Djibouti As Never Seen

[Maqane]

[Nin-Yaaban]

Maanta laga bilaabo, waxaan ahay Jabuutiyaan.

[Abu-Salman]

Djibouti officials pledge reforms as final version of Investment Policy Review is unveiled

 

High-level representatives of the Government of Djibouti said Tuesday that the recommendations in UNCTAD's Investment Policy Review (IPR) of the country - including adoption of a new investment code based on international best practices - will be put into effect.(Unctad)

 

 

Djibouti making strides

 

[...]The overall investment package that will be invested [in Djibouti] over the next five years is close to $8 billion. Apart from foreign direct investment, we are supported by soft loans and concessional loans that we get from Arab funds. Loans from Exim banks of China, Turkey and Iran are also a part of this value. As much as there is a need to diversify partnership with other countries, we feel the need to build our own investments in strategic sectors like energy, water and logistics.[...](khaleejtimes)

 

 

Djibouti to Raise $5.9 Billion From Investors for Infrastructure

 

Djibouti is in talks with India, China, Brazil, Russia and Arab investors to finance infrastructure projects worth $5.9 billion, the head of the country’s ports authority said.

 

The Horn of Africa nation, which is seeking to become a middle-income nation by 2035, plans to develop rail links, ports, and oil and gas pipelines, Djiboutian Ports and Free Zones Authority Chairman Aboubaker Omar Hadi said in an interview today. Commitments for “close to 57 percent” of the project costs have already been received from China, India, a Saudi Arabian fund and other investors, he said in London. (Bloomberg)

 

 

Djibouti Telecom

A gateway to the world

 

Over the course of the last 18 months,” explains Technical Support Service Manager for International Business Development, Feisal Aden Darar, “we have been focusing on local and international trends to materialise our core goals. We have improved our Internet transit solutions by deploying Level 3 PoP, a world class Tier 1 and Saudi Telecommunication Company’s POP, with strong presence in the Middle East. In addition we have upgraded our existing Telecom Italia Sparkle node in terms of capacity and diversity.

 

“As a result of our gradual improvement we have 20 operators from 13 countries in East Africa that are currently transiting through the IP nodes in Djibouti with live traffic volumes of about 10 Gbps...(Business Excellence).

 

BICS picks Djibouti Data Centre for gateway services

 

 

Sub-Saharan Africa growth attracting GCC investors

 

 

Djibouti's development: Location, location, location(Theeconomist)

 

[Abu-Salman]

UK-Djibouti Trade & investment forum

 

 

UK-Djibouti Trade & investment forum by Foreign and Commonwealth Office, on Flickr

 

Minister for Africa, Mark Simmonds, today addressed the first ever UK-Djibouti Trade and Investment Forum.

 

The Forum was organised by Developing Markets Associates to promote opportunities in Djibouti to British businesses. Around 200 companies attended the event, which was led on the Djiboutian side by President Guelleh and a team of Ministers. In his remarks, the Minister for Africa highlighted the scale of the opportunities in Djibouti and the Government’s determination to support British businesses in participating in them.

 

Speaking today, Mr Simmonds said:

“I am delighted to have taken part in the excellent and well-attended UK-Djibouti Trade and Investment Forum. This marks a huge step forward in deepening ties between the UK and Djibouti, something I am determined to do after my visit to the country in February – the first substantive visit by a Foreign Office minister in recent memory. The Government of Djibouti has impressive plans to attract investment to the country, which is strategically located in the region, and British businesses must not lose out.”

 

Today’s event follows yesterday’s meeting between Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf of Djibouti and the Foreign Secretary in the margins of the Somalia conference, where they discussed priorities for rebuilding Somalia and bilateral issues, including the recent parliamentary elections and inclusion of the opposition party.(United Kingdom – Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

 

 

Stratex reports strong start to 2013

 

Hall will also note that the firm continues to be encouraged by results at the Oklila prospect in Djibouti and confirm the firm continues to mull opportunities to "acquire assets from other companies who are finding the equity markets challenging" (proactiveinvestors)

[Carafaat]

Nin-Yaaban;942952 wrote:

Maanta laga bilaabo, waxaan ahay Jabuutiyaan.

Nin Yaaban, have you met Jabuutiyans before?

[Nin-Yaaban]

Carafaat;947523 wrote:

Nin Yaaban, have you met Jabuutiyans before?

Yea few of them when i was in Ottawa. They are some of the nicest people and are more than willing to help you out if you have a problem. Even learned few French phrases.

[Carafaat]

I am talking specifically about Jabuutiyan xalimos or huunos, they are quite something.

[Abu-Salman]

 

Djibouti, China To Rebuild Somali Port

 

VENTURES AFRICA – Djibouti and China will help rebuild Mogadishu port, officials have said.

 

A joint delegation from the two countries arrived in the Somali capital, Mogadishu this week to discuss the port plans.

 

The group comprised the Director of Djibouti port and officials from China who specialise in the rebuilding of infrastructure.

 

“The delegation and their Somali companions received reports on the port’s functions,” stated Mr Abdullahi Ali Nur, the manager of Mogadishu port.

 

The members of the joint Djiboutian and Chinese delegation stated that they were ready to take part in the modernisation and expansion of the Somali port.

 

Mr Nur stated: “We welcome collaboration with the Djiboutian and the Chinese in the rebuilding of the port.”

 

“This type of cooperation indicates the gradual development taking place in Somalia,” he added.

 

In another development, Shebelle, an independent media in Mogadishu, reported on Tuesday that an Iranian company was planning to handle vital operations at the port of Mogadishu, the largest harbour in Somalia.

 

According to the media reports, officials from Simatech Shipping LLC agreed with the port management on the specific operations the Iranian company would assume.

 

The Iranian company will operate under the name of Mogadishu Port Container Terminal (MPCT), which will also deal with technical and operational aspects of the port.

 

Neither the port authority in Mogadishu nor the Somali government issued a statement on their plans.

 

Iranian companies that have been affected by sanctions from North America and the European Union are increasingly eying opportunities in the Horn of Africa region.

[Abu-Salman]

 

 

Djibouti: Economic Developments 2013

 

Gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 4.5% in 2012, mainly due to more port activity and a revival in FDI, but these two pillars of the economy are still below levels of before the 2008 world financial crisis. Overall growth should speed up until 2014 thanks to extensive investment in the port and transport sectors.

 

The economy remains dominated by the tertiary sector – transport, communications, commerce and tourism – which accounts for 73% of GDP and employs most of the working population. The smaller secondary sector is growing, but the primary sector remains insignificant.

 

Transport and related logistical services remain the backbone of the economy. Port activity has revived though transshipment operations remain small. The government launched a programme to develop the sector in 2012 by raising money to build two ports as well as road corridors. A port in Tadjourah to handle potassium exports from Ethiopia is expected to be ready by the end of 2014. A road from Tadjourah to Bahlo via Randa was completed in 2012 to carry 8 million tonnes a year of ore to the new terminal that will boost the country’s port activity by 15-20%. A bulk-carrier port at Goubet for salt from Lake Assal will open in 2013.

 

Telecommunications, construction and tourism continue to grow, although less than the dominant transport sector. Telecommunications is steadily expanding due to mobile phones, whose operators had 211 000 subscribers in an estimated population of 864 617 in 2011, but growth of subscriptions has slowed due to network saturation. Work begun in 2012 to allow third-generation (3G) connections will be complete in 2013 and expand network capacity to 600 000 subscribers.

 

Internet subscriptions showed the biggest expansion in 2012 (of about 30%) due to higher-speed lines, lower rates and extension of service to other parts of the country. Growth outside the capital of CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) technology, which is similar to Wi-Fi but considered land-line, became popular in rural areas in 2012, and CDMA subscriptions increased some 170% between 2011 and 2012. Rapid expansion of land and mobile lines forced a switch from six- to eight-figure numbers in 2012.

 

Construction in 2012 continued its steady growth of recent years. More construction permit applications were made in 2011, (249 compared with 183 in 2009), while land purchase requests rose to 1 162 in 2011 (621 in 2010 and 162 in 2008). The national housing fund’s effort in 2010 to widen access to house ownership by legalising land titles greatly boosted applications. The construction boom highlighted the need to update planning frameworks in Djibouti and in the provinces and the government promised this for 2013.

 

Tourism also continued to grow and overnight stays increased by one-fifth in 2012, mainly with business travel connected with the foreign military bases and forces in the country, as well as with travel connected with efforts to fight piracy off the Horn of Africa. These visitors stayed in the capital despite the potentially very attractive sites elsewhere in the country.

 

The IMF’s ECF ended in May 2012 with the sixth and last review of the programme, which was pronounced satisfactory, with good macroeconomic stability, and structural reforms in the financial sector (notably bank supervision) and in public finance management. The government asked for a new programme after the February 2013 parliamentary elections. The IMF said it would depend on achievement of macroeconomic targets worked out at the end of the last programme.

 

These included reducing the government’s use of bank loans, tightening spending controls, collecting more taxes, and continuing to seek soft loans, repaying domestic debt arrears and protecting social spending, mainly by creating a safety net for poor families.

 

The government has launched an ambitious programme of infrastructure expansion to consolidate Djibouti’s position as a regional trading and services hub. Projects planned for 2013 and 2014 include upgrading the railway line between Ethiopia and Djibouti (feasibility surveys have been commissioned) and improving roads after a regional integration agreement signed with Ethiopia and South Sudan as part of the wider framework of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).

 

Plans to prospect for oil continue, along with building a pipeline from South Sudan to Djibouti, expanding the Doraleh oil terminal and building a refinery there.

 

The government has also announced it will enlarge the Doraleh container terminal using its own funding, set up a new free-trade zone and build a fishing port at Damerzog.

 

Excerpt from African Economic Outlook 2013: Djibouti

[Abu-Salman]

Besides unique geothermal resources, areas like Goubet are ideally suited to wind projects:

 

 

Qatar Petroleum International signs MoU with Electricity of Djibouti

 

Qatar Petroleum International (QPI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Electricity of Djibouti to jointly evaluate to develop a potential 60 MWwind power plant in the Republic of Djibouti.

This Strategic agreement was a result of an official Qatari Delegation visit to Republic of Djibouti which took place earlier this year after meetings between His Highness the Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani and President of the Republic of Djibouti His Excellency Mr. Ismail Omar Guelleh during the Climate Change Conference that took place in Doha in November 2012; this was followed by a number of meetings between His Excellency Dr. Mohammed bin Saleh Al-Sada, the Minister of Energy and Industry and the Republic of Djibouti's Ambassador in Doha, His Excellency Mr Moumin Hassen Barreh.

 

The MoU was signed on Thursday 20th June 2013 in Doha, for QPI by Mr Nasser Al Jaidah - Chief Executive Officer, and for Electricity of Djibouti by its General Manager Mr. Djama Ali Guelleh and the signing was also attended by the Ambassador of the Republic of Djibouti in Doha, His Excellency Mr Moumin Hassen Barreh.

 

On this occasion, Mr Nasser Al Jaidah CEO of QPI commented "This MoU is a further milestone in the implementation of QPI's strategy to develop actively its presence abroad and especially in Africa". He also welcomed the opportunity to reinforce relationships between Qatar and the Republic of Djibouti.

 

Additionally, Mr Djama Ali Guelleh - General Manager of Electricity of Djibouti, expressed his satisfaction with this agreement between QPI and Electricity of Djibouti which will bring added value to the development of the Republic of Djibouti's Power resources. This new agreement is a clear milestone that will open a new era of cooperation between the Republic of Djibouti and the state of Qatar.

 

[Abu-Salman]

As Djibouti is becoming a trade, financial and diplomatic hub and with greater interest in African resources and fast growing economies, big projects such as geothermy are quickly turning into reality:

 

 

 

 

Djibouti — In a "ground-breaking" ceremony yesterday, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) - with the generous support of the Government of Djibouti, the Government of Canada and the Government of Finland - officially launched the first phase of building a humanitarian logistics base that will improve storage and transport of humanitarian assistance across the Horn of Africa.

 

The new hub, which is being built in the vicinity of Djibouti port, will enable WFP and the wider humanitarian community to dispatch humanitarian assistance more quickly, efficiently and cost-effectively in the region. The port is the main gateway for food entering Ethiopia.

 

The Government of Djibouti graciously provided to WFP 50,000-square-meters of land for the construction of the logistics hub.

 

"This partnership between WFP, the Governments of Canada and Finland with the involvement of the private sector, national and international, is seen by the Government of Djibouti as positive step toward encouraging private sector engagement," said Ilyas Mousa Dawaleh, Minister of Finance and Industry in Djibouti. The Minister further thanked the Governments of Canada and Finland for their financial support and the WFP offices in Ethiopia and Djibouti.

 

The Government of Canada contributed more than USD 18 Million to support the establishment of the hub on a 50,000-square-meter piece of land donated by Djibouti. Finland also contributed US$1.3 million towards the facility, which will offer silo storage capacity, allowing cost savings related to sea freight, port handling, storage and transport.

 

The structure, which should be completed by 2015, will eventually ease the flow of assistance not only to Ethiopia and Djibouti, but also to Sudan, South Sudan, Kenya and Somalia. About one quarter of the people that WFP assists worldwide live in the Horn of Africa.

 

"The Djibouti Humanitarian Logistics Hub initiative will ensure that Canada's food assistance will reach a larger number of hunger-affected people than before," said Julian Fantino, Canada's Minister of International Cooperation. "This Canadian investment will improve the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of WFP and other humanitarian organizations working in the Horn of Africa."

 

The new logistics hub also has an important training component in order to help the Djibouti transport sector grow. More than 120 truck and forklift drivers and 30 warehouse managers are being trained this year in Djibouti.

 

"This logistics hub is not only crucial for rapid humanitarian response across the Horn, it's also an important addition to the region's infrastructure, which in turn leads to sustainable development," said Ramiro Lopes Da Silva, WFP Assistant Executive Director. "This capacity development undertaking benefits Djibouti not only through the reinforcement of its transport infrastructure but more importantly by the transfer of knowledge and expertise to Djiboutian professionals."

 

The hub is being built and managed by WFP's Ethiopia operation, which moves the majority of its food assistance through the Djibouti port, in partnership with the WFP Djibouti office.

 

In addition to the funds contributed by Canada and Finland, and the allocation of land by the Government of Djibouti, the humanitarian logistics hub is also being supported by the Caterpillar company. Caterpillar Inc., the world's leading manufacturer of construction equipment, has provided six forklifts and two generators to the project through its global partnership with WFP.

 

 

Chinese leader congratulates Djibouti president on independence anniversary

 

DJIBOUTI, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent a congratulatory message to his Djibouti counterpart Ismail Omar Guelleh on the eve of the 36th anniversary of the Red Sea country's independence.

 

"In the last few years, under your leadership, your country has achieved tremendous economic development that has resulted in improvement of the people's living conditions. We congratulate you and sincerely hope that the Republic of Djibouti will achieve more successes," Xi said in the message on Monday.

 

The Chinese president said China-Djibouti relations had entered a new phase to promote rapid development in all economic sectors.

 

"Very committed to the traditional friendship between the two countries, China is ready to cooperate closely with Djibouti to take the bilateral relations to a higher level. I wish prosperity and well-being for the leadership and people of the Republic of Djibouti," the Chinese president said

[Abu-Salman]

 

Japan-Djibouti Summit Meeting

 

On June 1, for about 20 minutes from 12:30 pm, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had a meeting with H. E. Mr. Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, President of the Republic of Djibouti in Yokohama, Japan. The following is the gist of the meeting. President Guelleh is visiting Japan to participate in the Fifth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD V) held from June 1 to 3.

 

1. At the beginning of the meeting, Prime Minister Abe welcomed President Guelleh’s visit all the way to Japan, which marks his third participation at TICAD meetings. Prime Minister Abe expressed his intention to cooperate with President Guelleh to bring TICAD V to a success. In response, President Guelleh congratulated the 20th anniversary of TICAD. He said that Japan extended high-quality support to Africa through the TICAD process and that the presence of many heads of state this day proves for the cooperation, friendship and solidarity between Africa and Japan. He also mentioned that he is aware that as a result of the economic policies launched by Prime Minister Abe since he took his office, the Japanese economy has become reinvigorated.

 

2. President Guelleh said that the cooperation between the two countries in the political, economic and other areas stands at the highest level. He also expressed his gratitude to Japan for its assistance and stated that Djibouti is pleased to receive units of the Japan Self-Defense Forces which are conducting anti-piracy operations from Djibouti. Explaining that Djibouti needs to develop geothermal and other forms of power generation as well as to improve infrastructure in the area of transport, traffic, finance and trade for its own development, President Guelleh expressed his expectation for Japanese investment in his country.

 

3. Prime Minister Abe said that Japan feels grateful for Djibouti’s cooperation toward anti-piracy operations conducted by Japan’s Self-Defense Forces and others, and also requested to continue the cooperation. He further mentioned that Japan continues to support the development of Djibouti as a strategically important partner for Japan, while mentioning that Japan has implemented grant aid projects for the provision of equipments for waste disposal and for fire-fighting since the end of last year. He added that Japan is also interested in developing geothermal power generation in Djibouti.

 

4. The two leaders exchanged opinions concerning cooperation in the international arena, including the development of Africa.

 

 

 

 

Geothermal in Djibouti: a game changer?

 

 

The geothermal project in Djibouti is now ready for launch, and it will be the first exploration of any kind financed by the World Bank in almost 20 years. Several donors have also come together to support Djibouti’s commitment, including the International Development Association (IDA), the French Agency for Development (AFD), the African Development Bank (AfDB), with additional funds from the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA), the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP), the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID). The fact that the exploration phase of the project is supported by public funds using donors’ grants and soft loans will reduce the total cost of the project by US$52 million. It will also allow for the production of electricity at 4 cents per KWH cheaper than if the project was financed by the private sector.

 

Here are some other numbers: currently, electricity is produced domestically at 24 cents per KWH. The project will contribute to lowering the cost of domestic production to 10 cents per KWH and will make the supply of energy more secure. Replacing Djibouti’s thermal generation capacities with geothermal would save the government power utility, Electricité de Djibouti (EDD) US$57 million per year. Given that EDD is a public company, these savings will significantly reduce the financial burden on the national budget posed by power generation.

 

There will also be environmental benefits. The project will reduce Djibouti’s carbon footprint by helping to offset eight million tons of CO2 emissions over a 30-year life cycle.

 

The main beneficiaries of the project, however, will be the citizens of Djibouti. They will benefit from lower electricity bills, which will result in higher purchasing power for households. A cheaper and more plentiful supply of electricity will also create opportunities for small enterprises, both enlarging the private sector and creating jobs. It will also help attract foreign investment, which is critical for the economic development of Djibouti.

 

One final but equally important dimension to the project will be the building up of technical skills and knowledge at key institutions and government agencies, such as the EDD, the Ministry of Energy and the Djibouti Center for Study and Research (CERD). As a result, Djibouti will develop the needed know-how to conduct its own geothermal explorations at other promising locations in the country, for example in Nord Goubet.

 

This month will mark my first anniversary in Djibouti, and I am very proud to see a project going forward that could have such a profound effect on my host country’s future. The World Bank has a number of projects in Djibouti focused on issues ranging from health, education and social safety nets to urban poverty reduction, rural community development and building resilience to climate change. They are all making a difference and contributing to the national effort of laying the foundations for inclusive and sustainable development. With its palpable transformational potential, this project stands out as a possible game changer for the country and all its citizens. Numerous challenges stood in the way of the geothermal project, but with the combined efforts of the government, the World Bank and its development partners, each was overcome. That same commitment I witnessed to get the project launched will, I am confident, propel it onwards to success. (World Bank)

[Abu-Salman]

Djibouti: Regional Somali Language Academy Launched in Djibouti

 

Djibouti's Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Culture and Waqf and the Somali-Speaking PEN Centre of Djibouti held an opening ceremony Wednesday (June 26th) for the first regional Somali language academy, Djibouti's La Nation reported.

Minister of Islamic affairs Aden Hassan Aden, Somalia's Minister of Information, Posts and Telecommunications Abdullahi Ilmoge Hirsi, Somaliland regional Minister of Culture Abiib Diriye Nur and Vice President of the Somali region of Ethiopia Abdihakim Igal Omar attended the event at the Kempinski Hotel in Djibouti, as did about 50 prominent Somali-speaking intellectuals from the region and abroad.

President Ismail Omar Guelleh met with the visiting officials before the ceremony to commend their efforts towards the preservation of the Somali language.

 

 

Djibouti’s big cargo dream

By John W. McCurry

 

Djibouti International Airport hopes to become a conduit for air cargo to Africa’s landlocked nations. The airport in the tiny nation of less than one million people on the Horn of Africa took its ambitious plans to the Transport Logistic exhibition in Munich in June. It was the first time the airport had forayed into the world of trade shows.

DIA has big plans for expansion of its cargo infrastructure, and a new airport is scheduled to open in about four years. Airport officials hope that is enough to entice air carriers and logistics specialists to take a long look at Djibouti.

“We are looking for partners,” Moussa Houssein Doualeh, air operations cargo manager for DIA, says. “This is our first trip as an airport. We are trying to catch the rest of the world.”

Djibouti’s air cargo operation is small, just 3,000 tonnes per year. Doualeh hopes the exposure gained in Munich will send those numbers upward in the coming years.

DIA’s facilities, in Doualeh’s words, “do not answer all the requirements” for a significant cargo operation, but that will change later this year when a 4,000-sq.-ft. warehouse with cold storage capabilities opens. Long-range, the plans are more grandiose with a proposed US$600-million project to develop a new airport about 15 miles from Djibouti City. The current airport has just one runway and handles only commercial and military aircraft. A nearby U.S. military base shares the runway.

 

Djibouti, with the fifth largest container port in Africa, already has a major sea cargo operation, and DIA officials envision development of a sea-air cargo model where products arrive at the Doraleh Container Terminal and are transported to the airport for flights into Africa’s interior. The idea is to entice shippers to bring their sea cargo to Djibouti rather than Dubai.

“Come to Djibouti instead of Dubai,” Doualeh says. “We want to develop a sea-air model and see how we can fit and connect with the landlocked countries in Africa. We want to find partners to bring shipments from the Far East to Djibouti and dispatch them to the landlocked countries.”

Doraleh Container Terminal opened in 2009 and the Djibouti Ports & Free Zones Authority plans further expansion, which will accommodate three million containers per year by 2015. Port officials say this expansion will make the port the largest container terminal on the continent.

Doualeh has talked with Emirates, Etihad Airways and DHL about development of cargo operations at DIA. He says he is optimistic these talks will be fruitful.

 

Doualeh cites Ethiopia and Nigeria as two significant landlocked markets that could be served with air cargo flights from Djibouti.

“Everything going to Ethiopia comes through Djibouti,” he says. “Eighty million people are being fed by road. We are a very small country,but our seaport is one of the best in the region. We are trying to save time for the shippers, the transporters and the customers. We are working with the seaport to see how we can bring things along with this sea and air movement.”

DIA also envisions air cargo possibilities beyond Africa to Western Europe and the east coast of North and South America.

Doualeh says DIA is prepared to entice air carriers with reduced rates for landings and handling for the first six months.

He says cargo from the Far East takes 80 days to reach Lagos, Nigeria. Developing airfreight infrastructure in Djibouti would allow that time to be reduced drastically.

“It takes just three and a half hours from Djibouti to Lagos by 747. That’s 100 tonnes straight away from Djibouti to Lagos,” Djibouti says. “We need professional logistics people to set it up. The rest will come easy.” (aircargoworld.com)

[Abu-Salman]

Algerian Cevital expand in East Africa

 

The Algerian giant Cevital, specializing in food, has reached an agreement with Djibouti which will allow it to invest in fisheries infrastructure of this country, announced Monday the Djibouti Minister of Agriculture in charge of Fisheries Resources Mohamed Ahmed Awaleh.

The agreement "will enable Cevital Djibouti to benefit from his expertise and raise up production," said Mr. Awaleh during a joint press conference with leaders of the Algerian conglomerate.

The CEO of the group Cevital Issad Rebrab must go on 22 September in Djibouti to launch the construction of a "mega Bulk Terminal", which will allow the Algerian group export of fish and other seafood, Djibouti said the minister. "Cevital has already acquired two fishing vessels," he added. The agreement will allow the Algerian group access Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), which includes 19 countries with nearly 400 million people, according to Mr. Awaleh.

 

The group Cevital will also establish a food complex in Djibouti with a production capacity of about two million tons of sugar per year, added the Djiboutian Minister.

"This complex will be similar to that already has Cevital Bejaia" in eastern Algeria, he said. The project will create about 2,000 jobs dijbouti, the minister said.

The Algerian group intends to expand its activities in Sudan, where he is preparing to buy four public raw sugar mills, and Ethiopia where maple land will be sold to enable him to Cevital to produce raw materials for its refineries sugar and oil, said an official of Cevital Farid Bourenani.

 

Cevital is the largest private group in Algeria in terms of sales ($ 3.5 billion in 2012). It employs nearly 13,000 people.

In early June, Cevital took over the business of PVC joinery Oxxo based in Cluny (Saône-et-Loire, France) after committing to retain 288 jobs and 406 included in the activities of French Algeria giant tire French Michelin, which will cease to manufacture tires late 2013 in this country.(marine-oceans.com)

 

Algeria / Cevital The Group invests in the Horn of Africa to secure supplies of raw materials

 

The group of Issad Rebrab just sealed a strategic investment partnership with the Government of Djibouti. An agreement that opens the doors to the East African market and guarantees to the food giant a perennial supply of raw materials for the industrial complex of Bejaia.

 

Just weeks after acquiring the leading European PVC windows Oxxo, the Cevital group will act on the second step of its international expansion by targeting the African continent, through an agreement with Djibouti, one of the Horn of Africa pivotal country. Invited by Algeria Issad Rebrab the Djibouti Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Resources, Mohamed Ahmed Awaleh, expanded over a few details of the agreement at a lively point of press in Algiers. According to the Djibouti official, the agreement between the government and Cevital covers facilities granted to the Algerian private group for a virtually unlimited access to tens of thousands of hectares of agricultural land in Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia, countries which abound in considerable quantities of water provided by the Blue Nile. Resources for the development of crops, soybean meal and sugar cane require large amounts of water and agricultural land, scarce commodities in Algeria.

 

Djibouti key for Cevital

 

"We have close relations with Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia, and we will ensure to facilitate the installation of Cevital in the Horn of Africa with access to a huge market of 400 million people from relationships of Djibouti, "said enthusiastically Mr. Awaleh who said he was" proud to receive an investor the size and quality of Cevital. " The Djibouti Minister was interested in the thousands of jobs and the transfer of technology that could bring the group Cevital for his country. Djibouti currently has approximately 10 000 ha of agricultural concessions acquired in Sudan and Ethiopia that the government is prepared to make immediately available to the first private Algerian group.

 

An enabling environment for investors

 

For officials Cevital choice focused on Djibouti as a platform for "African adventure" Algerian group is dictated by the many benefits this country: a privileged location in East Africa, a Port among the most dynamic in the region managed by the Dubai giant DP World, political stability and an environment favorable to investment with many facilities in terms of movement of capital, guaranteed by the central bank of Djibouti and tax measures granted by the government to foreign operators.

 

Projects Cevital ambition for Djibouti

 

For its part, the Cevital group is committed to invest in the construction of an agro-industrial complex similar to that operated in Algeria with the key size, direct access to markets with high growth potential that are the COMESA countries, the Arabian Peninsula and Asia. The Algerian group also launched fishing deploying a Phase two large vessels. This investment was encouraged by making available by the Djibouti authorities, a fishing port and a license to operate along hundreds of kilometers of coasts, among the most abundant in the world, and that extend to neighboring Somalia. For Mr. Awaleh, financing projects in Djibouti Cevital no problem. The Algerian company will benefit from the guarantee of the Central Bank of Djibouti to financial arrangements entered into with banks and international financial institutions operating in the country. A major stumbling block that the group of Issad Rebrab seems to have overcome against the ban imposed by the Bank of Algeria to Algerian companies to any transfer of foreign currency abroad to finance investment projects or the acquisition of assets.(translated from maghrebemergent.com)

[Tallaabo]

Abu-Salman;966053 wrote:

Djibouti: Regional Somali Language Academy Launched in Djibouti

 

Djibouti's Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Culture and Waqf and the Somali-Speaking PEN Centre of Djibouti held an opening ceremony Wednesday (June 26th) for the first regional Somali language academy, Djibouti's La Nation reported.

Minister of Islamic affairs Aden Hassan Aden, Somalia's Minister of Information, Posts and Telecommunications Abdullahi Ilmoge Hirsi, Somaliland regional Minister of Culture Abiib Diriye Nur and Vice President of the Somali region of Ethiopia Abdihakim Igal Omar attended the event at the Kempinski Hotel in Djibouti, as did about 50 prominent Somali-speaking intellectuals from the region and abroad.

President Ismail Omar Guelleh met with the visiting officials before the ceremony to commend their efforts towards the preservation of the Somali language.

This is a very important development indeed and flies in the face of the French cultural imperialists. Kudos to Jabuuti (I hate to pollute the Somali nation's good name with an awful French D).