The Reporter (Addis Ababa)
Hayal Alemayehu
1 December 2007
Addis Ababa — Altour Management Technology (AMT), a US-based Ethiopian American technology-focused company, last week set up a company called ModernETH in Addis Ababa to capitalize on the cost-effective off-shore service delivery, a.k.a. service out-sourcing, for its existing and potential clients in the U.S. and UK, AMT President and Co-founder Manny Amare told The Reporter.
The new company, which has affiliate offices in the UK and U.S., will as well provide technological services in Ethiopia, according to Manny. Within the Ethiopian market, ModernETH will provide informational, agricultural, and import/export technology services using information technology solutions.
AMT is currently handling technological works of Altour, one of the US biggest travel agencies, and affiliate companies, for which the travel agency spends USD 50 million on average every year, according to Manny. "This means a single company like ours could generate about USD 50 million in outsourcing services in a year, and if other companies follow suit we can imagine how that figure will soar."
"Out-sourcing business is a promising and yet untapped market in Ethiopia with a potential to easily generate foreign currency more than the country's major export commodities could do," Manny said. "But the task of facilitating the modernization of Ethiopia's technology extension system is far beyond the capabilities of a single institution. We plan to function as a pace-setter for the industry, developing system designs and models of professional activities in a bid to encourage new entrants into the field, thereby fostering further innovation in Ethiopia."
Manny would not, however, deny that the existing telecom infrastructure in the country will, without doubt, hinder the potential of the outsourcing business unless in time it goes through the right renovation.
ModernETH has already made arrangements to become the exclusive technology outsourcing company for Althour, AMT, a company specialized in IT-based technologies, is not only handling Altours' technological requirements; but is also one of the travel agency's affiliate companies. Being one of the largest travel companies in the US, Altours' annual revenues top USD 500 million.
ModernETH will launch operation on January 1st 2008.
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