Text of report in English by Ethiopian newspaper The Reporter website on 2 August
Tarek bin Laden, a Saudi construction tycoon, is expected to pay a visit here in October to hold discussions with government officials to carry out investment in a number of sectors in Ethiopia, according to Mesfin Asfaw, his representative in Ethiopia. This interest comes parallel with a plan by Bin Laden to build a 29km bridge which will connect Africa with the Middle East by road, rail and pipelines. Two cities, one in Djibouti and the other in Yemen, are also to be developed.
"An alliance of 50 giant companies from the Arab Emirates, Canada, Denmark, England, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United States and other countries has been formed. And these companies believe that they should target investment in Ethiopia," Mesfin Asfaw told The Reporter.
Bin Laden, with the help of the Saudi ambassador to Ethiopia, has already began the paper work to invest in the areas of tourism, mining and agro-industry, particularly food processing, according to Mesfin.
The construction of the bridge, which is planned to have six lanes and is expected to cost some 200 billion dollars, will begin next year.
Tarek bin Laden has already signed agreements with Djibouti for 500 sq.km. of land to start building Noor City, the first of a hundred so-called Cities of Light.
Originally published by The Reporter website, Addis Ababa, in English 2 Aug 08.
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Story Source: BBC Monitoring Africa