Textile Company Set to Launch Under New Ownership

Aug 12 , 2023


[ssba-buttons]

The sprawling textile manufacturing company formerly known as Ayka Addis is set to begin production under the new banner Buluko Integrated Textile Factory following its purchase by the Oromia Public Enterprise for 1.82 billion Br six months ago. Located 20Km west of Addis Abeba, in Alemgena, Oromia Regional State, the textile factory is set to restart a four-year halt resulting from defaulted loans of two billion Birr owed to the Development Bank of Ethiopia (DBE). The state-owned policy bank had been paying salaries to 4,300 Ayka Addis employees during the period despite seizing production. Senior officials from the Ministry of Industry visited the factory last week, pledging to support the company as it vyes to increase its employee base and begin production. AYKA was initially established in 2006 by three Turkish shareholders with 679 million Br paid-up capital and began operations in 2010 following a subsequent loan by DBE of 813 million Br. The Oromia Public Enterprise has 56 companies under its fleet and has plans to transfer completer ownership to the private sector in the long run. Declining textile exports due to Ethiopia's expulsion from the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) in 2021 led to the termination of operations by several large firms like Philips-Van Heusen Corporation (PVH Corp). Over 90pc of exports from industrial parks have been textile and garment products, luring foreign companies with a labour market that has the lowest wages.


Radar

State-Owned Enterprises Deliver, But Fund Seeks More from Underperformers

Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH), the country's sovereign wealth fund, closed its annual performance review with a mix of strong gains and lingering concerns across its portfolio of state-owned enterprises. Ethiopian Shipping & Logistics led the year with 4.5 million tons of cargo, driving revenues up 90pc and doubling pre-tax profit. Sugar production from Wonji Shoa, Metehara, and Fincha climbed 34.8pc to 163,290 tons, nearly doubling revenues to 15.6 billion Br, though EIH flagged ch...


Radar

MIDROC Cocoa Drive, Local Production Focus on Value Addition

MIDROC Investment Group is placing a bold wager on cocoa in the lowlands of Sheka. Building on extensive trials at the Bebeka Coffee State Farm, the company has introduced globally prized Forastero, Trinitario, and Criollo varieties alongside coffee. "The results are astonishing," said General Manager Beshada Worku, pointing to international prices that range from 8,200 to 14,000 dollars a ton. The project's first phase covers 50 hectares, with 44,000 seedlings already planted. Expansion to ...


Radar

Bureau Maps Out 1,700 Land Rights in a Month

The Rights Registration & Holding Service Directorate under the Bureau of Land Development & Administration prepared over 1,700 landholding certification maps in a single month. The update came during the bureau's July performance review, which measured progress against the upcoming fiscal year's targets. Director Tesfamichael Endale said efforts are being scaled up to give farmers secure land rights and quicker certification. Deputy Head WendwossenBanjaw added that the priority ahead...