Ethiopia to sell eight sugar factories
Sunday August 28 2022
The privatisation of sugar firms in Ethiopia is expected to reduce reliance on the exchequer for funding. PHOTO | FILE
Ethiopia is targeting to wean local millers off state budgetary support and improve local production with the sale of eight sugar factories.
This week, the government announced Ernst& Young LLP will advise on the sale of the sugar millers.
The move is part of the government’s broad sugar sector reforms aimed at increasing private sector participation to improve efficiency and performance of firms.
Ethiopian Investment Holdings, the main marketing authority for the government, invited local and foreign investors to acquire up to 100 percent ownership in the eight sugar firms.
These include Omo Kuraz 1, Omo Kuraz 2, Omo Kuraz 3, Omo Kuraz 5, Arjo Dedessa, Kessem, Tana Beles and Tendaho.
The Ethiopian Sugar Industry Group (ESIG) has taken over the administration role of Kessem and Tana Beles while owning the remaining enterprises.
Ethiopia has been one of the fastest-growing economies globally, with double-digit gross domestic product growth per annum over the last decade.
However, the Covid-19 pandemic slowed down growth to about 6.1 percent in 2020 from 8.4 percent in 2019
As of May 2022, ESIG had 12 sugar enterprises with an annual total sugar production capacity of 450,000 metric tonnes.
The privatisation of the sugar firms is expected to reduce reliance on the exchequer for funding and to raise additional capital to support projected expansion and modernisation.
The transaction will also create opportunities for refined and raw sugar exports, enabling foreign currency inflows into the country.