Eritrea
is on a quest to build its nation with sweat, not debt.
Though impoverished by its war for independence, Eritrea
is rich with spirit, resourcefulness and knowlege. The country
has made a vow to recreate itself with the expertise of
its people, not foreign capital. Since winning their independence,
Eritreans have turned their energies inward, building self-sufficiency
and rejecting any outside help that does not move them further
toward political and economic autonomy. Eritrea's leaders,
part of the rebel movement-turned government, are determined
to remain fee from the influence of governments that ignored
their struggle, and to avoid mistakes made by other African
countries in the post-independence era. The country's watchwords
are improvisation and self-reliance. A symbol of those watchwords
is the Eritrean government's huge endeavor to rebuild the
73 mile railroad which once ran from the port of Massawa
across the desert and up through the mountains to the cool
highlands where the capital, Asmara, lies. For twenty years
it was an efficient system, carrying freight and passengers,
and was the largest employer in the country.
The
railroad, first built by Italians, stopped running in 1974.
It's rails were disassembled for other uses during the long
war with Ethiopia. The track was torn up and scattered across
the hillsides. Steel sleepers were used in trenches and
tunnels during the war and by villagers to build their homes.
The rolling stock was left to rust. The huge railyards in
Asmara with sheds, workshops, stores and foundries were
abandoned, dismantled, scattered and plundered. The engine
turntable was buried under tons of earth. Soon after the
war, it became clear that Eritrea needed to rehabilitate
the railway to take pressure off of the over-used two-lane
road which moves goods from the port to the capital and
cities farther inland. Every afternoon the road is jammed
with trucks laboring up the mountains at five miles an hour.
Rebuilding the railroad is a daring strategy for Africa's
newest nation. Unable to pay foreign contractors the millions
the project was estimated to cost, (Italian engineers estimated
it would cost at least $500 million), the Eritreans have
conscripted their own countrymen. President Isaias Afwerki
has called dozens of former railroad workers out of retirement
and put them to work. At first the older railroad mechanics
could not believe their ears when they got the call from
the new president. Some grumbled that they were too old
to pick up a hammer again. In a few days, however, they
all came to work in their outdated overalls and engineer
caps. Rather than borrow millions of dollars from foreign
banks, the government is using donated food to pay people
to build the railroad and to work on other projects. “We
have the capacity for self-sufficiency,” President
Afwerki said in an interview. “We don't believe aid
can solve our problems.” The average annual income
in Eritrea is less than $150 per person, and two-thirds
of its people need food aid. Today, hundreds of workers
armed with picks and shovels have extended the railroad
many miles inland from Massawa. “In less than three
years time we will have a railway running from Massawa to
Asmara”, Amanuel Gebreselassie, coordinator of the
Railway Rehabilitation Project, stated in an interview.
That confident approach is typical of a country whose independence
war motto was: “Never kneel down”.
| THE DUBAI CONNECTION |
Eritrea Begins Sourcing From Dubai |
The
United Arab Emirates has been supplying goods to Eritrea
not only for its local consumption but also for distribution
to neighbouing markets in Sudan and Ethiopia - the largest
markets in terms of size and consumption in the region.
The geograhical proximity of the UAE makes it an ideal
trade partner for Eritrea. Goods from UAE are shipped
directly to Eritrea and then onwards to Ethiopia and Sudan.
The fact that these countries do not have a well developed
manufacturing base means that they have to import most
of their requirements for consumer and capital goods.
At present there are only approximately 2,500 manufacturing
enterprises in Eritrea. Most of the 730 enterprises which
were in existence as on May 24, 1991 were more than 20
years old (the oldest going back 10 1901). About 500 have
been established after liberation. Manufacturing units
which were established and run by the Eritrean People's
Liberation Front during the liberation war for the production
of plastic shoes, sanitary towel, baby food, bandage,
macaroni, plastic household utensils, knitwear and engineering
workshop products have been merged to related state enterprises.
Export for 45 state enterprises, all the rest are privately
owned. Most of them are owner operated and single proprietorship
serving customers in their immediate locality.
Currently,
the sector which is in need of modernisation and rehabilitation
is very much dependent on imported raw materials, spare
parts, machinery and know-how. The major current manufactures
of the country are composed of
a) Food - flour, bread, canned food, pasta, biscuits,
sweets, vegetable oil, butter, cheese >>> Beverages:-beer,
liquor, soft drinks , mineral water >>>Tobacco:cigarette,
chewing tobacco
b)Textiles:- fabrics, yarn, garments, knitwear, sacks,
twine, sweaters, blanket, bed sheet, towels.
Business
Advise
HOW
TO PROMOTE YOUR PRODUCTS IN AFRICA
Eritrea
is a new and upcoming country. Therefore, opportunities
for trade and business are plenty. The country is still
in the process of building its infrastructure and establishing
its presence in the world of international trade and commerce.
Though relatively small in size, Eritrea has emerged as
the gateway to the huge markets of Sudan and Ethiopia.
Eritrea retained the entire coastline of Ethiopia along
the Red Sea upon de jure independence from Ethiopia. The
two major ports of Eritrea, namely Assaib and Massawa,
are located along the world’s busiest shipping lanes.
Therefore, Eritrea’s importance as a regional centre
for trade and distribution can never be underestimated.
There are a few easy ways to make your presence felt in
Eritrea and neighbouring countries like Sudan and Ethiopia.
The
growing use and influence of the Internet can also be
harnessed to promote your business in the African markets.
By posting your business proposals on the African Classified Advertisements section, you can expect direct responses
from your business counterparts in African countries.
Employing the growing influence of Internet technology
to promote your business in international markets is one
of the most simple and effective promotional tool for
forward-looking enterpreuners. Simply post your message
and wait for the results. Simple!
An
even better way to promote your business interests in
Eritrea is by contacting your business counterparts from
the Africa Business Directory of Eritrea which offers you the opportunity
to communicate directly with your business counterparts
in Eritrea. The E-Mail Directory of Eritrea can also be
utilised to obtain useful information on local market
conditions and to assess the prospects of marketing your
product/s in the Eritrean market. Not to mention the chances
of meeting some very helpful, interesting and enterprising
people from Eritrea!
Last,
but not least, add your company to the Advertising Section of the Africa Business Pages. The Advertising Section
will carry a full page editorial about your company as
well as two pictures of your company's products. In addition
to this, your company will also be provided with a direct
link in the Business Links section. By promoting your
company on the Africa Business Pages you can reap rich
dividends. An absolute essential for those targetting
the African market. Browse through
some samples before taking a decision.
