Atlas has secured an agreement with leading Ethiopian brewer Raya Brewery for the supply of glass bottles, to replace the imported bottles that it currently uses.
The bottles will be produced at the company's planned glass bottling factory in Chancho, 45km north of the capital, Addis Ababa.
Atlas and Raya have agreed, subject to confirmation of quality, that Atlas will regularly supply glass bottles to Raya.
Both parties recognise the need for the domestic manufacture of bottles, and will work together to finalise a full agreement once the development of the Chancho Project is completed.
The memorandum of understanding (MOU) demonstrates that the demand for glass bottles in Ethiopia is buoyant.
Atlas has said the agreement underlines its belief that the Chancho Project represents an ideal project through which to access the emerging Ethiopian consumer market and build a strong presence within the East African industrial sector.
Carl Esprey, Chief Executive Officer of Atlas, said: "This relationship underlines the demand for bottles in Ethiopia and the exceptional opportunity that we have.
“Raya is a prominent brewery in Ethiopia which currently imports its bottles from abroad.
“Beer production is continuing to grow year on year and with the substitution of imports, a significant pillar of the country's industrial policy, we are ideally positioned to capitalise on the opportunities arising from this.
“The Ethiopian consumer market is rapidly transforming the country into a manufacturing powerhouse and so we look forward to working with Raya, as well as identifying further opportunities."
