The Embassy of Ethiopia in Pretoria has stepped up efforts to promote investment and economic cooperation between Ethiopia and South African companies through engagements with Fresh Produce Terminal (FPT) Group (Pty) Ltd and Tongaat Hulett Sugar Ltd.
The engagements, led by Mrs. Dessie Alebachew, Head of the Ethiopian Mission in Pretoria, focused on presenting investment opportunities arising from Ethiopia’s economic reforms and identifying areas where South African companies can contribute expertise, investment and technology to Ethiopia’s economic development.
The discussions covered sectors including cold-chain logistics, cold storage, agriculture, agro-processing and sugar production, highlighting Ethiopia’s efforts to attract greater private-sector and foreign investment.
Ethiopian Embassy Engages FPT Group on Cold-Chain Investment
On 18 August 2026, the Ethiopian Embassy delegation held discussions with Mr. Paulo Franco, CEO of Fresh Produce Terminal (FPT) Group (Pty) Ltd, and his team.
FPT Group is a member of The Logistics Group (TLG) Corporate Services, a South African logistics company with expertise across various areas of the logistics and supply-chain sector.
The engagement explored potential opportunities for FPT Group to invest and expand its operations into Ethiopia, particularly in areas aligned with its existing expertise, including cold storage facilities and cold-chain logistics services.
During the meeting, the Embassy presented an overview of Ethiopia’s recent economic reforms and highlighted the country’s investment potential, available incentives and prospects in the transport, logistics and cold-chain sectors.
The discussion also provided an opportunity to explore how FPT Group’s experience and capabilities could contribute to strengthening Ethiopia’s logistics infrastructure and supporting more efficient supply chains for agricultural and fresh produce products.
Embassy Delegation Visits FPT Facilities at Durban Port
Following the discussions, the Ethiopian Embassy delegation visited FPT Group’s facilities at the Port of Durban, where they observed the company’s operations and services.
The facility visit provided the delegation with practical insight into FPT Group’s cold-chain and logistics operations and complemented the earlier discussions on potential areas of cooperation and investment.
As a next step, FPT Group expressed interest in undertaking a pre-investment visit to Ethiopia to gain a deeper understanding of the country’s investment environment and assess potential opportunities for collaboration.
The proposed visit could provide a platform for further discussions between Ethiopian authorities and the company on specific investment projects and areas of mutual interest.
Ethiopian Embassy Engages Tongaat Hulett on Sugar Investment
In a separate engagement, the Ethiopian Embassy in Pretoria held discussions with representatives of Tongaat Hulett Sugar Ltd., led by the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Gavin Dagleish.
The discussions focused on business and investment opportunities in Ethiopia’s sugar sector, with the Embassy highlighting the significant potential available to private and foreign investors in the industry.
The Embassy briefed the Tongaat Hulett delegation on Ethiopia’s recent economic and policy reforms, particularly measures aimed at strengthening the role of the private sector and creating a more conducive environment for investment.
These reforms include efforts to liberalise the economy, open additional investment sectors to foreign investors and encourage greater private-sector participation.
Ethiopia Highlights Sugar, Agriculture and Agro-Processing Opportunities
During the engagement, the Embassy outlined the Ethiopian Government’s commitment to privatisation, improved productivity and efficiency of state-owned enterprises, job creation, import substitution, value addition and export growth.
Particular attention was given to investment opportunities in manufacturing, agriculture and agro-processing, with the sugar industry identified as an important area for industrial development.
The Embassy also highlighted investment incentives available to foreign investors and Ethiopia’s efforts to attract investment that can contribute to industrialisation, local value addition and employment creation.
Tongaat Hulett expressed interest in exploring potential investment opportunities and available incentives in Ethiopia, particularly within the sugar industry and related downstream sectors.
Strengthening Ethiopia–South Africa Economic Relations
The engagements with FPT Group and Tongaat Hulett demonstrate the Ethiopian Embassy’s continued focus on economic diplomacy and investment promotion as important components of Ethiopia–South Africa relations.
By engaging directly with South African companies with established expertise in logistics, agriculture and agro-processing, the Embassy is seeking to connect Ethiopian investment opportunities with private-sector capabilities and experience in South Africa.
The discussions also highlight the potential for stronger commercial links between the two countries at a time when Ethiopia is pursuing reforms designed to increase private-sector participation, attract foreign investment and support industrial and economic transformation.
The proposed pre-investment visit by FPT Group to Ethiopia, alongside Tongaat Hulett’s interest in the sugar sector, could pave the way for further business engagements and concrete investment opportunities between Ethiopian stakeholders and South African companies.
