TIRET March 2016 Issue

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TIRETThe MIDROC Ethiopia Group Corporate Magazine

March 2016

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MIDROC Builds Landmarks

www.midroc-ethiopia.com.et TIRET March 2016

MIDROC Construction Ethiopia Plc.

Grade 1

Contractor

Tel: +251 15 51 08 99 Fax: +251 15 51 22 44 P.O.Box: 16960 E-mail: [email protected]

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia


The Chairman’s Message

1

We need industrial transformation!It could be regarded as stating the obvious, if I attempt to enumerate the countless achievements attained by companies of my investment drive, the MIDROC Ethiopia Investment Group , of which the humble contribution to the national economic development is one.

Though I don’t see anything wrong with speaking about the achievements of the investment group, we should seriously look into the future business scenarios and our national and global level challenges to be tackled.

At present, we stand at a crucial phase of going through industrial transformation.

The increased economic activity witnessed at the national level coupled with the global search for new business hubs in Africa also reminds us that our investment activities should be ready for more competition.

Other factors like the oscillation in global commodity price and the various challenges faced by the companies to secure finance from financial institutions are issues we need to deal with.

To make up-to-date management decisions, I think we also need to keep a watchful eye on developments regarding the various new financial regulations and directives put in place by the government of Ethiopia.

I also want to remind all in my companies here in Ethiopia that change is inevitable and we should be prepared for it.

Therefore, we need to do our best to maintain our contributions in economic growth, living up to our motto “Committed to Development” especially by staying alert, being visionary and updating ourselves with new global trends and applying all contemporary technologies in our day-to-day business activities.

To do this, I presume, it requires making a concerted effort to carefully craft achievable and implementable plans. As for me, I once again want to reassure all the management and employees of my companies that I will remain by your side and play my part in the realization of the plans.

Sheikh Mohammed H. Ali Al-Amoudi

Owner and ChairmanMIDROC Ethiopia Investment Group




Editor’s Note

3

We at MIDROC believe that change and change management is the means to survive and even to grow more.

This conviction of the MIDROC family has been reflected in many ways for the last two decades since the inception of our Investment Group. For several times, we have experienced managing changes and succeeded very well in our various business activities.

One thing we need to do is studying future business environment and get ready to sustain the growth of our businesses. For instance, the World Trade Organization estimated that in 2016 global trade expansion will remain well below the annual average of 5.1% posted since 1990, mainly due to sluggish economic growth.

For this, I think we have all the experience and the readiness to learn from our past and set our future plans.

In the Cover Story of this issue of our magazine, therefore, you can read about how we have accomplished grand construction projects over the last two decades and what we can learn out of it. In our Features column we also take a close look at what has been accomplished by our companies over the last six months.

The Commentary column also presents a view point by a World Bank consultant on how the African Diaspora can be a major source of development financing and how the Diaspora assist in building the continent.

The Ascending Heights of Success column also features another interesting story on the outstanding achievements of the Addis International Catering plc (AIC) under the title A Rising Star in the Catering Industry.

As you would expect you will also find two interesting health related articles in our Health column.

At last, we present a couple of MIDROC’s news stories under the News Brief column.

As usual, we would like to invite you to play your part in providing us with your constructive comments and suggestions.

Enjoy your reading!

Mekonnen TeshomeEditor-in-Chief


TIRET is a bi-annual corporate magazineof MIDROC Ethiopia Investment Groupin print since 1996.

PATRONTeklu Haile

EDITORIAL BOARDMelaku Beza (Chairman)Asrat BulbulaBrook Debebe (Amb.)Johannes Kinfu (Professor Emer.)Mekonnen Teshome

EDITOR-in-CHIEFMekonnen Teshome

SECRETARIAL SERVICE & DISTRIBUTIONHaimanot NegussieMartha Kassahun

PHOTOGRAPHYDegifie Tekle, Tadesse Demissie, Kibrealem Yalew

GRAPHICS DESIGNKibrealem Yalew

PUBLISHED BYThe Communication & Public RelationsDepartment of MIDROC EthiopiaTel: +251 115 549 969Fax: +251 115 549 936P.O.Box: 8677 Addis [email protected]

MIDROC Ethiopia©All rights reserved. Reproduction in part or in whole is allowed with a writtenauthorization of the PublisherMarch 2016

MIDROC(Mohammed International DevelopmentResearch & Organization Companies)

TIRET March 2016

MIDROC ETHIOPIACommitted to Development

DISCLAIMER:The opinions expressed in our various columns are strictly the views of the contributing writers.

CONTENTS

Features 13

Commentary 55

Ascending Heights of Success 56

Health 60

News Brief 66

4

Cover Story

MIDROC Builds Landmarks 6

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TIRETThe MIDROC Ethiopia Group Corporate Magazine

March 2016

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Cover Story

6

On June 14, 2015, the newly built multi-purpose stadium in Bahir Dar, a city located 578km north-west of Addis Ababa, hosted its first historic international football match between Ethiopia and Lesotho for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.

The game was attended by well over 70,000 spectators which is unprecedented in the history of the country. The Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) also collected a record one million Birr from the gate fee for the match.

The largest stadium in the country by capacity has received recognition from CAF and FIFA in 2015 and has hosted a number of international games. This is really a source of pride not only for the city of Bahir Dar but also for the nation.

Behind all this national achievement, there is a company hardly noticed by many as the builder of the landmark – The MIDROC Construction Ethiopia plc.

The Bahir Dar Stadium is one of the major and recent projects successfully completed by MIDROC Construction as per the construction agreement signed in 2008 by the then Amhara Regional State Chief Administrator Ato Ayalew Gobeze and Owner and Chairman of MIDROC Ethiopia Sheikh Mohammed H. Ali Al-Amoudi.

In spite of the little public awareness about its major accomplishments of national significance, the company can be taken as a “Big Builder” with its own track record in the history of modern construction in Ethiopia.

Looking into the account of its construction history, the company has registered remarkable achievements in planning, designing and executing wide a range of construction projects of various size and complexity during its well over two decades history.

>>>>



Bahir dar Stadium


The Investment Group embraces many companies engaged in the construction sector directly or indirectly: 1. MIDROC Construction Ethiopia plc.

Following its establishment in 1993, it has undertaken various construction projects including the superb Sheraton Addis Hotel, the OAU building and the MIDROC Corporate Head Office (Nani Building), the Federal Police Headquarters and many more.

The OAU Conference Center

Back in 2002, MIDROC Construction successfully completed the construction of the conference center of the

then Organization of African Unity (OAU) in consultation with the Nigerian TOMIKIMI Design Co. and handed over the project to the Organization meeting all the requirements based on the agreement signed earlier in 1998.

The completion of the conference center enabled the OAU (now the AU) to have its own assembly hall for the first time in its 39 years of history by then. The four-storey modern building has 323 seats assembly hall for plenary sessions, 133 seats at its gallery while the committee conference rooms can accommodate 169 people at a time with other necessary facilities as well.

Nani Building (MIDROC Ethiopia Corporate Office)

Nani building is a modern and complex building with its own automation electro-mechanical facilities including fire alarms, CCTV, central UPS, data and telephone lines, sprinkler and standby gen set, fuel transfer (for gen set), elevators (quadruplex & single) and escalators, window cleaning equipment and access control systems.

The building site lies on 2,586 meter square located on Ras Desta Street, which is one of the major route streets in Addis Ababa, around Maskal Square, in front of Ghion Hotel, opposite to the City’s stadium. It is a 22 stories building including the basement, ground and 20 floors and 3 floors parking. The total built up space is 22,041 square metres.

8

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The Future HQs of Dashen Bank which is being built by MIDROC Construction


The Sheraton Addis

The Sheraton Addis Hotel which opened its doors to its customers on Saturday February 29, 1998 is considered as the “Crown Jewel of Africa”.

The hotel, one of the Luxury Collectionss of the renowned Starwood’s, was also dubbed as “the most luxurious hotel on the African continent” by many international media outlets during its inauguration. Sheraton Addis built by MIDROC Construction Ethiopia, was designed by the famous Swedish architect Kosek Ivo.

The hotel is located in the heart of Addis Ababa and situated on a hilltop overlooking the city with plunging views of the National Palace and with all the elegance and unmatched sophistications.

Martyrs’ Monuments

The Amhara Martyrs’ Monument, a multipurpose structure located on the eastern bank of Abay River in Bahir Dar, the capital of the Amhara Regional State, as well, is among the amazing products of the MIDROC Construction Ethiopia Plc.

The Monument is a multifaceted complex embracing a 40-meter tall obelisk at the center of an upper plaza and other geometric shapes and artistic works on the walls of the lower two plazas. The historic monument embraces a library and museum as its main parts.

Similarly, the company built the Oromia Martyrs’ Monument as well as the glorious Oromiya Council and Convention Hall Project at the entrance of the west gate of the Adama town comprising a 5-storey office building, 8 convention halls with 4 seat category of 2000, 600, 200 and 100, consecutively; a dining hall and a library in the basement along with 12,000 m2 asphalt driveway and parking lots with a capacity of 300 vehicles.

It was finalized meeting all the expectations of the client, the Oromia Regional state, using high quality cladding and finishing materials-German Kalzip roofing, Belgian danoline curvex, gypsum ceiling, mineral fiber ceiling, and mosaic tiles and the like.

Federal Police Headquarters Building

The completion of the Federal Police Head-quarters Building by MIDROC Construction has also added magnificence and extra grace to the Mexico Square.

The 10-storey building with a total floor area of 12,000 sq meters has a tri-directional unique architectural feature with the flamed granite that was mechanically fixed and the green tinted aluminum curtain wall with high quality internal finishing. Again, it signifies MIDROC Construction’s ability and experience on which everybody can rely on.

Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC) Building

The current Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC) building was the first project that the company completed after a long interruption of the construction due to the 1991 regime change in the country. >>>>


By then, it was only the MIDROC Construction which was reliable and competent enough to take the finishing and site work as well as the design and construction of its extension building for TV studios and transmission facilities.

Dashen Bank S.Co Headquarters

After signing a 593 million Birr contract agreement on May 21, 2015 for the second time with Dashen Bank S.Co., MIDROC Construction is currently speeding up construction works to finalize the entire project of the bank’s headquarters with its annex building. Prior to the second award of the project, MIDROC Construction has successfully done all the designing and construction of the structural parts of the massive headquarters building while its sister companies, the Midroc Foundation Specialist PLC and Vision Aluminum Manufacturing plc, were engaged in the foundation and aluminum works of the building.

Other big projects successfully carried out by the Company include the Hawassa Pepsi Plant, Hawassa Chip Wood Factory, Summit Beverages Plant, Pharmacure IV Fluid Plant, Hawassa University building, the Nyala Insurance Branch office in Bahir-Dar, EBG’s Show Room in the southern Addis Ababa, the Mekelle and Gondar Referal Hospital Buildings, Dashen Bank branch offices in Bedelle and Bahir Dar towns and even now it has continued to put up major landmarks here in the capital Addis Ababa and across the country.

All in all, the stated projects above are only some of the major ones executed by MIDROC Construction Ethiopia plc. As the company is one of the biggest (grade 1) contractors in the country, and of course, being a pioneer in many aspects of the construction industry, it is not easy to show all what it has done over the last two and half decades in Ethiopia with this piece of writing. The same is true for other MIDROCEthiopia group companies engaged in the construction sector.

Road Projects

Regarding with road construction, the company was awarded and built six metropolitan road projects in Addis Ababa - the Yeshi Debele-Keranio, Yerer – AAWSA Treatment Plant, Meri-Radio Beacon, Ayat- Yerer Goro, Gurd Shola– Bole Yeka, and City Tip – Bisrate Gabriel Roads. These roads are all critical in the development of the city

infrastructure. Mostly, the constructions of the roads involved erecting very long reinforced concrete bridges spanning from 40 to 140 meters. Apart from inter-city road construction, it has effectively completed the upgrading of Dembi-Bedele Road (a Federal level highway) meeting the pre-qualification requirement for international bidding. The 10-meters wide two-lane asphalt concrete highway was the first asphalt road project ever signed between a local company and the Ethiopian Road Authority (ERA).

The construction of the Derba town - Mugher Valley road in a very difficult terrain and deep gorge was essential to transport raw material for Derba MIDROC Cement Factory, is an addition in the company’s shining history.

2. Midroc Foundation Specialist PLC

MIDROC Foundation Specialist plc, formerly (1998-2005) known as Bauer-MIDROC, after its reestablishment due to the change in shareholding of the company, has continued making its own history in the country’s construction sector. The recent completion of the unique bridge over the Omo River by the company that performed as a main contractor can simply show how efficient and specialized the company is. What is surprising about this project, constructed on the OMO River near the OMORATE town of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples State, is that it is a single span bridge 128m (2x36 m span concrete box girder) and weighing more than 600 tons (the first ever single span bridge in Ethiopia).

The construction of this state of the art bridge was launched with the massive reinforced concrete footing for two main piers and continued with the super structural work. A working platform at approximately 14.5 m depth, free from the ingress of water and caving of the soil layers was primarily essential for the construction of the footings of these piers.

To realize the whole building of the Abay bridge the company also put up a secant-pile-wall as a retaining structure around the footings and constructed an interlocking by over cutting the “secondary piles” into the “primary piles”.

In addition, it erected a total of 100 piles for the east pier with a range of depth 12.5 to 21.5 meter and built a total area of approximately 2000 m2 retaining wall ensuring the overall construction of the bridge by the main contractor-Kajima Construction of Japan.

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The Omo river bridge

The Dembi-Bedele Road constructed by MIDROC Construction


MIDROC Foundation Specialist plc has been actively involved in several piling works and has successfully accomplished several major foundation projects including soil exploration works, drillings in mixed soil with full core recovery up to 100 meter depth as well as soil investigations. As the construction of shoring piles becomes compulsory for the purpose of effective land usage, the company has been involved in the construction of the Awash Bank and Insurance building complex, KK-building complex, Dashen Bank building complex, Maritime building complex, ODA building complex, the Derba Midroc Cement Factory and others.

In addition, Midroc Foundation Specialist has managed the execution of the huge foundation piles for the Bole International Airport Passengers Terminal Building as per the contract it signed with the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority.

The company’s involvement as foundation subcontractor during the construction of the new Hidase Bridge over the Abay River is also another triumph for the company.

3. Huda Real Estate Pvt. Ltd. Co. (HUDA)

The construction of the Mohammed Hussein Ali Al-Amoudi (MHA) Stadium in Woldia town (at Mechare Meda) is certainly one of the historic successes of the Huda Real Estate Pvt. Ltd. Co. (HUDA) , a member of the MIDROC Ethiopia Technology Group. The stadium, with 25,000 seats, is designed and being built meeting all the FIFA standards with the donation secured from Sheikh Mohammed.

Besides Huda designed, supervised and administered the construction of the Dashen Bank’s very first “own” building and two villas for staff residence on a total area of 895 sq. meters in the town.

The MIDROC village, a mixed residential project with 24 individual houses, again was built by Huda in 2002 in Woldia. All the feasibility study, design, supervision and construction works were done by the company. Modern Building Industries PLC (MBI) and Kombolcha Steel Products Industries PLC (KOSPI), all members of the Technology Group, also participated in providing construction materials.

Likewise, the company carried out the construction works of the KOSPI and MBI Akaki Factories. It has also

successfully concluded the foundation, construction, supervision and erection works of the MIDROC Gold Mine PLC’s Carbon in Pulp (CIP) and Fuel Depot Projects as well as the construction of residential houses for employees of the MIDROC Gold Mine PLC at Kelecha, Shakiso.

Technology Group companies like MBI, KOSPI and Wanza Furnishings Industries Pvt. Ltd. Co. (WANZA) also vigorously contribute to the country’s construction sector supplying materials including paints, and engineered products per customers’ requirement and the like.

Wanza Furnishings Industries Pvt. Ltd. Co. (WANZA), which was established in July 2003, is engaged in manufacturing of wooden furniture both for household and office uses as well as for construction and industrial purposes. Similarly, MBI, since its inception in 1995, has been engaged in the production and marketing of different types of paints, non metallic filler materials, concrete blocks and tiles, plastic floor tiles and glue products. Likewise, KOSPI manufactures and supplies various types of steel structures and other engineered products per customers’ requirement.

4. The MIDROC Ethiopia Projects Office (MEPO)

The MIDROC Ethiopia Projects Office (MEPO) is a grade one contracting and management service providing company mainly engaged in property development and administration.

MEPO undertakes a variety of activities in contracting and consulting, properly development of urban and commercial centers, residential units, malls, hotel and resorts etc.

The African Union Hotel construction comes at the forefront, among the projects currently bieng executed by MEPO.

5. Other MIDROC companies contributing to the Construction sector in Ethiopia

Among the other MIDROC companies that greatly play a pivotal role in the construction area is the Derba Midroc Cement (DMC).

It is apparent that immediately following its inauguration in 2012, DMC has stabilized the price of cement and stimulated construction activities in the country after a period of sluggish performance due to shortage of the product.

The National Mining Corporation Plc (NMiC) is another member of the MIDROC Group Companies that has significantly contributed to the sector by supplying high quality marble and granite products with premium aesthetic value and unique colors as well as refined textures. Moreover, Vision Aluminum Manufacturing plc, MIDROC Energy House Electro Mechanical Services Plc (MEH) and Awassa Chipwood Factory as well are other members of the MIDROC Ethiopia Investment Group that are leaving their footprints in the county’s construction industry.

With all these huge institutional arrangements and professional delivery the Investment Group would definitely continue doing even more in the years to come revitalizing the construction sector in Ethiopia.

The Woldia Mohammed Hussein Ali Al-Amoudi (MHA) Stadium


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Premier Pledges Support to MIDROC Agricultural Operations

The Premier’s visit to the MIDROC Rice Farm said a great encouragement to the management and employees

His Excellency Prime Minister Haile-Mariam Desalegn pledged his government’s support to the rice farm under the Saudi Star Agricultural Development plc, a member of the Midroc Ethiopia Investment Group, in Alwero Woreda, Gambella State, about 830 km West of the capital Addis Ababa.

The Premier expressed this, while holding discussions with the company’s senior management members headed by Saudi Star Agricultural Development plc CEO Ato Jemal Ahmed following the PM’s visit to the rice processing factory and the farm at the Alwaro Woreda of the Gambella Regional State on December 8, 2015.

H.E. Ato Haile-Mariam said that the government is keen to closely work with the MIDROC Ethiopia Investment Group to ensure that the Group would operate by taking the second national Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP2) into consideration.

“We know that private investors have huge potential. However, what our evaluation shows in this regard is that we were not successful in supporting and enhancing the participation of the business community during the first GTP period. This should not be repeated during the current plan period.”

“The government highly encourages Ethiopian professionals to engage in investment activities. We need to work towards the development of local private sector.”

The Prime Minister also expressed his pleasure that Saudi Star Agricultural Development plc is engaging the youth in Gambella in its various farming activities and benefit out of the agricultural activities. “You have done an exemplary job in this regard. This should be further strengthened in the future,” the Premier told members of the company’s top management.

Features

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“The youth here in Gambella know the locality, the culture and the people very well and many young people are now graduating with diplomas in various technical fields. Apart from providing opportunity to engage in tractor operation and other technical activities, they need to organize themselves and be involved in all economic activities in their locality so as to seize the opportunities and improve their livelihood. Therefore, I encourage you to support the youth to get organized and work with you. The government has already designed a financial system to help them organize.”

“Finally, as peace and security is vital for the farm’s operation, it is essential to work hand-in-hand with the local people and win their will and alliance,” H.E. Ato Haile-Mariam underlined.

Ato Jemal on his part pointed out that if the farm is able to maintain the relentless effort that it has exerted in the past two years to address identified challenges concerning operations of the farm and complete the entire installation of rice processing factory, it is possible to substitute the import of rice and start exporting the produce fully satisfying the local demand.

“Concerning the local young people, I think we can make a big stride with them if they are organized and engaged in our activities as part of our outgrowers scheme,” the CEOindicated.

“If the farm, the people and the government could join forces and all available resources, we would certainly achieve

the objectives outlined as part of the 2nd Growth and Transformation Plan.” Ato Jemal expressed his conviction.

In concluding his speech, Ato Jemal told the Premier: “Your visit to our farm is definitely another drive for our investment endeavor. It is an encouragement for all our professionals and employees who are far from their families as well as for all development actors here in Gambella. I am here representing the owner of the farm, Sheikh Mohammed H. Ali Al-Amoudi. I can assure you that the owner has all the determination to further bolster the development effort here in Gambella.”

The first spot visited by the Prime Minister was the riceprocessing plant where he was briefed that the factory is the biggest and the first of its kind in Ethiopia in applying state-of the-art technology.

The factory has the capacity to dry 400 tons of rice and process 350 tons per day and generates its own power from the rice bi-product.

The company also owns another factory with a capacity of polishing 350 tons per day of rice in Bishoftu town, 45 km south Addis Ababa.

The Alwero rice farm in Gambella is distinctive for carrying out all activities of production, processing, polishing and standardization of rice under same management.

The farm developed about 62 varieties of its own hybrid rice through research that the farm conducted

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The PM paid visit to the various sections of the factory including some units under installation, the rice farm and other crop development at Saudi Star.

Likewise, managers of the company gave explanations to the Prime Minister on the range of activities carried out by the farm related to job opportunity creation, support provided to farmers and its future plans, government bodies’ involvement and the assistance provided to the farm.

Last Ethiopian budget year, 2014/2015, the company was able to cultivate rice on 7055 hectares.

In addition, to date, the farm has successfully developed 62 local hybrid rice varieties of its own through research andselection. According to farm managers, the construction of a 4.5 km irrigation canal and earth work activities are being undertaken to develop irrigated rice on 1500 hectares this Ethiopian fiscal year.

The Prime Minister was also accompanied by senior government officials including Gambella and SNNP Regional State Admininstrators Ato Gat Luak Tut and Ato Dese Dalke during his visit to the farm.

The Rice processing factory in Alwero, Gambella


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Bringing Women to Business Leadership

The MIDROC Ethiopia Investment Group made “Leadership Development and Women’s Empowerment” its main thematic issue for the 19th Annual General Mangers’ Conference held in Adama town at Dire International Hotel, from 4 – 5 December 2015.

Opening the conference, MIDROC Ethiopia Designate and Chairman of the Training Committee, Ato Teklu Haile underscored that it was high time to bring leadership development to light.

“‘On promoting women’s leadership’ the first and foremost principle should be to take decisive action to avoid gender discrimination. In their own motherland women should have equal opportunity and we should all be mapping new vision for women’s development, moral support and commitment in their endeavors,” the Designate highlighted.

He also said that women’s education is necessity for poverty-reduction, promoting growth, health improvement, family stability, improved child survival and family planning. “If we are really imperative on leadership development, the legal system, which is man-made, has to be looked into. And as they say ‘paradise is open at the command of mothers’. The Chinese say ‘Women hold up half of the sky’, so I urge conference participants to contribute their share in curbing harmful traditions that negatively impact gender equality” Ato Teklu added.

In closing his speech, the Designate thanked ELICO’s General Manager, Ambassador Brook Debebe, and his team for hosting the Annual General Mangers’ Conference organized by the MIDROC Ethiopia Training and Development Department in Adama.

In his introductory remark, Prof. Johannes Kinfu, Director of Training and Development Department of MIDROC Ethiopia PLC, stressed on the global concern with regard to leadership problem in general and the concern with poor leadership representation of women in particular, be it in government, businesses and business schools governance.

Ms. Billene Seyoum Woldeyes, Setaweet services,Co-Founder who made the first presentation at the conference, explored the issue of gender and highlighted “Women in Leadership” and the challenges such as societal factors, organizational barriers, and all personal barriers that inhibit or discourage women to be “leaders”.

She indicated that promoting women’s leadership in MIDROC, which is the biggest entity of private companies,is vital to realize the desired change across the country and that it is also a moral case and business duty of the leadership in the companies.

Ms. Billene also related the Ethiopian situation with global guidelines on women - UN Global Compact and Glass Ceiling Committee strategy statement.

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Johannes Kinfu (Prof. Emeritus), Director of Training and Development Department of MIDROC Ethiopia PLC

Ato Teklu Haile, MIDROC Ethiopia Designate and Chairman of the Training Committee

Some of the participants of the meeting


The other presenter Ms. Hikmet Abdella, a former ACCA Ethiopia Country Manager, in her speech titled “Women in Leadership” discussed challenges of women in business-both cultural and regulatory matters. She also identified other challenges like lack of harmonization on women’s efforts and the absence of women considered as role models.

Vice President of Information System at the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE), Ms. Melika Bedri Mohammed was also the other resource person who shared the Bank’s experience in bringing women to leadership. She indicated that empowering women and bringing them to leadership is central to CBE’s human resource capacity building strategy. According to the Vice President, CBE has adopted a strategy to bring women to leadership as part of its succession and career management system and consequently positive results have been registered as many women are now coming to the top leadership of the biggest commercial bank in the country. Also at the event, Ms. Nadia Waber, Trainer in Dean Foster Associates, Faculty Member at Pacific Integral and Coach at Center for Creative Leadership, also made an inspirational presentation on Leadership. She stated that leadership requires self discovery first, then change to work with others (interdependent), and cooperate, synergize to create

new. She said: “Leadership is about how to respond to complexity”, adding that every manager at the MIDROC Group needs to build self-leadership profile which may give rise to paradox and confusion as leadership is a Choice by itself.

In addition to the thematic presentations by the four resource persons, two other speakers made brief presentations on other important topics. First, Ambassador Brook, Board Member of the Ethiopian Institute of Corporate Governance (EICG) presented a concise report on the progress and activities of the institution and MIDROC’s participation in the process.

The other was a staff member of the Accounting and Auditing Board of Ethiopia, Ato Beakal Ejigu, who made a short presentation on the Financial Reporting Proclamation and the Council of Ministers Regulation 332/2014 and the applicability of the Integrated Financial Reporting System (IFRS) in Public Interest Entities (PIE) in Ethiopia. During his discussion he pointed out that most MIDROC Ethiopia Investment Companies, as they fall in PIEs category, are expected to fully apply IFRS in 5 years time.

Ms. Melika Bedri Mohammed

Ms. Billene Seyoum Woldeyes Ms. Hikmet Abdella

Ms. Nadia Waber


Sheikh Mohammed H. Al-Amoudi and Women Empowerment

If we look back in history, women awfully suffered from lengthy working hours, violence and discrimination. Currently we see the whole civil society is determined to bring real change in women empowerment. Sheikh Mohammed, owner and chairman of MIDROC Ethiopia’s Investment Group with a single mind and determination has concentrated on social activities and investment on women. He has helped individuals, communities and organizations. Success, as they say, is not a single achievement; it is all what you do with others and for others. In short to highlight his effort to help women in medication, education and employment in particular promoting gender balance by ensuring equal opportunity in his companies is an indication of his forward looking and generosity.

In March 2007, a heartbreaking story of a 21-years old young woman, Kamilat Mehdi, suddenly came into the public sphere by all media outlets and shocked all Ethiopians. This was because of the acid attack against Kamilat that changed all her hopes and visions into sorrow and grief and of course which horrified the Ethiopian people who are proud of their culture of humanity and civility.

As the sulphuric acid disfigured Kamilat beyond recognition hitting her eyes, nose, mouth, forehead and chest and burning her flesh wherever it touched, everybody was in fear that she had no any future and would not be recovered. Besides, if her family wanted her to be treated, it was impossible to do it in Ethiopia and otherwise millions of dollars were required to take her abroad and give her treatment a try.

This was a big and an urgent issue for her family and the people. However, as the news reached to Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Al-Amoudi, “the true son of Ethiopia”, he decided to cover all her medical expenses and to take care of her treatment abroad. Then Kamilat along one of her sisters was sent to a hospital in Paris, France, amid reports her life would have been in danger.

Then, all the public dismay changed into optimism and hope and ultimately Sheikh Mohammed’s assistance led to Kamilat’s Wedding with her beloved one in Paris in October 2013. The story of Kamilat is just an instance and the tip of the iceberg of his support to the Ethiopian Women. Otherwise, what Sheikh Mohammed has done to assist and empower women in the country is beyond imagination. He made astonishing support for women like Sofanit Debalke and her daughter whom he rescued from the danger of breast cancer.

Sheikh Mohammed has spent millions of dollars in his investments to accommodate mostly women and the youth. He usually reiterates that he wants to provide more training and educational opportunities for the youth and women in Ethiopia.

Most of his companies employ women. For example, of his over 100,000 employees in his agricultural companies more than 70% are women who in turn shoulder the responsibility of supporting and feeding their family including young girls. The recently inaugurated “Fontanina Shoe Factory”, under one of his companies, for instance, trained 265 young Ethiopians (of which most of them are female) and deployed them in its state-of-the-art factory. His textile and garment plants have also created job and income generation opportunities for thousands of young women.

His aspiration of making young Ethiopian women the best medical personnel in the world by opening the “Selam Nurses Training School”, now continued in offering especial scholarship for destitute young women in his educational institutions, like the Unity University, which has the potential to accelerate education in the Country.

Sheikh Mohammed usually advise CEO’s and General Managers of his companies, to first make sure that they have discharged their social responsibilities in providing educational, health facilities, and potable water to their surrounding communities before contemplating their profit. Sheikh Mohammed received no dividend from his companies in Ethiopia. He always let them expand and create more opportunities for employment, create capital, invest in feasible business sectors.

He has also contributed a lot in alleviating the difficulties of women and young girls directly by establishing schools and clinics in the rural areas and indirectly through assisting development projects in the country.

Sheikh Mohammed’s women empowerment and assistance to women is not country specific, rather it is a global and universal one. Forexample, Sheikh Mohammed has also supported education in relation to healthcare issues through university endowments such as the Cancer Research Center at King Fahd University and King Abdullah University for Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia devoted primarily to breast cancer.

“...Another is to work with trusted partners such as the Clinton Foundation in relation to HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention [which is one of the major problems of women in the country], plus upcoming work with the Gates Foundation in relation to food security and agriculture development,” Sheikh Mohammed told Forbes in 2013.



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DMC’s Village By Mekonnen Teshome

Derba MIDROC Cement (DMC) Chief Executive Director Ato Haile Assegidie

Late last November, I and my team, from the MIDROC Ethiopia plc, happened to visit a magnificent and splendid facility constructed by one of our sister companies.

As we jumped in this soul and mind captivating place, one of our colleagues said: “We all need to apply for transfer to this factory.” Of course he said it for fun, but he really expressed all the fascination and enticement that was running deep in our hearts during the visit – what a nice place to visit! Our colleague was commenting on nothing but on the newly built employees residential village (DERBA MINI CITY) of the Derba MIDROC Cement PLC (DMC).

>>>>


As most part of the one billion Birr employees housing project is being finalized, members of the management are being taken into this new facility, which is endowed with sophistications and eminence an international standard employees’ housing project should have. Though very few companies in Ethiopia have attempted to build employees housing villages, this one is so special and unique for being very modern, well designed and built with all the social and infrastructural facilities that a modern residential housing needs to have.

After signing construction agreements, in 2011, with Ziquala, Adam and SA Construction Companies, the following residential units have been constructed:

• Type A– two story, four unit in each block, a total of four blocks • Type B–five story, twenty units in each block a total of three blocks • Type C –five story, tenty units in each block, a total of 7 blocks • Type D-three storey, fifteen units in each block a total of 7 blocks

In addition to the residential blocks, the following facility buildings have also been constructed:

• Administration building • Cafeteria • Healthcare – (Hospital with 20 bends, X-ray and Laboratory…etc facilities • School – Primary and High School • Supermarket • Kindergarten • Gymnasium with indoor basketball Field • With complete site works including water supply system, electric power lines and sewerage treatment plant with sewer pipelines. • 5 Km track around the village

The track will serve the community to walk, jog or run at their free time so that they keep themselves fit and healthily.

The village is also expected to have additional facilities like a tennis court, swimming pool, children play ground, volleyball and basketball field and a football field when phase II of the housing development program is finalized.

>>>>


The planned tree plantation work, the green belt, which will serve as a buffer zone between the production plant and the residential units, with additional landscape work, will beautify the environ in and around the factory. It will also serve as a protector of environmental pollution in addition to creating a green environment.

Members of the factory management who are anticipating a more comfortable living environment are very excited as they are being accommodated into the new housing units.

Ato Temesgen Gebre-Micheal, a senior accountant at the factory’s finance department, who currently has been provided with a residential unit at the 2nd floor of the D block of type D residential unit, said that the unit in which he has been accommodated has enabled him to live “a quality life”. He expressed that the new facility is amazing and beyond his expectations.

“I am really happy to see all these facilities in place. This would help me to cope with the hot weather here at the Muger valley. You also don’t feel that you are away from your home town. It makes you feel that you are still amidst a big community.” He said.

Ato Temesgen said that he is thankful to the owners of the factory for the attention and concern given to the workers’ well being. As to him, the provision of housing would boost employees’ moral and contribute to their effectiveness and productivity especially when all the facilities that are built in conjunction with the housing units go operational.

Ato Temesgen Gebre-Micheal

Partial view of interior and exterior parts of some of the buildings

>>>>


“You can simply read the positive impact of the facility from the faces of the employees accommodated in the housing units” Ato Temesgen said.

He concluded by saying “I believe this is an exemplary endeavor to be followed and pursued by other business people as well” Though what has so far been done by the company is so amazing, Ato Temesgen said some of the facilities like the newly built cafeteria should go operational so as to create conducive working environment for both the employees and their visitors.

Ato Asfaw Abera is the Human Resource and Administration head at the factory. He believes that the housing units have enabled the employees at the factory to effectively discharge their day-to-day responsibilities.

“If workers are provided with shelter and housing, then they can properly deliver and become more productive. I guess that is the main reason behind the project,” he said.

“The facility allows workers to enjoy their private life by facilitating better living condition. This in turn, enables DMC achieve its main corporate objectives, high productivity and also help attract and retain skilled manpower.” Ato Asfaw added.

Ato Asfaw also said that apart from its advantages for the factory employees, the staff residence facility helps in the creation of a bigger and vibrant community in and around the manufacturing plant.

“We really wish all other professionals like ourselves to join our company and enjoy the benefits we are enjoying such as this housing project,” he said.

Ato Zelalem Getaneh, Quality Assurance Senior Supervisor at DMC, also shares the same view as his colleagues. He said that the employees housing facility is a huge investment from social obligation point of view.

“Had we not been accommodated in the housing units, we really would have been in difficult situation due to the absence of habitable accommodation in and around the factory. We would also have been suffering from lack of other amenities such as electricity, telephone and internet services, he said.

Of course, housing is a great benefit to employees of companies located in areas where access to housing is limited due to distance, or sheer absence.

Chief Executive Director (CED) of DMC Ato Haile Assegidie says that the management has made a decision to invest one billion birr plus on the said facility in line with the wishes and aspiration and visionary leadership of the company’s Chairman, Shiekh Mohammed H. Ali Al-Amoudi.

“From the outset, our Chairman has always underlined that everything possible should be done to enhance the working conditions of our employees as the continued success and existence of the company depends on the well being of workers.”, the CED said.

“Like many other business companies, we could have focused more on profit; we could have also focused more on the minimization of our costs; however we are also equally concerned about the wellbeing of our employees,” Ato Haile said.

To reinforce his argument, the CED indicated that the housing facility would ensure better life for the employees by facilitating decent living condition for their families; good schooling and health for their children and ultimately uplifting the morale and productivity of employees.

The provision of housing to accommodate employees and their families will keep the family united and will improve workers productivity. In the absence of adequate housing, Ato Asfaw Abera

Ato Zelalem Getaneh

>>>>


workers may be forced to live in poor living condition, which can lead to ineffective organizational activity.

Ato Haile also said “As a big company, in the Muger Valley, we aspire not only to establish our own village, but to mutually grow with the community around us. We have already witnessed that the sheer presence of the factory has attracted other settlements, business enterprises and has also pooled transportation infrastructure and other services, which we expect to grow more and more in the years to come.”

The company has so far made various donations to the local community and assisted in the development of social institutions.

Derba MIDROC Cement (DMC) is one of the largest cement factories in Ethiopia and is based in the Muger valley, some 70 kms north-west of Addis Ababa. The factory produces Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) and Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC). Over 5,500 engineers, technicians and laborers were involved during its construction. It went operational in Febraury, 2012 and currently has 739 employees working at the factory, its sales offices and headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The KG The gymnasium

The cafeteria

The bank

The market place/Mall/

The Hospital


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MIDROC credited with “First Amhara Brand Coffee Export”

Gojjam has long been famous for its white “Teff ” in Ethiopia, but now thanks to Sheik Mohammed H. Ali Al-Amoudi, owner and Chairman of MIDROC Ethiopia, it is hoisting its business flag in the international coffee market.

One of Sheik Mohammed’s agricultural parent companies, the Ethio Agri-CEFT, is producing coffee on 340 hectares of irrigated land in its Ayehu farm in Gojam district of the Amhara Regional State and supplying to the

international market as one of the brand varieties. Amhara Regional State Agriculture Bureau head, Dr. Teshome Walle told recently MIDROC Communication that the Amhara Region is so thankful for MIDROC’s Ethio Agri-CEFT which has done a successful job in hoisting the state’s business flag in the international coffee market.

“I would say nothing, than expressing my appreciation for that,” Dr. Teshome expressed his satisfaction. “Apart from its promotion of Ayehu’s coffee, we are appreciative of the Ethio Agri-CEFT coffee growing training it offered at its farm to 390 individual farmers from Amhara and other regional states as well.

“I would say nothing, thanexpressing my appreciation

for that.”Dr. Teshome Walle,

Amhara Regional State Agriculture Bureau head

>>>>


I myself have visited the farm and witnessed this,” the Bureau head added.

Ethio Agri-CEFT PLC General Manager Ato Essayas Kebede as well said that his company is also delighted to bring the Gojjam brand coffee to the international market. “We would also like to assure all concerned that we will further expand the production of coffee in Ayehu increasing the 340 hectares to 1000 in the short term and beyond in the long run to promote Amhara coffee and achieve the development vision of Sheik Mohammed H. Ali Al Amoudi,” Ato Essayas said.

According to the General Manager, the productivity of the Ayehu farm has been 10quintals per hectare and currently the coffee production capacity of the farm has reached 2000 quintals per annum from only 1000 quintals due to the improved coffee growing management and application of inputs. “With the current 2015/16 Ethiopian production year our expectation is a total production of 3000 quintals and to achieve 15quintals per hectare productivity,” Ato Essayas added.

Also in the near future, the company has set to expand the coffee growing farm to 1000ha and to increase the annual production to 20,000qt with 20quintals per hectare productivity, he said. The General Manager indicated that the USA and Germany are among the buyer countries of the Ayehu coffee.

Ayehu, located about 500 kms from Addis Ababa in northwestern Ethiopia, Gojjam, has produced the latest Roastmaster’s Reserve. This coffee has hints of blueberry and chocolate, with a rich, wine body, and sweet floral aromas. Different varieties of coffee come out of Ethiopia, and this one is full of flavors that are delightful for any coffee or wine lover.

Ethio Agri-CEFT PLC firmly believes that it has the responsibility to take care of the well-being of the workers and the natural environment. It has also been able to invest in housing, schooling, health centers, and clean water supplies for farmers around its companies and their families.

It has also invested a lot to improve working conditions for its employees. The Ayehu Coffee Farm has created job opportunity for many local people.

Having a total area of 6,688 hectares and a favorable climate for crop production, Ayehu, in addition to coffee, cultivates maize, wheat, soybeans, pepper, chickpea, Mung bean, haricot beans and the like. The farm also produces essential oils, spices such as coriander and black cumin. In an effort to maintain environmental balance the farm has started planting perennial crops such as mango, papaya and others.


The new Ethio Agri-CEFT Gold Label TeaThe Ethio Agri-CEFT plc, one of the MIDROC Ethiopia Group Companies, has introduced its new “Gold Label Tea” to the local and international markets at affordable price.

The newly introduced retail packaging of the Gold Label black tea is a high profile presentation of the product and lays a cornerstone in promoting the company’s natural and organic tea both in Ethiopia and overseas.

The packaging also prolongs the shelf life of the product and is expected to stimulate further sales through improved and attractive presentation.

MIDROC gold label tea is a blend of two standard grades called BP and P.F, which creates strong liquor taste and aroma and reputed to be a blend of tea from finest tea gardens–the Wush-Wush and Gumaro.

Tea is commercially grown on the two large tea plantations-the Wush-wush and Gumaro localities in the South Nations Nationalities and Peoples and the Oromia Regional States.

Ethiopia’s tea is said to be of an excellent quality. The quality of tea mainly depends on climatic conditions, the type of soil upon which the plant grows and the method used during processing. In Ethiopia tea is mostly grown in the highland dense forest regions, where the land is fertile.

The new tea packaging is expected to stimulate further sales through improved and attractive presentation

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Dashen Bank Turns 20!

The free market economic policy the country adopted after the downfall of the military junta has ushered a new era for the private sector in Ethiopia.

In 1994, the Licensing and Supervision of Banking Business Proclamation No. 84/1994 was promulgated, leading to the establishment of private banks by Ethiopian nationals. Dashen secured license in 1995 and joined the industry in 1996 with a paid-up capital of 14.9 million. The eleven founding shareholders and few veteran bankers had a vision when they joined hands to establish Dashen, a name which they coined from the highest peak in Ethiopia envisioning unparalleled services in the banking sector.

The commitment wasn’t in short supply to realize the vision, and hence, Dashen earned the trust and confidence of its customers in no time through new and improved productintroductions, extensive service outreach and adoption of modern banking technologies that brought on board alternate service delivery channels. As Dashen turns 20, it currently commands the second biggest market share in deposits and manages two dozen billion BIRR in total assets.

At an early stage, a little over a decade, Dashen pioneered electronic banking in the century old banking industry of Ethiopia. And, it was Dashen that welcomed Visa, MasterCard, UnionPay, and Amercian Express cards into Ethiopia, all for the first time.

With over 1.4 million customer base and total assets of Birr 24.5 billion, Dashen has been the most profitable private bank for years. The uninterrupted growth of the bank and the unmistakable impact it has created in the industry, have earned it international recognition. A case in point being the selection of Dashen Bank as the Bank of the Year for Ethiopia for twelve times in just fourteen years by the Banker Magazine, an affiliate of the Financial Times

Despite the stiffening competition, and the changing dynamics in the market, the Bank remains resolute to keep the growth momentum with renewed spirit, revamped organization, modern technologies, and improved ways of doing business. More than ever before, Dashen is poised to prove unparalleled and stay ahead of the competition.

The Bank commemorated its two decades’ journey with various colorful events under the theme “Celebrating 20 Years of Success!” A sports festival held at Mechare Meda with kind collaboration of Midroc Technology Group has been one of the colorful events undertaken marking the anniversary. The Bank also successfully hosted a national symposium under the theme “Banking in Ethiopia in 2020”. The symposium brought together Bankers, the business community, policy makers, regulators, representatives of international organizations and the academia. The Bank owes its success to its customers. And a vote of thanks has been extended to the 1.4 million customers of the Bank at a Cocktail Party held at the Sheraton Addis Hotel.


As part of its 20th Anniversary, Dashen recognized its customers


MOHA plants certified for HACCPMOHA, a subsidiary of MIDROC Ethiopia Investment Group and Ethiopia’s sole supplier of Pepsi Cola is certified by the Deutsche Gesellschaft zur Zertifizierung von Managementsystemen (DQS) group, a German company engaged in Management Systems Solutions, for its outstanding achievements in Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP).

MOHA is one of the leading producers of carbonated soft drinks in Ethiopia, currently operating eight Pepsi Cola Plants across Ethiopia (3 plants in the capital city Addis Ababa and 5 plants up-country). With a total sales revenue of more than 150 million USD (about Birr 3 billion) in 2014, the plants created job opportunities for over 4000 persons.

PepsiCo and MOHA were impressed with the competence of the DQS Ethiopia team during first contact already and when invited to present DQS Group and its approach to assessment and certification.

The reputation and growth of DQS in the Ethiopian market was as much a factor in their decision as the fact that with DQS Group, they would enter into a relationship with world class global partners. This was further emphasized by the referral from DQS Ethiopia clients like the Ethiopian Standards Agency (also certified by DQS Ethiopia), the speed of certificate issuance (within three weeks after completion the certification audit), and the ability to pay the certification fee in local currency.

Both companies judged the DQS audits at all six plants, which were all conducted by local auditors to have been absolutely value adding. The comprehensive audits covered all areas and all food safety requirements; the auditors were focused, managed their time well and their overall approach to auditing was very positive.

The audits were accompanied by fruitful discussions, a lot of sharing of experience and identification of opportunities for improvement. The cooperation with DQS resulted in a variety of concrete improvements, among them the identification of additional applicable regulatory requirements, which were effectively implemented after the audit.

Also, the employee health check has now been more effectively managed by way of an analysis done to evaluate the trending and prevalence of any communicable disease. At least as important, however, is the enhanced understanding gained that audits are a value-adding tool that leads to improvements.

Considering that the main reasons to become certified was to manage food safety risks in a scientific way based on international standards, which is also a requirement of PepsiCo international (“all plants shall be assessed at least once every year for HACCP & Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) audits”), PepsiCo and MOHA are well satisfied with

32

>>>>


Considering that the main reasons to become certified was to manage food safety risks in a scientific way based on international standards, which is also a requirement of PepsiCo International (“all plants shall be assessed at least once every year for HACCP & Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) audits”), PepsiCo and MOHA are well satisfied with the audits and the results.

They now intend to continue with DQS Group in other management system standards such as Environmental Management System (ISO 14001 already under implementation in the plants in Ethiopia) and FSSC 22000. For the time being, the upcoming new plants will also join the annual certification audit programme shortly, and the possibility of outsourcing supplier audits to DQS Group is also being considered.

Apart from Pepsi Cola and Diet Pepsi, MOHA produces other PepsiCo International brands such as Mirinda Orange, 7 Up, Mirinda Tonic, Mirinda Pineapple and Mirinda Apple as well as bottled water products.

MOHA Soft Drinks Industry Share Company, owned by Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Ali Al-Amoudi and his family, was acquired and re-estabilished in 1996.

“Quality and Safety are crucial in our business

and we have committed ourselves to these two words.

DQS as our preferred certification partner knows exactly the strengths and

the requirements of our market.

For me personally, this is very reassuring”.

Ato Getachew Birbo, CEO of MOHA Soft Drinks Share Company

33


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“No Room for Complacency!”

Workplace HIV/AIDS prevention

The MIDROC Ethiopia Investment Group Companies Corporate HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Task Force conference urged participants that there should not be room for “Complacency” in the fight against the pandemic.

Conference participants drawn from group and affiliate companies during a day-long annual general assembly of the task force held on October 22, 2015 reiterated that despite the announcement of drastic decline in HIV/AIDS new infections over the last couple of year by concerned bodies in Ethiopia, the battle against the pandemic should bestrengthened avoiding complacency until the health problem fully eradicated.

According to the participants, unless continuous and unreserved effort is made to eliminate HIV/AIDS, there could be another possibility for it to spread out again.

Participants of the annual assembly who met at the premises of the Ethio-Agri-CEFT plc, one of the MIDROC Ethiopia group companies, evaluated efforts of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control within the investment group as well as the situation at the national level.

Opening the meeting, Ethio-Agri-CEFT General Manager Ato Esayas Kebede said that MIDROC Companies are highly

committed to discharge their social responsibility especially when it comes to combating HIV/AIDS and related impacts. “As we are operating within the society, we believe that we can survive only by ensuring the wellbeing of the people we are operating with. To this end, our company has been implementing health and HIV/AIDS related programs over the last decade and will continue supporting similar efforts in the future,” Ato Esayas confirmed.

Also at the event, Chairman of the Task Force, Ato Asratu Aemiro presented the task force’s report.

Presenting his report, the Chairman indicated that the task force carried out various activities to evaluate efforts of the MIDROC Ethiopia group companies they made to support People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and enabling them operate in a coordinated manner.

Representatives from the Confederation of the Ethiopian Trade Union (CETU) and World Learning presented study papers at the conference.

Participants of the MIDROC Ethiopia Investment Group Companies Corporate HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Task Force Annual General Assembly held at the Ethio Agri-CEFT HQs


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Showcasing MIDROC’s Leather andGarment Products

Ethio-Leather Industry PLC (ELICO) and Big-M Apparel and Garment PLC, members of the MIDROC Ethiopia Investment Group, jointly staged a fashion show at the dinner program held at the Sheraton Addis on October 11, 2015.

At the occasion, several of the companies’ leather and textile brands were showcased where hundreds of invited guests, government and business officials as well as prominent personalities were in attendance.

The event was part of the “First International Cosmetics and Beauty Fair” organized by CA Business PLC October 9-11, 2015 at the Addis Ababa Millennium Hall.

The Fair brought together a number of companies and personal care suppliers with various products including fragrance cosmetics, skincare, hair, nails and accessories, professional equipment and spa machinery as well as other wellness products.

Industry State Minister Ato Tadesse Haile, who was also the guest of honor at the opening of the exhibition, said that though the cosmetics and beauty industry in Ethiopia is at its enfant stage, it has a huge potential to flourish and be one of the biggest ones, if consolidated with other sectors such as chemical manufacturing and the like.

Ato Cherinet Tekle-Georgis, Managing Director of C.A Business PLC, also at the occasion said “We are happy to see that this International Fair is taking place in our country; we have organized such an event that enables Ethiopian companies involved in the sector to directly interact not only with their end consumers but also counterparts from around the world,”

“I am sure this Fair would also allow the rest of the world to learn about the long-established cultural and traditional wellness, beauty and personal care practices in Ethiopia,” he added.

The Fair provided consumers in Addis Ababa additional alternatives and opportunities to find products of their preferences in one venue with hundreds of products, professionals, manufacturers and suppliers. ELICO is famous for its leather garment products

Big-M Apparel and Garment PLC has set to enter the garment export market

Ato Cherinet Tekle-Georgis Managing Director of C.A Business PLC



of Chevron’s lubricant products, has registered a remarkable growth since its inception in April 2004 establishing about 150 service stations across the nation.

Eng. Ahmed Salama a Certified Lubricant Specialist (CLS), of Chevron’s Egypt Lubricants S.A.E, on the occasion indicated that Chevron’s family of brands is highly popular worldwide and it supplies products that are certified for their quality, performance and technology that make them safe, reliable and related to specific machinery or vehicle.

Also on the training program, the OEMs and their clients were able to give briefings about themselves as well as their products and services.

The program was also an opportunity for them to create networking and distributing their product catalogue, brochures and promotional materials.

Chevron operates both in downstream operations including manufacturing and sales of products such as fuels, lubricants, additives and petrochemicals as well as in upstream areas in oil and gas exploration and production operations worldwide employing tens of thousands of people.

39

National Oil Ethiopia PLC (NOC), one of the MIDROC Ethiopia’s affiliate companies, in collaboration with Chevron, conducted a two-day popularization training program on its oil and lubricant brands.

Chevron Corporation is an American multinational energy corporation headquartered in California, USA, and operating in more than 180 countries across the world is known for its renowned oil and lubricant brands such as Delo Gold Ultra, Havoline and others.

The training program, held November 16-17, 2015 at the Elilly International Hotel here in Addis, was aimed at creating the opportunity of networking and sharing best practices among Technical and marketing professionals from local dealers of Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and earth moving machinery in the country including Ries Engineering S.Co, Equatorial Business Group (EBG), Nyala Motors S.C., Metals and Engineering Corporation (METEC), AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURING CO. OF ETHIOPIA (AMCE), Paul Ries Ltd and others.

Moreover, outstanding clients of the companies primarily engaged in commercial and public road transport including representatives of 15 associations embracing 1500 buses as well as dry and fuel cargo businesses were among the participants. In addition, those from heavy industries like Cement and Sugar manufacturing firms and in the construction sector were also in attendance.

Speaking at the opening of the training program, NOC Chief Executive Officer Ato Tadesse Tilahun noted that the training was designed by Global Lubrication experts from Chevron to address issues pertaining to World-class Automotive and Heavy Earth Moving Machinery currently in use in the country.

Ato Tadesse also told participants that NOC, Ethiopia’s indigenous downstream oil company and the sole supplier

NOC once again popularizes Chevron’s products

The training program also involved Practical Demonstrations on Chevron’s products

CEO Tadesse Tilahun briefing participants about NOC’s major accomplishments



Flowering Bahir-Dar

The Ethio-Agri CEFT plc, one of the MIDROC Ethiopia group companies and a parent agricultural company, has launched the export of flowers from its f arm in Bahir Dar - Agri-Lake Flowers Farm.

The farm is currently exporting five varities of roses mainly to the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Oman and UAE.

Agri-Lake Flowers Farm is situated in Bahir Dar ZuriaWereda, 565 km North-West of the capital Addis Ababa. To date, the farm totally covers 52 ha of land of which 5 ha is covered with different colored roses and it is preparing to develop an additional 10 hectares.

Agri-Lake Flowers farm is also undertaking preparation for international accreditation and certification.

Apart from flower growing, the farm also undertakes related horticultural development activities including the cultivation of dry beans, green bean and other beans variety as well as growing green beans, red onion and garlic.

The Ethio Agri-CEFT also owns the Holleta Agri-Flowers Farm which was established in 2004 and situated in Holeta

town, 35 km west of Addis Ababa. The farm covers a total of 28 ha of which 15 ha is currently covered with rose cut flowers of different colors, and the company set to develop the rest of the land over the next few years.

The flower farms are equipped with state-of-the-art-facilities - Cold Rooms (-40C) to store flowers as well as drip and mist irrigation systems and adequate support infrastructure in place for the sustainable flowers production.

The current annual production of the two farms, Agri-Flowers and Agri-Lake Flowers, stand at around 14 and 5 million stems respectively.

The Holleta Agri-Flowers farm, has secured variousrecognitions, certificates and accreditation for its best practices including Certificates of MPS-ABC Certificate and the Ethiopian Floriculture Industry Integrated Capacity Building Programs as well as certification of EHPEA code of practice Silver Level Certified and Gold Level on process. In addition, the Ethiopian Red Cross Society- recognized the farm as an industry role model in its support of employees and meeting environmental standards.

BAHIR DAR AGRI-LAKE FLOWERS

S/N Variety Color Stem length (cm) Bud Size (cm) Category1 Madam Red Red 40 -50 4 Intermediate2 Penny Lane Yellow 50 - 60 5 Intermediate3 Wham Pink 50 - 60 5 T- Hybrid4 Mario Orange 50 - 60 4.5 Intermediate5 New Flash Orange bi-color 60 -70 6 T- Hybrid



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Nyala Insurance compensates drought-affected farmers

“This is absolutely a unique experience for us. We have never imagined that an insurance company could come to our doorstep to monetarily compensate us to help us avert the bad consequences of the current drought that occured in our village. Rather, we have always believed that insurance institutions are only meant to pay out insurance for those who own houses, vehicles and other properties. We are really very happy and got surprised with the timely and unexpected response of the Nyala Insurance S.C (NISCO).”

This was a viewpoint by a farmer from Mossobo Kebele of the Enderta Wereda of the Tigray Regional State which was also shared by many more from other kebeles. They made the remarks after they attended NISCO’s insurance money handover ceremony held at the Aksum Hotel in Makelle town on 2nd December 2015.

True, the real picture of an insurance company could be seen through its actions made to rescue its customers at times of such claims. As part of its micro insurance scheme, NISCO has paid over Birr 2.1 million to more than 1,000 farmers who lost their harvest due to the current drought in Ethiopia.

NISCO paid Birr 1,157, 386 to more than 790 farmers in Enderta Woreda of the Tigray Regional State to those who lost their crops due to drought. It also paid close to Birr 1 million to 313 farmers who were similarly affected by failed rains in the Gambella Regional State.

Senior officials of the Tigray Regional Sate, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, representatives of

the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Climate Change Harmonization Coordination Office, members of NISCO’s management and farmers from affected woredas attended the event.

NISCO Chief Executive Officer Ato Yared Mola, who was also in attendance of the event, on the occasion said that in collaboration with the Ethiopian government, national and international development as well as business partners, Nyala Insurance launched the micro insurance service in 2007 to enable low-income farmers and livestock owners in the country access insurance solutions.

CEO Yared also pointed out that in the past seven years or so, 9,250 farmers benefited from the micro insurance scheme in the Tigray Regional State alone. The company paid a total of Birr 4.6 million in compensation to farmers who experienced crop failure due to various reasons.

“Micro insurance is a passion for Nyala Insurance. We have made compensation payments many times. For that matter, we are very delighted that we could stand by the side of pastoralists and agrarian societies during hard times. In fact, we do not generate profit from micro insurance business but we are committed to continue rendering the service with our partners because it is our duty”, Yared underlined.

Nyala is a pioneer in availing crop and livestock insurance services to faming and pastoralist communities.

Nyala is a pioneer in availing crop and livestock insurance services to farming and pastoralist communities


‘ART OF ETHIOPIA 2015' at the Sheraton Addis

The Sheraton Addis hotel, one of the subsidiary companies of the MIDROC Ethiopia, staged its annual “Art of Ethiopia 2015” exhibition December 11-14, 2015.

The ‘Art of Ethiopia’ exhibition, that brought the color and vivacity of local art to thousands of residents of Addis as well as other international visitors, has been hosted by the Sheraton Addis since its inception in 2008.

The staging of ‘Art of Ethiopia’ for long has been part of the hotel’s community outreach programme aimed at raising funds for the Sheraton Addis Art Endowment Fund, which in turn supports the initiatives of local art schools in the city.

For each art piece sold, 10% of the selling price is contributed by the artists to the endowment fund. The first sponsorship was dedicated to equip the Ale School of Fine Arts and Design of the Addis Ababa University with a lithograph


>>>>


printing machine. Other projects are also to be announced in the near future.

Antony Wade, General Manager of the Sheraton Addis, a Luxury Collection Hotel, underlined that 68% of the artists who are displaying their works at the exhibition this year participated for the first time, this adds to the diversity of work on show.

“This underlines the primary objective of the show, which is to develop and expand the pool of Ethiopian talent. Exhibiting their works at the Sheraton event, many young artists have had the confidence to launch their own solo exhibitions in the city.”

The showcasing of the works of eight local artists in the first Art of Ethiopia show in 2008 has enabled the hotel contribute its own share in raising awareness and promote the Ethiopian art, and the Sheraton Addis is now regarded as a leading patron of the country’s art.

The popularity of the annual event has risen to the point where international art lovers and buyers now make their trip to Addis Ababa yearly to be part of experience during the show. Visitors can purchase an art catalogue featuring the art works which itself has become a collector’s item over the years.

For the 2015 exhibition, over 400 Ethiopian artists submitted their application for consideration and their applications were reviewed by a selection panel as part of the acceptance process. This ensures that only the ‘best of the best’ of local works are selected and displayed to be viewed by thousands of visitors who annually pass through the 4-day event in the Lalibela ballroom.

“Since the hotel opened its doors for its clients in 1998, we have displayed the Ethiopian Art, using the works of local artists to create a unique ambience contributing to the Sheraton’s status as a Luxury Collection hotel,” said Mr. Wade, adding that the annual exhibition is now an essential part of the capital’s cultural calendar.

Fifty artists displayed some 500 new and original works at the exhibition.

The whole objectives of ‘Art of Ethiopia’ is to promote artistic talents in Addis and across the country, helping people to better appreciate the world around them, explain it, and sometimes escape from it - as Picasso once stated “The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life from our souls”.




MIDROC proudly backs the 80 year old St. George Football Club As the first Ethiopian football club, St George, turned 80 years old last December, MIDROC Ethiopia Group Companies as usual have joined the club in the celebrationof its anniversary with series of events.

The year-long celebrations began the previous year reaching out to the public to re-connect with former fans, players and administration staff for a special reunion.

Last year, following the establishment of the anniversary celebration committee, the club introduced a new logo to hold its big celebration events throughout the country.

St. George was founded at the Arada area in Addis Ababa inDecember 1935 with the united effort of people like Ato Ayele Atnash and George Dukas. Ato Yidnekachew Tessema was also the other prominent founder of the club who actually joined it after two months of its establishment.

Sheikh Mohammed H. Ali Al-Amoudi, Chairman and Owner of the MIDROC Ethiopia, is currently patron of St.George while Ato Abennet Gebre-Meskel, who is also CEO of the MIDROC Ethiopia Project Office, is serving as the club’s president since 1999 and previously as its Vice-President of the fundraising team.

As they have been by the side of the club over the last decade, MIDROC Ethiopia Group Companies have reaffirmed their continued support to St. George.

Founding members of the St. George football club


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Branches in Bahirdar, DireDawa, Hawassa & Jimma


Ries Engineering S.Co. (RESCO), the C aterpillar dealer in Ethiopia and which is in operation since 1965 in the country, says that the remote condition monitoring system installed in the earth moving equipment and vehicles it supplies is benefiting its clients.

The new technology uses Product Link and satellite facilities to properly manage and control the equipment’s operation and their maintenance from remote.

RESCO publicized the new technology along all the company’s products and services during the Open House event held October 21-23, 2015 at its premises here in Addis Ababa.

In an effort to make sure customers are aware of the full potential of the equipment that they are operating, and to make sure the equipment are operated in an efficient manner, maintained properly to reduce down time and repair costs, RESCO organized the three day open house program with the slogan “Innovation for Success.”

RESCO’s after sales facility, parts depot, repair and maintenance workshops, training centers, were visited by its clients and the general public with a view to demonstrate the capacity and capability of the company in supporting customers.

RESCO is the exclusive supplier of Caterpillar products (including various earth moving machines) and material handling equipment as well as power generator sets in Ethiopia. It supports its customers, in making sure that these equipment and generator sets are operating efficiently and at low cost.

The head office of RESCO is situated in Addis Ababa, with four branches in key cities of the country–Bahir Dar, Dire Dawa, Hawassa and Mekele.

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Unity keen to closely work with Woldia UniversityThe Unity University, a member of the MIDROC Ethiopia Technology Group, is keen to closely work with Woldia University.

President of Unity University and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the MIDROC Ethiopia Technology Group Dr. Arega Yirdaw has expressed Unity’s readiness to work in collaboration with the Woldia University especially in exchange of best practices and strengthening research activities. The collaboration between the two higher education institutions has been cemented with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the two parties last April in Woldia.

Meanwhile, Dr. Arega delivering a keynote Address in connection with the First Woldia University National Research Symposium held April 18, 2015, congratulated the University for hosting the research meeting Dr. Arega in his speech that mainly focused on Quality in Higher Education underlined that an effective and efficient quality higher education system is vital for sustainable economic growth in developing countries like Ethiopia.

He added, “Such a system, among others, improves the education and training of future employees and leaders; fosters an enabling learning environment; and enriches the academic and intellectual landscape.”

Dr. Arega Yirdaw

Dr. Arega pointed out that the contributing factors to the level of quality of education include governance/leadership, government oversight, students, instructors, funds, budget and technology. He noted, “Among these factors, governance/leadership is considered as one of the major determinants of quality of education.”



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Commentary

55

By Donald Agaba, World Bank Consultant

With over 30 million Africans living outside of their home countries, the continent’s Diaspora has the potential to be a major source of development financing.

The financial power of the Diaspora shows in the high remittance figures that Africa receives annually from its foreign-based communities, estimated at US$ 40 billion, or 2.6% of the continent’s GDP. In the first half of this fiscal year (2015/16), Ethiopia’s Diaspora contributed over 75% of the foreign exchange earnings: by way of remittance.

These statistics, coupled with the fact that around one-third of the Diaspora population are in the middle class of the host countries, make it a formidable force for potential development partnerships. To engage with members of the Diaspora and host a conversation about trade and education, the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank have organized the first annual African Diaspora Trade, Investment and Skills Forum on June 10, 2015 to discuss and brainstorm around the potential benefits that Africa can reap from its Diaspora population. Ethiopia is tapping into this potential.

Foreign-based Africans are often eager to invest and trade in their countries of origin. The benefits from such investments are numerous for both the potential investors and recipient countries. African investors are likely to be more socially conscious investors than their foreign counterparts due to their social, cultural, and/or religious connections to their ancestral homelands. Their in-depth understanding of the local contexts can lead to well-informed business choices and thus translate into more sustainable investments.

And this engagement is vital to the continent. The need for sustainable investments in small and medium business has never been more pressing, as youth unemployment numbers of over 50% and job-creation remain urgent issues across the continent. The ability of Diaspora populations with much-needed capital to create jobs can contribute to local employment. In addition, the affinity that Diaspora populations feel for their countries of origin creates a balance between purely profit-driven business motives and social investing, allowing for greater local value-addition.

Additionally, skilled Diaspora populations have significant technical expertise. The continent’s brain-drain problem is one of the widely-known hurdle to development; it is also known that significant numbers of Africans abroad are highly skilled in areas that the continent severely lacks. There are perennial shortages of professionals and academic in fields such as mathematics, science, technology, and engineering fields. African Diaspora populations have shown significant interest in capacity-building and skills transfer partnerships with their home countries.

In spite of the Diaspora’s eagerness to contribute to their countries of origin, significant barriers exist that hinder the realization of these interests. If African countries are to overcome these hurdles and benefit from the large potential that their Diaspora populations offer, there should be a clear and transparent road map for a deliberate and coordinated Diaspora engagement.

Note: This article is edited for the purpose of appropriateness

African Diaspora can be a major source of development financing


Ascending Heights of Success

56

Addis International Catering plc (AIC), one of the MIDROC Ethiopia Investment Group companies, is an emerging and leading catering company in Ethiopia.

AIC is the biggest private institution in the country that provides catering and cleaning services to notable airways including Emirates, Egypt Air, Qatar Airways, Kenya Airways, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Turkish Airlines and Fly Dubai as well as the majority of private, VIP and charter operators coming to Addis Ababa.

As its motto says: “Delivering Quality to Africa and the World”, the company has also set plans to expand its business spheres to other international and local clients.

“We operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week with three shifts. We do not turn off the lights,” says Mr. Tomas Jämtander, AIC Chief Operating Officer. “We do not cater all the airlines coming to Addis Ababa. It depends on the proximity of their home base.”

The three-storey building of the company that hosts its 200 employees is equipped with state-of-the-art catering equipment and owns special loading vehicles. “I have worked in many catering companies in Europe, the Middle East and Asia but I am privileged to work here,” the Chief Operating Officer told African Aerospace.

The catering facility, designed to produce between 10,000 to 15,000 meals per day, lies on 6,000sqm of land at the premises of the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport.

On November 19, 2015, the company secured accreditation for Microbiological testing as part of its effort in providing reliable catering services as well as giving trainings on food safety and hygiene. AIC has been awarded the accreditation certificate by the Ethiopian National Accreditation Office (ENAO) which is a member of the African Accreditations Cooperation (AFRAC), the International Laboratories Accreditations Cooperation (ILAC) and the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) as well.

The accreditation issued in accordance with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025:2005 recognizes the capabilities and qualifications of AIC laboratory to provide microbiological testing services on food and environmental samples as well as water and food samples to all interested parties engaged in the food manufacturing, hotel businesses and related service industries in Ethiopia and across the Eastern Africa region.

Certification of manufacturing and service establishments, attesting to exceptional hygiene and quality standards, is believed to help boost customer confidence as well as give a sharp competitive edge in such a highly sensitive industry. The AIC laboratory is mainly engaged in providing services like the collection of samples for testing, issuance of testreports and certificates, planning and implementation of corrective actions, where required and training of personnel in hygiene and food safety.

In addition to the laboratory service, AIC has also recently started to offer catering and laundry services to the local

AIC:A Rising Star in the Catering Industry

AIC building at the Bole International Airport

>>>>


market. AIC provides catering services to private and official events including meetings hosted by various Embassies, International organizations, and business entities . It has contracted catering services for school canteens offering snacks and lunch services to students and staff members including at the Sanford International School.

AIC also provides catering services to local private airlines, such as Abyssinian Flight Service, Zemen Flying Services, Trans Nation Airways (TNA) and National Airways. In addition, AIC prepares meals for thousands of delegates for major conferences at the headquarters of the African Union and other major convention centres, such as the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).

“First we had restrictions on providing a catering service for the domestic market because our investment licence allowed us only to export our products–to deliver meals to international airlines,” explained Mr. Jämtander. “So, initially, we were prohibited from catering for embassies, international organizations and private companies in Ethiopia. We were even forbidden from selling to local private airlines. But a major breakthrough happened in June 2014, when we made amendments to our business license. Now we are legally allowed to serve the local market.”

Currently AIC produces 1,000 to 5,000 meals per day when there are major events in Addis Ababa.

The company also caters for VIP flights coming from around the world. It delivers food and beverage for the presidential

fleets from other African countries and different parts of the world. Mr. Jämtander is proud that his company has served heads-of-state visits from India, South Korea and Japan, among others. “We also cater for VIP flights and other special flights. It can be for tourists and business people,” he added.

In addition to catering, AIC also provides aircraft interior cleaning services as a separate business.

According to ACI Sales and Customer Service Manager, Makeda Yohannes, the company gives very high priority to hygiene. “Keeping everything neat and tidy is vital for us.” “Our employees undergo regular medical checkups. There are also random hand swab checks.” AIC has a number of microbiologists and a fully equipped modern laboratory. The facility is also highly secured. It is well fenced with razor wire and there are security cameras all over the place. CCTV cameras monitor the entire compound.

Cargo scanning machines are in place where supplies are unloaded and only authorized personnel can open the doors inside the buildings.

“Since we had the capacity–manpower, equipment and trucks–we established aircraft cleaning division within our catering facility in 2010. An AIC sister company–International Cargo and Aviation Service (ICAS), a ground-handling company, has recently become operational. We hope to have few more customers in the coming months through them,” Mr. Jämtander said. >>>>

The newly introduced Poly Science Circulator machine of Sous Vide Professional (cooking appliance ) is a unique equipment AIC owns


AIC’s aircraft interior cleaning section has dedicated vehicles and equipment. “We have vacuum cleaners and other equipment clearly coded with colours for the lavatories, galleys and cabin. They are strictly separated,” he said.

“When I first came we had only one flight every second day. We only had KLM thrice-weekly flights. Four days we did not have flights. So my focus was to find new customers and generate business. We got more customers and have consolidated the business. We established the cleaning business and got new customers. We received international awards and recognitions for our services.”

Qatar Airways started to serve the Doha-Addis Ababa route in September 2013. AIC secured the business from day one. “The first year in 2014 we were awarded the best African Caterer in Qatar Airways flight network. There were 20 catering companies in competition in Africa. That is a proud achievement,” Mr. Jämtander said.

There are about only 15 international airlines that have scheduled flights to Addis Ababa. “We have a very limited market when it comes to the airline catering service. That is why we established our domestic catering division.”

Mr. Jämtander hopes to see more international airlines coming to Ethiopia when the African open skies agreement (Yamoussoukro Declaration) is fully implemented all over Africa. “When this is implemented in Africa, I expect business to flourish,” he said.

High staff turnover is a big challenge for AIC. As many new star-rated hotels are being established in Addis Ababa, seasoned chefs and other AIC professionals are leaving. “Since our staff is highly trained we lose some of our best chefs whenever a new hotel is opened. It is good for the country but, for us, finding and recruiting a skilled labour is a challenge.”

The Chief Operating Officer says that his work in Ethiopia is exciting. “I want to capture the international market (carriers coming to Ethiopia). But, since that has limitations, I also want to expand our local market. I want to put AIC on the top of the local catering market.”

Addis International Catering plc was established in 2006 with a capital of 25 million dollars to provide international standard catering services at international airports and conferences as well as other related business activities.


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Health

60

As you, all our esteemed readers, very well recall, we carried an article dealing with spine health titled “Working in office and your spine health” in the “Health” column of the last issue of our magazine. We had also a positive feedback for covering the issue. Chiropractor Dr. Selam Aklilu, founder of the First Chiropractic and Rehabilitation Wellness Clinic in Addis, has also sent us the article below after reading our magazine. Thus, because our editorial team highly regards such professional excellence and encourage the participation of medical professionals to write for the column, we present you her piece to further deepen your understanding of the devastating health menace that has a huge economic impact as well.

Back Pain and its Economic Impact

By Dr. Selam Aklilu,

Founder of the First Chiropractic and Rehabilitation Wellness Clinic in Addis

Our nation is going through a very exciting transformation where a seemingly endless stream of new business ideas are sprouting in the forms of buildings, roads, and otherinnovative forms of construction. The prospect that such development will present to the nation is remarkable when translated into the numerous job opportunities and services that are being made available for all to take advantage from. The one catch, however, is probably the direct consequence that we have either failed to recognize or worse yet failed to give due attention to spinal health problem.

According to World Health Organization (WHO), spinal pain contributes more to the global burden of disease (including death and disability) than HIV, Diabetes, Malaria, Stroke, Alzheimer’s Disease, breast and lung cancer combined, traffic injuries, and lower respiratory infections. Low back pain has become the number one cause of disability worldwide, and in tandem with neck pain, has claimed up to one billion people. Within the developing world, spinal pain is four times more prevalent. It is reported that up to fifty-nine percent of the adult African population struggle with back pain, at any given time and seventy-two percent will suffer from back pain over the course of a year.

Such comprehensive studies have not been done in the Ethiopian context to date; however, the number of people suffering from spinal conditions is estimated to be fearsomely more. As to the International Rehabilitation Review, nearly 10% of the world’s population has disabilities, of which 80 % live in developing countries - disability estimates for Ethiopia are around 10% of its population.2 Needless to say, this alarming percentage is having devastating ramifications within the health sector, in the form of lost productivity, and the burden it has on families, and the society at large.

Looking beyond natural causes, the main source of large numbers of disability is lacking or possibly having inadequate awareness on how to care for the spine. Water and/or firewood carriers, construction workers, and others in similar working conditions, are constantly subjecting their spines to dangerously heavy loads that would probably render them permanently disabled before they are able to fully exhaust their working potential. What would have been easily avoided by having rudimentary knowledge on how to handle heavy loads or maintaining correct posture in various working situations, is now gradually, and mostly irreversibly, disabling the very people who are offering their lives to build our nation.

It is unfortunate to acknowledge that most people who are in dire need for spinal care, have little or no access to any form of quality health care that would address their debilitating conditions. Traditional Healers and Hospitals, who have replaced the critical roles of spinal care professionals, only utilize pain or anti-inflammation medications for treatment, lacking further resources that would have prevented their patients from either living highly compromised lives or surrendering to permanent disability.

Yes! We are all for the continuous development of our nation and the flourishing construction that is currently flooding the country. But the essential question right now is how we ensure that the very people that are making it all happen will be properly taken care of, continue to contribute towards development, and enjoy the fruits of their work.

The predicament we find ourselves in, of course, is that the very question of survival for the majority is contingent on the burdensome weight that is being carried back and forth on fragile backs, on a daily basis. >>>>


It is this majority, each individual, who has been laboring so hard, that deserves due attention! It is this ‘majority’ who is at the precipice of a disaster that would not only rob them of the life they deserve to live, but will prove to be devastating to our nation. The critical stage we find ourselves in today is the stage where we hold in our hands the possibility to reverse this imminent tragedy. All it takes from each of us, is giving due attention to the spine of each individual-the very backbone of our nation’s growth.

PROPOSAL TO LOWER THE NATIONAL ECONOMIC BURDEN OF SPINAL DISORDERS:

One of the urgent tasks being called for at present is spreading as much awareness on spinal care as possible throughout our nation. Of particular interest to each of us is maintaining correct posture in each role that we perform every day, even to the extent of how we get out of bed each morning and how we sleep every night. This will have an

incredible impact on the ease at which we carry our bodies, relieving unexpected forms of physical and mental stress. Imagine the levels of energy that will explode when stress becomes no more; imagine how available we can be to our families, our colleagues and the level of work potential we can tap into.

So the proposal is that spinal care should be brought to the forefront of the health arena! All the attention and support to spread awareness in the form of mass spinal care information and advocacy campaigns, utilizing all forms of media - creative, eye-catching, easy, fun, practical methods - are what we are calling for.

Simultaneously, we would like to work towards the establishment of effective, easily accessible, high quality spinal care in all corners of Ethiopia. We are in urgent need for Physical Therapists, Neurologists, Spine Surgeons, Rheumatologists, and of particular focus to this article - Chiropractors.

As it may be known, Chiropractic is a health profession specializing in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the impact of these disorders on the function of the nervous system and general health. What makes Chiropractic care remarkably practical within our national context is the ability to provide readily available, caring and sympathetic, low cost, low risk, non-invasive and natural healing methods to relieve back pain, neck pain and certain types of headache.

To date, Ethiopia has only three Chiropractors who are diligently treating patients with debilitating spinal conditions, an endeavor which by no means addresses even a small percentage of the spinal care requirements throughout the country. While attracting more Chiropractors, as well as other professionals working in the spinal care field, may seem to be the obvious solution, a more practical approach would be to establish a Chiropractic College here in Ethiopia. A College that will develop and place Doctors of Chiropractic throughout the country, whose roles will be critical to integrate high-quality spinal care within the existinghealthcare infrastructure, while substantially relieving the national burden of permanent disability and lost productivity. Concerted efforts to make this College a living possibility for Ethiopia are currently underway.

This College we believe, in tandem with mass information campaigns, will prove to be critical steps towards creating sustainable capacity for effective spinal care in Ethiopia; critical steps that will pave the path for many who are currently suffering, to live abundant lives of health and wellbeing - critical steps for the abundant life each individual deserves to live.


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Health

64

Kidney Failure:

Is affordable treatment possible in Ethiopia?

A chronic kidney patient has to go for dialysis up to 3 times a week and it requires 4,500-7,500 birr or 225 – 375 Dollars payment per a week to do that. That means a patient is obliged to spend 1,500 - 2,500 birr or 75 - 125 dollars only per a treatment.

This amount is a nightmare to the majority in Ethiopia. Due to unavailability of affordable treatment center in Ethiopia, many chronic kidney patients are perishing and the country looses large number of productive citizens every week just because of lack of treatment and adequate financing.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and other international renal study reports, Ethiopia stands 14th place in the world in the number renal failure patients.

Chronic renal patients destined to die if they are not provided treatment are 30,000 to 40,000 at any given time in Ethiopia.

Kidney disease is among the fast growing non-communicable diseases in the country and the number of individuals who

suffer from chronic kidney failure is growing at an alarming rate. Hemodialysis, peritonial dialysis or kidney transplants are the only options kidney patients have to prolong their lives. Currently only about 300 patients get treatments through few private health institutions.

Cognizant of this fact, the Ethiopian Kidney Failure Dialysis Charity Organization (KFDCO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the Addis Ababa Health Bureau and Seattle Alliance Outreach is working to avail an equipped kidney dialysis center at Zewditu Memorial Hospital.

The public dialysis center is believed to facilitate treatment access to those who cannot afford the medical treatment fee. It can play a pivotal role in awareness creation about Kidney problems as well as in relation to its prevention.

Over the Past 4 years, the organization has done its best to help several kidney patients to prolong their lives covering expenses for dialysis in private clinics.

>>>>

By Mekonnen Teshome


The Addis Ababa Health Bureau and the management of the Zewditu hospital provided KFDCO a space for the facility at the hospital. The building is now renovated and made ready for installation of equipment. The Bureau has also expressed its readiness to provide with similar spaces at four hospitals in Addis for dialysis centers.

KFDCO, after a long negotiation and bargaining, has clinched the deal to import dialysis machines buying from the German manufacturer and medical equipment supplier, Fresenius medical care.

The deal includes the supply and installation of 21 dialysis machines, supply and installation of complete and latest model water treatment , spare parts, consumable medicines, full maintenance and service work, training of nurses and other medical staff as well as the shipment of all the equipment. When the center goes operational, it is expected to treat 60 patients per day in three shifts, over 18 hours or it will carry out 21,900 treatments per annum.

The cost of treatment would likely reduce significantly to only Birr 500 or 25 dollars per treatment. The organization also plans to expand the public dialysis centers to other regional administrations of the country.

Last August, the Ethiopian Kidney Failure Dialysis Charity Organization, in collaboration with the Ethio Telecom, facilitated SMS message fundraising - 8085 A-in a bid to equip the newly built Public Dialysis Centre with Hemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis Machines.

Organization Project Manager Alemayehu Werekshet told the media that the fund that was collected via the SMS message would go exclusively for the purchase of dialysis machines.KFDCO was founded four years back by 126 chronic kidney patients with a view to prolonging their lives securing funds from donors. Unfortunately only one has survived and he is now working for the organization.

It is also to be recalled that last September 2015, doctors in the country, for the first time, have conducted kidney transplant surgical procedures to assist citizens suffering

from the increasing cases of kidney failure and associated problems.

According to the National Kidney Transplant Center and the Ministry of Health, the transplants conducted by doctors at St. Paul hospital on three patients by then were successful.The hospital plans to conduct kidney transplant operation on 50 patients during this Ethiopian fiscal year while the numbers are expected to double next year.

The transplant operations were made in cooperation with health professionals from the United States-based University of Michigan.

Purchase of all the necessary medical equipments, laboratory chemicals and medications were carried out, but availability of kidneys still remains a challenge. There are plans for the kidney transplant procedure to start on other government hospitals as well. According to government officials, the new Kidney Transplant Centre meets all international standards and when it becomes fully operational, it will have a potential to perform life saving kidney surgeries for some 2,000 people per annum.

Local kidney treatment remains unaffordable to most Ethiopian patients, but the new breakthrough achieved by doctors at St. Paul’s Hospital and the kidney dialysis center establishment by KFDCO is believed to ease the burden and reduce travelling abroad to receive an extremely expensive kidney treatment.

A kidney transplant operation is a surgical procedure performed to replace an unhealthy kidney with a healthy one from another person. Most of these processes, doctors say, are done from family members or other individuals who would make a good match to the patient. According to doctors, individuals who donate a kidney can live healthy lives under the remaining other kidney. The newly launched kidney transplant centre is also expected to provide medical treatment to patients from neighboring countries.

Note: We obtain information in this article from KFDCO

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News Brief

66

EBG Conducts Power Control Command Training

A certification training on four power control command models ( PCC1.x, PCC2.x, PCC 2100 and PCC 3100) organized by Equatorial Energy Business was held from August 24 - September 3, 2015 at the Ethiopian Red Cross Society Training Institute. The objective of the training, according to Ato Endeshaw Abera, EBG’s Training coordinator, was to enhance participants skill on maintaining power control command devices of Cummins Generators, to fulfill the requirement of Cummins Power Generation (CPG) and certification. The training conducted by an expert from Kenya Car and General Company was attended by engineers and technicians from various companies engaged in supplying and trading Cummins Generators. According to Ato Endeshaw, participants were also provided with software to be used to for power control.

The Upper Awash Agro Industry Enterprise, one of the companies managed by HORIZON PLANTATIONS PLC, has provided food aid to over 13,000 people who are critically affected due to the El Niño that resulted in drought and crop failure in some parts of the country.

Upper Awash provided 2000 quintals of maize to affected families on January 19, 2016. The beneficiaries who received the support were selected from four Districts (Boseet, Fentale, Merti and Jeju) that are adjacent to the farm. The farm involved pertinent government officials and elderly people from each district in the beneficiaries’ selection process. In addition to the food support, the farm has allowed farmers that reside around it to feed their cattle within its site after crop harvesting completed. They are also provided ac-cess to the farm to mow grasses and collect other feeds before harvesting. According to the community members, such support has significantly helped them.

HORIZON PLANTATIONS PLC, together with relevant government organs, will continue closely monitoring thesituation around its farms and further extend its support when it is necessary. Meanwhile, Saudi Star Agricultural Development, another MIDROC Group Company, has also provided similar food support to internally displaced people in the Gambella regional state on February 2, 2016.Besides Almicom Humera Farm, which is now administered under the Horizon group, has set to donate 500 quintals of sorghum to drought affected people in the Tigray Regional State. So far, 2,600 quintals of food aid has been distributed to over 17,300 people only by the Horizon Group companies.

In the mean time, Owner and Chairman of the MIDROC Investment Group Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Ali Al-Amoudi involving Ato Nur Hussein Yasin, owner of the London Café and Satellite Restaurant in Addis Ababa, would carry out the digging of five deep water wells in the most arid places of the Afar Regional State, which is one of the areas that are highly affected by the current drought occurred in some parts of the country. The digging of the wells is believed to alleviate the severe water shortage in the areas selected for the water development effort and enable inhabitants cope with recurrent droughts happened in the region.

Upper Awash Provides Food Support for Communities

Midroc Europe to supply Solar-Powered Water Purifiers to UN

SolarWave, one of the MIDROC Europe companies, based in Sweden, has won a contract to supply solar-powered water purifiers to the United Nations operations in Africa.

Based on the agreement, the Swedish environmental technology company will deliver a total of around 100 units to UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, for its field offices throughout the sub-Saharan Africa during 2016 and 2017. It is a two-year Frame Agreement which could be extended for a third year. “The potential is great because other agencies of the UN can follow suit,” says company CEO Johan Wennerberg.

Each of the water purification units has the capacity of producing purified water for approximately 2,000 people. Each unit is powered by solar energy stored in a battery during nights and it purifies water using UV light that runs around the clock .

Mr. Carl Gustavsson, one of the board members of SolarWave, said “With the help of sunlight, we have a single handheld device with a capacity to purify 700 liters/hour, without any chemical additives. Our potential customers are normally schools and hospitals in developing countries, in areas with a shortage of potable water, as well as rescue and peacekeeping forces, with missions in disaster areas. The water treatment plants require little maintenance and have a long life and are available both in portable and stationary forms.”

“As Ethiopia is very well suited for this technology with a lot of solar energy, I see a lot of potential to utilize the water purifiers for agricultural farms and large industries in the country” added Mr. Gustavsson. As the equipment is developed with related add on technologies (including two USB and 12V output slots), the owners also can benefit from charging mobile telephones and other gadgets.

With the estimated shortage of drinking water and related sanitation problems that claim about three millionlives each year around the globe, the water treatment equipment is believed to have a huge demand worldwide.

SolarWave is one of the 20 technology companies in the portfolio of Midroc New Technology, part of the Midroc Europe.


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MIDROC ETHIOPIACommitted to Development

Documents

TIRET March 2016 Issue