Agency, Head of the Addis Ababa Trade and Industry Bureau, and served in different public enterprises as board chairman and member simultaneously.

    Ms. Cristina Miranda Gozálvez, Deputy Head of Unit, African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States and Development Issues, European Commission, Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development Cristina Miranda Gozálvez is currently the Deputy Head of Unit for the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States and Development Issues at the European Commission in Belgium. She graduated with honours in Agricultural Engineering, with a specialization in Agricultural Economy and Rural Sociology, from the University of Cordoba, Spain. She holds a Master’s degree in European Communities from the Diplomatic School of Madrid.

  • 11

    Mr. Zemedeneh Negatu, Managing Partner, Ernst & Young, Ethiopia Zemedeneh Negatu is the Managing Partner for Ernst & Young (E&Y) in Ethiopia and the Head of the Transaction Advisory Services for Eastern Africa, which includes Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and several other countries. He previously served on the firm’s Africa board and as a member of the E&Y Global Partner Council. Mr. Negatu has extensive experience living and working around the world including the United States, Canada, Brazil, Argentina and Saudi Arabia. His global clients have ranged from Fortune 500 companies to Latin American multinationals. He has advised clients across Africa in various sectors, including financial services, airlines, telecommunication, manufacturing and agro-industry. Previously, Mr. Negatu led the E&Y team which helped transform Ethiopian Airlines into Africa’s second biggest airline and more profitable than all African airlines combined. He has a business degree from Howard University, Washington D.C., completed the LSE program at the Harvard Business School, Boston, and is a U.S. C.P.A.

    Mr. Endalkachew Sime, General Secretary, Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations, EthiopiaEndalkachew Sime is the Secretary General of the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations. For the past 17 years, Mr. Sime has held various positions in the Ethiopian private sector, including in leadership of private sector organizations and cooperatives, covering areas such as livestock, textiles and garments, and construction. Mr. Sime has represented the interests of the Ethiopian private sector at various national business events, and has served as a panellist and presenter on many regional and international events. This includes: the Global Cotton Summit in Bangkok, Thailand; COMESA events on private sector strategy development; events of the African Cotton and Textile Industries Federation on white paper development for the request of extension under the African Growth and Opportunity Act; the Ethio-Japan Business Investment Forum in Tokyo; the Ethio-German Business Forum in Munich and Hamburg; the Ethio-India Business Forum in India; and many more. Mr. Sime has an academic background in Agro-Economics with a specialization in Business Administration.

    Mr. Daniel Gad, Owner and General Manager, Omega Farms, EthiopiaDaniel Gad is the Owner and General Manager Omega Farms Plc., a leading vegetable production farm in Ethiopia. Prior to this role, Mr. Gad had worked in the telecom industry with AT&T for 18 years. In addition, he also led the venture capital funded IPO of Opus 360, which was later acquired by a major software development company.

    SESSION 2: INTEGRATED AGRO-INDUSTRIAL PARKS AND RURAL INDUSTRIALIZATION

    Professor Tekalign Mamo, Senior Director, Agricultural Commercialization Clusters Initiative, Agricultural Transformation Agency, Ethiopia Professor Tekalign Mamo is the Senior Director of the Agricultural Commercialization Clusters Initiative in Ethiopia’s Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA). He is the former State Minister of Agriculture, and currently leads two flagship projects, namely the National Digital Soil Fertility Mapping and the Agricultural Commercialization Clusters Initiative, both being implemented through the coordination of the ATA. He is also a recipient of numerous national and international awards, the latest being the African Green Revolution Laureate Prize in 2014 and the 2016 International Fertilizer Industry Association Norman Borlaug award. He holds a PhD in Soil Chemistry and Soil Fertility from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland.

  • 12

    Mr. B. Suresh, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Mahindra Consulting Engineers Ltd., IndiaB. Suresh is the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Mahindra Consulting Engineers Ltd. (MACE) in India, which belongs to the US $17.8 billion Mahindra Group. He has over 29 years of experience in the engineering consultancy sector. He has held various leadership positions in engineering and infrastructure consultancy companies, being responsible for overall company management, business development, operations and day-to-day management, and has spearheaded several successful and innovative infrastructure and industrial projects in India. Mr. Suresh also has vast international experience and has authored several technical publications. He holds a Master’s degree in Geotechnical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, and graduated with distinction in Engineering from the Regional Engineering College in Bhopal, India.

    H.E. Dr. Mebrahtu Meles, State Minister, Ministry of Industry, Ethiopia Mebrahtu Meles has more than 15 years of management experience at both senior and executive levels. He has extensive experience in managing and organizing various regional and federal private sector-supporting institutions, and other private sector programmes and projects. He holds a PhD in Research Private Sector Development and a Master’s of Science degree in Economics and Management in the Agro-Industrial Complex.

    H.E. Mr. Wondirad Mandefro, State Minister, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Ethiopia Wondirad Mandefro serves as State Minister at the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources of Ethiopia, a post he holds since 2010. He started his professional career in 1989 as a junior researcher in nematology at the Ambo Plant Protection Research Centre of the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR). For the following ten years, Mr. Mandefro held various research positions at the EIAR until 2007. In November 2007, he joined the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development as Director of the Agricultural Extension Directorate. Mr. Mandefro is an Ethiopian crop genetist with a Master’s of Science degree in Applied Genetics from Addis Ababa University as well as a Master of Science degree in Mematology from the University of Gent, Belgium.

    H.E. Dr. Gebregziabher Gebreyohannes, State Minister, Ministry of Livestock and Fishery Resources, Ethiopia Gebregziabher Gebreyohannes was appointed as State Minister for Livestock and Fishery Resources in 2013. He has extensive experience in Ethiopia’s livestock sector and more than 25 years of research experience. He served in the Oromia and Tigray agricultural research institutes in different research and administrative positions, most recently as Director General of the Tigray Agricultural Research Institute. He holds both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science degree from Haramaya University where he was a graduate fellow in Animal Production at the International Livestock Research Institute. He holds a PhD in Dairy Animal Breeding from Kasetsart University, Thailand.

  • 13

    Mr. Tesfalidet Hagos, Chief Executive Officer, Luna Meat Export Abattoir Plc., Ethiopia Tesfalidet Hagos is the Chief Executive Officer of Luna Meat Export Abattoir Plc. Prior to that, he acquired more than 20 years of experience as a Junior Economist in the North East Ethiopia Regional Planning Office and then as Commercial Manager at Custom Computing Private Company. He studied Economics and Information Science and holds a Bachelor’s degree and Master’s Diploma from the University of Asmara and University of Bergen, Norway.

    Mr. Gao Lei, General Manager of CGCOC Ethiopia, Managing Director of CGCOC East Africa, Assistant President of CGCOC Group and President of the Ethiopia Chinese Chamber of Investment, Vice President of the Ethiopia Chinese Chamber of Commerce since 2014

    Gao Lei is the General Manager of CGCOC Ethiopia, Managing Director of CGCOC East Africa, Assistant President of CGCOC Group, President of the Ethiopia Chinese Chamber of Investment, and Vice-President of the Ethiopia Chinese Chamber of Commerce since 2014.

    Mr. Gao first came to Ethiopia in 2006 as an Engineer and Project Manager. He was then appointed as the Manager of the Operation Department, Deputy General Manager of CGCOC Ethiopia and then General Manger. In 2014, he was assigned as Managing Director of the whole CGCOC Eastern Africa region and Assistant President of CGCOC Group. Under his leadership, CGCOC Ethiopia has expanded its business from infrastructure construction to real estate, new energy, trade, industrial investment and agriculture development. Based on CGCOC’s economic achievements, social influence and contribution, Mr. Gao was elected as President of the Ethiopia Chinese Chamber of Investment, Vice-President of the Ethiopia-Chinese Chamber of Commerce in 2014.

    Mr. Gao holds a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from Sichuan University, China, and a Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Melbourne, Australia.

    Mr. Sana Jatta, Regional Director of East and Southern Africa, International Fund for Agricultural Development, ItalySanna Jatta is the Regional Director of East and Southern Africa at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) since April 2015. Prior to his present appointment, he was IFAD’s Lead Portfolio Advisor for the Asia and Pacific region, in which he assisted the Regional Director in strategic planning, business expansion, and day-to-day management of the Division. Mr. Jatta joined IFAD in 1987 as the first African Associate Programme Officer of the Fund and has since worked in various capacities including as Technical Advisor, Project Controller, Country Portfolio Manager, and Country Programme Manager in fifteen countries.

    Prior to joining IFAD, he worked for the Government of The Gambia, first as the Deputy Head of the Agricultural Engineering Division of the Department of Agriculture, and subsequently as the Deputy Director of a large (2000 hectares) multi-donor funded irrigation development project co-funded by IFAD.

    Mr. Jatta holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Agricultural Engineering from Cranfield University and a Master’s of Science in Soil Science and Water Management from the Wageningen Agricultural University (Netherlands).

  • 14

    SESSION 3: THE ETHIOPIAN TEXTILE AND GARMENT SECTOR

    Mr. Zemedeneh Negatu, Managing Partner, Ernst & Young, Ethiopia (see page 11).

    H.E. Mr. Taddese Haile, State Minister, Ministry of Industry, EthiopiaTadesse Haile is the State Minister for the Minister of Industry of Ethiopia. Prior to his current role, he served as the State Minister of the Ministry of Trade and Industry from 2001 to 2010, as General Manager of the Ethiopian Investment Agency from 1995 to 2001, and as Head of the Tigray Regional Planning and Economic Development Bureau from 1992 to 1995. Before that, he was Head of the Planning and Programming Department of the Ethiopian Valleys Development Authority in 1992, Head of the Valleys Development Desk of the National Planning and Studies Sector in the Council of Ministers from 1984 to 1992, and Planning Economist and Senior Economist in the Water Resources Development Authority from 1979 to 1987.

    Mr. Fasil Tadesse, Managing Director, President, Textile and Garment Manufacturers Association, Ethiopia Fasil Tadesse is President of the Ethiopian Textile and Garment Manufacturers Association as well as Chief Executive Officer of Kebire Enterprises. Mr. Tadesse was previously Executive Officer of Operations with MBMS and held roles with MIDROC Ethiopia and Coca-Cola. From 1997 to 1998, Mr. Tadesse was Head of the Operation Bureau for Public Enterprises within the Office of the Prime Minister of Ethiopia.

    Mr. Yusuf Aydeniz, Chief Executive Officer, AYKA Addis, Ethiopia Yusuf Aydeniz is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Ayka Tekstil Istanbul and the AYKA Addis Textile and Investment Group. He currently serves as the President of the Turkish - Ethiopia Works Council in the Turkish Foreign Economic Relation Board. In 1987, Mr. Aydeniz graduated from Istanbul University. An entrepreneur since high school, Mr. Aydeniz co-founded AYKA Textile with his business partner Mr. Gurcay Kavlakli in 1988. Following the economic crisis in Turkey, the founders reviewed their investments and expanded into Ethiopia. AYKA Addis is one of the largest integrated textile factories in Africa and Europe and continues to grow.

    Dr. Worku Zewdie, Owner, Knit to Finish Plc., EthiopiaWorku Zewde is an Ethiopian American physician licensed by the state of California, owner and manager of Knit to Finish Garment Factory, the first exporter to the United States through the African Growth and Opportunity Act. Prior this role, he served as Chairman of the Ethiopian Textile and Garment Manufacturers’ Association and member of the board of the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia. He was also a member of the armed struggle from late seventies to early eighties, and served two years of free medical service in the Ethio-Eritrean conflict.

  • 15

    SESSION 4: THE ETHIOPIAN LEATHER AND LEATHER PRODUCTS SECTOR

    Mr. Michael Hailu, Director, Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation, The NetherlandsMichael Hailu is the Director of the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), a role he has held since May 2010. Prior to joining the CTA, he held senior leadership positions at the World Agroforestry Centre in Nairobi, Kenya, and at the Center for International Forestry Research in Indonesia. He has degrees from the Universities of Pittsburgh and Addis Ababa, and was trained in strategic leadership at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business, United States.

    H.E. Mr. Tadesse Haile, State Minister, Ministry of Industry, Ethiopia (see page 14).

    Mr. Yigzaw Assefa, President, Leather and Leather Products Industry Association, EthiopiaYigzaw Assefa is the President of the Leather and Leather Products Industry Association of Ethiopia. He has more than 20 years of work experience as an administration department Head and as Manager of the Awash, Addis and Modjo tanneries. He holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Management from the Kaplan University, United States.

    Mr. Reg Hankey, Chief Executive Officer, Pittards Plc., EthiopiaReg Hankey is Chief Executive Officer of Pittards Plc., a United Kingdom-based company which manufactures leather for the shoe, glove, leather goods and aviation markets, together with finished leather goods and gloves. Mr. Hankey has been in the leather manufacturing industry for 42 years and first visited Ethiopia in 1991.

    Mr. Opender Kumar Kaul, General Manager, George Shoe Plc., EthiopiaOpender Kumar Kaul is the General Manager of George Shoe Plc., Ethiopia. Prior to this role, he was General Manager and Chief Executive Officer for Ethiopian operations at George Shoe Corporation Taiwan in 2013. From 2008 to 2012, he worked in international trading operations of Tata International, for steel, minerals, chemicals, construction machinery, etc. He retired in 2012 as Executive Director of Tata International. He holds a Master’s degree in Leather Technology from Madras University, India.

    Ms. Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu, Founder and Managing Director, soleRebels, Ethiopia Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu is Founder and Managing Director of soleRebels, the world’s fastest-growing African footwear brand and world’s first Fair Trade-certified footwear company. Growing up in a poor suburb of Addis Ababa, Bethlehem decided that there was only one way to defeat poverty – use local craftsmanship to make products that can compete in the global marketplace. She decided on footwear and today 70,000 pairs of shoes leave her factory every year. soleRebels has been expanding rapidly and has 18 stores around the world, including in Silicon Valley (USA), Japan, Singapore, Austria, Greece, Spain and Switzerland. It expects to open

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    another 50 to 60 stores in next 18 to 36 months. In 2015, Bethlehem launched a new venture, Republic of Leather, offering bespoke, hand crafted leather wear and accessories.

    Bethlehem has received numerous international honours and awards. In 2013, she placed 4th on CNN’s list of Top 12 Women Entrepreneurs of the last century, was named as one of the World’s 100 Most Powerful Women to watch by FORBES Magazine in 2012, and was the first female African entrepreneur to address the Clinton Global Initiative (2010). Bethlehem was also appointed as UNDP Goodwill Ambassador for Entrepreneurship. She studied Accounting at Unity University, has a PhD in Commerce from Jimma University, Ethiopia, and a degree in Organizational Leadership from Harvard University, United States.

    SESSION 5: FINANCING PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY AND ALLIED ACTIVITIES

    Mr. Admasu Nebebe, Director, United Nations Agencies and Regional Economic Cooperation Directorate and Head of the Climate Resilient Green Economy Facility, Ethiopia Admasu Nebebe is Director of the UN Agencies and Regional Economic Cooperation Directorate of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Cooperation in Ethiopia. His tasks include mobilizing external funding for the country’s development programmes, monitoring and evaluating programme implementation, and ensuring the achievement of intended development results. He is also a focal person on aid coordination in Ethiopia. In this context, he leads the establishment of the aid architecture in the country, serves as Chair of the Harmonization Taskforce established by the Development Assistance Group and the Government of Ethiopia High-Level Forum, and is the focal person and assumes the Secretariat of the Forum. He was also tasked to represent Ethiopia in the negotiation process of global and UN climate financing.

    Mr. Nebebe has a Master’s degree in Development Studies from the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague (The Netherlands) and a Bachelor’s degree in Management and Public Administration from Addis Ababa University (Ethiopia).

    H.E. Mr. Ahmed Shide, State Minister, Ministry of Finance and Economic Cooperation, Ethiopia (see page 8)

    Mr. Muluneh Ayalew, Director, Monetary and Financial Analysis Directorate, National Bank of Ethiopia Muluneh Ayalew joined the National Bank of Ethiopia in 2003, right after completing his undergraduate studies in Economics from Mekelle University, Ethiopia. He has a Master’s degree from Columbia University, New York City. Currently, he is Director of the Monetary and Financial Analysis Directorate of the National Bank of Ethiopia..

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    Ms. Josephine Ngure, Country Director for Ethiopia, African Development BankJosephine Ngure serves as the Resident Representative and Country Manager for the African Development Bank Group in Ethiopia. She has held this role since December 2013. In her current job, she manages the Bank’s operations in the country, including a multi-sector portfolio of over USD 1.7 billion comprising of national as well as regional operations. She leads the preparation of the Bank’s strategy for engagement with Ethiopia, business development, policy dialogue, and coordination of Bank activities with the Government and other development partners. Ms. Ngure joined the African Development Bank Group in 1997 and has held various senior positions, including as Adviser to the First Vice-President, and Chief Operating Officer and Adviser to the Vice- President for Infrastructure, Private Sector and Regional Integration. She has worked extensively on both public and private sector operations across Africa. Ms. Ngure holds a PhD and an Master’s degree from the University of Oxford, United Kingdom. She also holds a Bachelor of Commerce (First Class Honours) from the University of Nairobi, Kenya, and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA, Kenya).

    Mr. Jiyang Shi, President and Chief Executive Officer, China-Africa Development Fund, ChinaJiyang Shi is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the China-Africa Development Fund. A Chinese national, he has worked for the China Institute of Banking and Finance, the Bureau of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Foreign Financial Supervision Administration and the International Department of the People’s Bank of China, the Economic Department of the Xinhua News Agency Hong Kong Branch, and the Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises Association. Mr. Shi also held positions at the China Development Bank, including as Representative of the Hong Kong Representative Office, Deputy General Manager of the Shenzhen Branch, Deputy General Manager of the Hebei Branch, and as a Deputy Director-General of the Global Cooperation Department. Mr. Shi is experienced in international finance and holds a PhD in Economics.

    Ms. Carolyn Turk, Country Director for Ethiopia, World Bank Carolyn Turk joined the World Bank in 1998. She has held positions in the East Asia and Pacific region as a Senior Poverty Economist based in Viet Nam, and in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region where she managed the Social Development team. Most recently, Ms. Turk was Country Manager of Rwanda. Prior to joining the World Bank, she worked with the United Kingdom (UK) Department for International Development. A UK national, Ms. Turk has authored numerous publications on poverty and inequality, including a book based on research into gender inequality across 20 countries.

    Mr. Adamou Labara, Country Manager for the Horn of Africa, International Finance CorporationAdamou Labara is the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Resident Representative for Ethiopia, Djibouti, Eritrea and Somalia based in Addis Ababa since April 2011. He is responsible for all of IFC’s activities in those countries. Mr. Labara joined the IFC in 1998 as an Investment Officer for the Central Africa region based in Douala. He later moved to the Abidjan office, then Johannesburg and Dakar in various positions and sectors, including financial markets, general manufacturing and services, and infrastructure. He was Resident Representative for the Democratic Republic of Congo, based in Kinshasa, before moving to his current position. He continues to monitor IFC’s activities for the DRC. Mr. Labara holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Henley Management College, United Kingdom, and a Master’s degree in Economic Sciences from the University of Yaoundé, Cameroon.

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    Mr. Christophe Litt, Head of the European Investment Bank Representation Office to Ethiopia and the African Union, European Investment BankChristophe Litt has been the Head of the Ethiopia Office of the European Investment Bank since July 2015. He is a qualified lawyer and has many years of professional experience managing investment in new hospitals, microfinance and infrastructure projects in both Europe and the Middle East. He holds a Master’s degree in Finance from the London Business School as well as a Master’s of Law degree from Georgetown University Law Center, United States.

    Mr. Tadesse Hatiya, Vice-President, Development Bank of EthiopiaTadesse Hatiya is the current Vice-President of the Development Bank of Ethiopia. He has over 23 years of experience in the banking sector and holds a Master of Business Administration in International Business.

  • Vienna International Centre, P.O. Box 300, 1400 Vienna, AustriaTelephone: (+43-1) 26026-0, Fax: (+43-1) 26926-69E-mail: [email protected], Internet: www.unido.org