The Ethiopian Privatization Agency Opening Up (fwd)

[Robert Weissman <rob@essential.org>]

The Ethiopian Privatization Agency Opening Up
Past Experiences and Future Prospects
by Our Staff Reporter
ETHIOPIA;
Source: Addis Tribune, Saturday, 8/14/99

In the last few months, the Ethiopian Privatization Agency (EPA) has said
a lot more than it has said in the past four years. Initially, the EPA was
criticized for not informing the public on the progress of the
privatization drive: who is buying what, at what price, and what is being
done with the money obtained.

In June 1999, the EPA published its first External House News, in both
English and Amharic. On August 7, it held its second one-day workshop. In
both instances, the Agency has revealed some of its past experiences and
provided a window into its future prospects.

A one-day workshop was held at the Ethiopian Management Institute in Debre
Zeit where the business community, from various sectors such as banking,
insurance, and telecommunication, as well as other service giving
institutions like the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation and Water and
Sewerage Authority, actively participated. The workshop was also attended
by a variety of businessmen and businesswomen.

During the workshop, Ato Beshah Azmite, General Manager of the Ethiopian
Privatization Agency, gave a detailed account of the past experiences and
future prospects of the Agency. In his speech, Ato Beshah highlighted that
a total of 183 public enterprises comprising of agro-industrial and
agriculture institutions, retail shops, beer and soft drink factories,
food processing plants, etc., have been privatized. The list includes:


EXCERPT


11. Tobacco factories 1

EXCERPT


The most prominent privatization transactions are listed as follows:


Organization Proprietor Sales

EXCERPT



3. National Tobacco Factory Shaher Trading Company. USD 35.7 million

END EXCERPTS