29 February 2024
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – Ethiopia and the Netherlands have signed a €10.6 million grant agreement to construct a cold storage facility for exporting fruits and vegetables at the Mojo Logistics Center.
The agreement was signed by Ethiopian Minister of State for Finance, Samarita Gramasu, and Dutch Ambassador to Ethiopia, Henk Jahn.
This first phase of the project will see the construction of a cold storage warehouse, enabling the export of Ethiopian fruits and vegetables to international markets without spoilage and maintaining their quality.
Minister of State Gramasu highlighted the historical political and economic ties between Ethiopia and the Netherlands, emphasizing their strong trade and investment relations. She recognized the Netherlands’ ongoing support in various sectors, including horticulture, nutrition, health, and skill development.
She expressed her gratitude, stating that the new cold storage facility will significantly support Ethiopia’s efforts in fruit and vegetable production and agricultural processing. She believes this project will unlock the full potential of Ethiopia’s fruit and vegetable exports by providing essential infrastructure.
Dutch Ambassador Jahn emphasized the agreement’s significance, paving the way for collaboration by sharing Dutch expertise in agriculture and digital infrastructure with Ethiopia.
Dr. Alemu Sime, Minister of Transport and Logistics, highlighted the critical need for the cold storage facility, considering the past losses incurred due to the lack of proper infrastructure for transporting perishable agricultural products. He believes this project will not only address this infrastructure gap but also significantly contribute to the economic transformation of Ethiopian farmers and boost the country’s overall export trade.
