FORTUNE+ VIDEO SPONSORED CONTENTS ADVERTORIALS FORTUNE AUDIO Fortune Careers New TRADE AFRICA New

Fortune Logo

The association will have 89 members

Mar 2 , 2019
By NOEL MINWAGAW ( FORTUNE STAFF WRITERS )

Two young associations, one representing bottled waters and soft drinks manufacturers, and the other fruits and vegetable processors, merged late last month.

The new Ethiopian Bottled Water, Soft Drinks, Fruits & Vegetables Manufacturing Industries Association will have 89 members.

The decision was made at an emergency meeting by the general assembly of the Ethiopian Bottled Water & Soft Drink Manufacturing Industries Association on February 28, 2019. Held after an initiative by the Ethiopian Fruits & Vegetables Processors Association for a merger, the assembly voiced their thoughts on the matter and passed the merger proposal with no objections and four abstentions.


The Bottled Water & Soft Drink Manufacturers Association was established on April 3, 2018, with 33 members, which grew to a 76-member organisation. The Fruits & Vegetables Processors Association was older, established some two years ago with 13 members.

“We decided to merge because their goals are not that different from that of ours given that both associations represent organisations that produce non-alcoholic drinks,” said Gebeyaw Chekol, CEO of Fruits & Vegetables Processors Association.


“They also have more members and can share the burden of running an association far better than we could. It also gives us more leverage in negotiations with the government.”


There are plans to strengthen membership through future mergers since the Bottled Water & Soft Drink Manufacturers Association has received similar offers from other associations. There are also talks with associations in other African countries to establish a continental one.

“We believed that the best choice was this merger given that they produce non-alcoholic drinks like us,” said Getnet Belay, president of Bottled Water & Soft Drink Manufacturers Association. “But there is a need to have a strong organisation that can represent Ethiopia’s producers.”

The move was seconded by Endalkachew Sime, secretary general of the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce & Sectoral Associations, who stressed that there is power in numbers.


"When sectoral associations with similar value chains and target markets merge, they can make their voices better heard by the government and development partners,” he said.

The same meeting that led to the merger also saw the unanimous vote of members of the Bottled Water & Soft Drink Manufacturers Association to cease using plastic seals on water bottles.

They were deemed bad for the environment, add cost to production and redundant as far as securing the water bottles is concerned. Neither national nor international laws make the use of such seals on water bottles mandatory.


PUBLISHED ON Mar 02,2019 [ VOL 19 , NO 983]

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.



Related Posts

Put your comments here

N.B: A submit button will appear once you fill out all the required fields.

Editors' Pick

Agenda

Realty Roulette

Feb 24 , 2024 . By MUNIR SHEMSU

Abel Yeshitila, a real estate developer with a 12-year track record, finds himself unable to sell homes in his latest venture. Despite slash...

Fortune News

A Tooth Extraction for Growth, with the IMF as Dentist

Feb 10 , 2024 . By MUNIR SHEMSU

In his last week's address to Parliament, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) painted a picture of an economy...

Editorial

Is Ethiopia Drifting into a Diplomatic Abyss?

Jan 7 , 2024

In the realm of international finance and diplomacy, few cities hold the distinction that Addis Abeba doe...

Agenda

PEELING BACK LAYERS

Sep 30 , 2023 . By AKSAH ITALO

On a chilly morning outside Ke'Geberew Market, Yeshi Chane, a 35-year-old mother cradling her seven-month-old baby, stands amidst the throng...

Commentaries

The World Cannot Afford to Ignore the Poorest Countries

They are home to a quarter of humanity – 1.9 billion people. They possess prized na...

Overcoming the Development-Project Implementation Gap

This week's World Bank spring meetings will kick-start the replenishment of the Inter...

Fineline

Leaders of the National . . .

Leaders of the National Election Board are in a charm offensive mood, of a sort. Last week, they organised a rare tour for members of the me...

When the country’s most. . .

When the country's most senior diplomats and envoys return back to their posts after two-week debriefings, they leave behind a point or two...

Editorial

Governor Mamo Tests Transparency. Will It Pass a Test of Time?

Apr 20 , 2024

In a departure from its traditionally opaque practices, the National Bank of Ethiopia...

Policy Espresso Demands a Strong Brew to Transform Negative Dynamic

Apr 13 , 2024

In the hushed corridors of the legislative house on Lorenzo Te'azaz Road (Arat Kilo)...

Blundered CBE Plunders Privacy Naming, Blaming and Shaming for a Glitch's Recovery

Apr 6 , 2024

In a rather unsettling turn of events, the state-owned Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (C...

Central Bank Tries Monetary Gymnastic Dodging Pitfalls, with the IMF as Its Reluctant Coach

Mar 30 , 2024

Ethiopian authorities find themselves at a crossroads in the shadow of a global econo...

Gallery

Parliament Approves New Cabinet Members

Oct 6 , 2021

Parliament Approves New Cabinet, Incorporates Opposition Leaders Lawmakers have approved today the nominations of 22 ministers, including three opposition leaders. Two MPs have voted against, while 12 abstained...

2020 in Posterity

Jan 5 , 2021

TIGRAY VOTES DESPITE "NULL & VOID" THREAT

Sep 9 , 2020

IN-PICTURE: LAUREATE'S RECEPTION  

Dec 14 , 2019

PM Abiy Ahmed (PhD) at a Gala Dinner Called for the Awarding of the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize

May 6 , 2019

Faces, Voices of Addis Abeba

Apr 26 , 2019

Sunday With Eden

Hunger's Grip on Mothers, Children of Addis Abeba

I witnessed a scene that left me heartbroken at the health centre. Several mothers w...

Silencing Inner Critic: One Size Does Not Fit All

A couple who had refrained from social interactions paid a visit to my house last we...

Life Matters

Untapped Potential of Online Commerce

A young woman residing in Addis Abeba, found herself captivated by the potential of o...

Untapped Potential of Online Commerce

A young woman residing in Addis Abeba, found herself captivated by the potential of...

Back
WhatsApp
Telegram
Email