25 member companies joined Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette Marit in Addis Ababa
25 NABA member companies joined Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette Marit on their official visit to Ethiopia this week. In addition to the official business seminar prepared by Innovation Norway, NABA created a side programme for our member companies.
On Monday the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and Managing Partner Mr. Adam Ikdal was hosting the members at a welcome luncheon at the famous Italian restaurant Castelli, and Tuesday morning members took part in a breakfast meeting with both Ethiopian and Norwegian investors who have succeeded in the country.
Global Chairman of Fairfax Africa, Mr. Zemedeneh Negatu, shared his insights, as well as Ms. Alisa Strobel, Senior Economist and Sovereign Risk Analyst from IHS Markit.
Norwegian investor Mr. Trond Riiber Knudsen - together with Managing Director Ms. Marie Nielsen - shared experiences from Penda Manufacturing Plc; a recycling company who have created a network of 7000 waste paper collector agents and recycling partnerships with hundreds of offices in Addis Ababa.
On Tuesday evening Ethiopia's President H.E. Mulatu Teshome have invited the business delegation to a dinner in the President Palace.On Wednesday morning members were taking part in a high level investor dialogue with the government, as well as a factory visit in the afternoon.
On Thursday NABA's energy members met with Ethiopia's Minister of Water, Irrigation and Energy, H.E. Dr. Seleshi Bekele.
- It has been a very useful week in Addis Ababa. We are very grateful that our Crown Prince and Crown Princess have made Ethiopia a priority this year, making it the first royal visit in more than than fifty years. The most important news this week has been founding member Yara International's signing of a mining agreement with the government in the President's palace earlier today. This will become a "game changer" for the country's economy and many new jobs being created, says NABA Managing Director Mr. Eivind Fjeldstad.
Read more about Yara International's agreement →
Innovation Norway summary of the business mission (in Norwegian) →
