Africa-Asia Confidential | June 2010

Africa-Asia Confidential

Volume 3, Issue 8

The Addis government shows scant regard for the potential local impact of massive Indian investment in floriculture and biofuels

Ethiopia is renowned more for its famines than for its fertile fields but land leasing has become a burgeoning business in some of the most unlikely locations. Vast swathes of arable land, a permissive government and geographical proximity have garnered interest in agricultural investment in Ethiopia from Saudi Arabia, Chinaand India. India is the current leader in the stakes and, with more than 400 companies with projects in development, cumulative Indian investment in Ethiopia is approaching US$4.2 billion.