Ethiopian companies eye construction business in South Sudan

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle
January 18, 2011(ADDIS ABABA) – As the possibility of the formation of the new state, South Sudan comes closer to realisation, Ethiopia’s giant construction and water companies have shown broad interest in contract business in the area.
Awash Welday Water Works and General Contractor are one among the leading companies in Ethiopia’s construction sector. Named after the owner and general manager, the company has a first grade general contractor license (GC-1) in both water works and in construction which enables it to undertake construction projects worth 25 million Birr (US$ 1.5 million) and above.
“Regardless of the referendum outcome, we are ready to execute as much projects as offered, should we get the grants from south Sudan” Awash Welday told Sudan Tribune in an interview.
“We have the skills, experience, financial capacity and the will to take projects in south Sudan.
As neighbours, and with long-standing historic ties with Sudan we have the responsibility to support the brotherly people of south Sudan” he added.
Awash’s company currently executes projects in Tigray, Oromiya, south Ethiopia and the inhospitable Afar region.
Awash says his company is also well known for accomplishing projects on time and meeting the standards in difficult circumstances.
“We have done several World Bank funded projects in the volcanically active Afar region’s Dallol, in the Danakil Depression [the hottest place on earth] battling temperatures that reach up to 50 degree centigrade.
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