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Addis Ababa, October 16, 2020 – Today, Ethiopian Airlines and the United States announced a new partnership agreement that will allow the country’s flagship airline to source locally grown products and ingredients to prepare onboard meals for global passengers.
Ethiopian Airlines Group Executive Director Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam and US Ambassador Michael Raynor signed a memorandum of understanding in which the US Agency for International Development (USAID) will provide farmers and Ethiopian food producers technical assistance and access to financing to ensure that they can meet the quality and volume standards of the airlines to serve their customers. These new business links will help local farmers and agribusinesses to reach a new prominent market and increase their sources of income, with annual sales of up to $ 10 million in total, while also providing directly sourced Ethiopian Airlines farm-fresh ingredients. from Ethiopia, which will reduce the need for foreign products. Processed foods from vendors for your catering services.
USAID support will help Ethiopian Airlines identify local suppliers for the list of catering materials the airline may require, as well as provide support to farmers’ cooperative unions, youth groups, women’s groups, and other local agricultural businesses. so that they can meet production requirements. A U.S. government loan facility will also expand access to finance for local businesses, farmers ‘cooperative unions and others to expand their operations as needed to meet Ethiopian Airlines’ quality and supply demands .
“We deeply value our relationship with USAID and extend our appreciation to USAID for all the support. The new partnership consolidates our effort to continue to provide high-quality in-flight dining to passengers around the world, while intensifying our effort to create an environment conducive to local farmers throughout the value chain. We would like to continue our partnership with USAID in a variety of spheres, ”said Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam.
“The partnership we launched today demonstrates what can be achieved when prominent companies like Ethiopian Airlines invest in other Ethiopian companies and individuals, resulting in truly local economic success that has the potential to be a model for other sectors,” said the Ambassador Raynor.
This partnership agreement will run through December 2022 and will help pave the way for Ethiopian Airlines and local producers and farmer groups to continue these supply links and partnerships in the future. Shipping
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