Tom Linebarger, the CEO and Chairman of Cummins, the largest independent maker of diesel engines and related products in the world, and a team of top managers hosted a large group of businesses and customers during a recent visit to Ethiopia.

During the event, Linebarger emphasized Cummins’ excitement about the opportunities Ethiopia offers to organizations like Cummins, and that the Company continues to evaluate future growth opportunities in the country.

Ethiopia is the second most populous country in sub-Saharan Africa, and over the past decade has made significant economic growth.

Currently, Cummins has a distribution and power generation business presence in the country, and sees continued opportunities for its power generation business, as electric power continues to be a need across much of the country.

“We had very encouraging discussions with our customers and business leaders about the opportunities we see in Ethiopia, and evaluate ways we can partner to spur future growth,” said Shon Wright Executive Director and General Manager, Turbo Technologies, Cummins Inc.

“The Company is committed to the region and we want to find ways to contribute to the economic development of Ethiopia.”

“I was pleased to be able to have a great discussion with Cummins about potential ways we can look at growing business across the country,” stated Temesgen Tilahun Woldetsadik, Deputy Commissioner Industrial Parks Division Ethiopian Investment Commission. “The Company shares our view that Ethiopia holds great promise.”

Cummins has had a presence in Africa since 1946 through independently owned distributors in Morocco and South Africa, and now does business in more than 50 countries across the continent.

The first company-owned entity was the engine manufacturing plant established in Maputo in Zimbabwe assembling engines during the 1980’s, followed by the filtration manufacturing plant in South Africa in 1998.

Cummins entered into a joint venture in 2017 with Kenya based Car & General, for the distribution and support of its products in the greater East Africa region covering 11 countries.