Ethiopia, China discuss establishment of fertilizer manufacturing
Oct 18, 2006 (ADDIS ABABA) – Ethiopian Prime Minister today discussed with a visiting business delegation the establishment of a factory of fertilizer in Ethiopia in order to respond to the high demand in the country.
Prime Minister Meles Zenawi on Wednesday held talks with a Chinese business delegation led by Zoo Baozhong, the board chairman of China National Complete Plant Import and Export Corporation Limited (Complant).
The two sides dwelt particularly on ways of establishing a urea fertilizer manufacturing from coal mineral in Ethiopia, on which they had useful exchange of ideas, said a senior government official who attended the meeting.
After the talks, Baozhong told the press that his delegation exchanged ideas with Prime Minister Meles on this coal-based fertilizer manufacturing project.
According to Baozhong, the prime minister has indicated on what he said was a high demand for fertilizers in Ethiopia.
He said, Prime Minister Meles also gave the delegation highlights of the activities under way to augment and expand trade and investment in Ethiopia.
The delegation, he said, has the readiness to contribute its share to help boost the trade and investment cooperation between Ethiopia and China.
In the past decade urea has surpassed and nearly replaced ammonium nitrate as a fertilizer. Urea, a white crystalline solid containing 46% nitrogen, is widely used in the agricultural industry as an animal feed additive and fertilizer.
(ST)