Ethiopian Review

By Addis mulugeta

Ethiopan Hansom International glass factory, which is jointly established by CGC overseas construction company and the China-Africa Development Fund, opened last week, May 17, in the presence of senior Government officials, including Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.
In his speech, Meles highly praised the factory for the positive roles played by Chinese companies investing in Africa, stating that the glass factory project is a practical embodiment of the China- Africa cooperation.
He said the cooperation between Ethiopia and China has been growing ever since the downfall of the former Ethiopian military regime. He added that Chinese companies operating in Ethiopia, as well as the on-going Ethio-china cooperation is testimony
to China’s interest in Ethiopia’s development.
He also pointed out that the factory will not only meet the demand of the local housing construction industry, but also introduce advanced production and management technologies to Ethiopia.
Hiao Yong, General Manager of Ethiopia Hansom International glass factory told Capital that the factory is the first of its kind in Ethiopia, with a total investment over 35 million dollars and an annual production capacity of 42,000 metric tonnes of quality sheet glass, adding that during this current financial crisis, the company is creating jobs and earning foreign currency for the country.
Mr Yong also commented that the successful establishment of the factory has become a symbol of Sino-Africa friendship, as well as a model of win-win business cooperation. The factory covers 12,000 square metres, and will create 300 jobs for local people.
He added that due to a shortage of cement in the country it was impossible to finish constructing the factory to schedule.
The factory has already started to produce sheet glass products. Its main products are clear and tinted glass sheet. It will also engage in tglass processing, Mr.Yong said.
He said one of the missions of the factory is to give training to local workers in all fields of glass production and eventually replace Chinese professionals with locals.
The factory is not only to meet the demands of the local community, but is also to export to the neighboring countries, including Kenya, Sudan and Djibouti. Right now, the company is establishing local representative in those countries.
The company has a registered capital of 16 million dollars. It is a modern factory with state -of -the art production technologies and brand new equipment.
According to the feasibility study of the company, Ethiopia is the best country to produce glass in East Africa. This is partly because out the seven raw materials that the company needs to produce glass, four of them are available in Ethiopia.
CGC Group Co.Ltd, is an international group co-funded by a few Chinese organizations that works in the fields of petrochemicals, mineral exploitation, civil engineering.
It has made capital investments and construction projects in Ethiopia and 10 other countries.
The China-Africa Development Fund is one of the eight measures announced by the Chinese president Hu Jintao at the Beijing Summit at the forum on China-Africa cooperation in November, 2006. Its mission is to promote and support Chinese enterprise to make direct investment in Africa countries in a free market way. Since its establishment in June, 2007, CAD, fund has committed to invest 400 million dollars for over 20 projects in different African countries.
The projected level of investment by Chinese enterprises is over two billion dollars.

(Capital)