Addis Fortune (Addis Ababa)
Elias Meseret
4 February 2008
opinion
"He was known for his philanthropic activities as much as he was for the exporting of coffee," Mrs. Stella, his wife, told Fortune struggling with a tear in her eye.
She added that he has never run short of time talking about Ethiopian coffee and promoting it and has fought hard to bring the best price for Ethiopian farmers.
Last week saw the sudden death of one of Ethiopia's most prominent and hard working philanthropiss and businessmen, Yanni Georgalis on January 22, 2008. His unexpected passing has shocked many people who not only knew him very well, but also
take pride in his uninterrupted and very ambitious career of promoting Ethiopian coffee to the outside world for decades through his company, Moplaco Trading Co. Ltd.
Born in Harar at a place called Hirna in 1940 from his Greek parents, Yanni was a proud Ethiopian citizen who has spent his whole life promoting, exporting and helping the Ethiopian coffee business.
Desalegn Shibeshi, general manager of Moplaco Trading, told Fortune that he was really shocked by the businessman's sudden death and will always remember his good deeds that are unmatched by any other person whom he knew.
"He passed away after showing some European visitors his operations in Ethiopia," Desalegn explained. "His company has been awarded a number of times by the Ethiopian government for best performances. That makes him one of the best sons Ethiopia has ever had."
Yanni began his education attending a Ge'ez teaching pre-school in Dire Dawa and then joined the Dire Dawa Greek School completing his primary school studies there.Then, by working in Karikas, a coffee exporting company for a few years, he entered the coffee trade at an early age of 13 years.
"He was known for his philanthropic activities as much as he was for the exporting of coffee," Mrs. Stella, his wife, told Fortune struggling with a tear in her eye. She added that he has never run short of time talking about Ethiopian coffee and promoting it and has fought hard to bring the best price for Ethiopian farmers.
This prominent businessman was loved and respected by many people from diverse backgrounds. After establishing his own company in 1956, he has been able to send and promote Ethiopian coffee to Japan, Germany, the United States (US) and others.
According to the information obtained form Moplaco Trading, while it is currently exporting 8,000tns of coffee and has a capital of 13 million Birr, it has also created permanent employment opportunities for 99 workers and had also more than 1,000 temporary workers.
"My father was very kind, honest and truthful," Irene S. Georgalis told Fortune. She considers her father a person who has dedicated his whole life for the country and will always remember him of as a hero.
Yanni Georgalis has also been lauded by many for running one of the cleanest and well organised warehouses in the world that lies on a covered area of 75,000sqm in Addis Abeba.
"He used to be appreciated by many people for this achievement and was also special in that he believes in meeting his clients in person so that he used to frequently fly to different countries, especially Japan, to meet them and discuss ways of furthering the trade relation between them," Stella said.
Moplaco Trading, is a well established office featuring a head office in Dire Dawa and two branch offices in Yirgachefe and Addis Abeba. Its annual export target is 10,000 tns per year with an annual turnover of around 20 million dollars. Moreover, it is the exclusive shipper of exceptional new products, including the famous Harar Boldgrain.
George Geogalis, the younger brother of the late businessman, said that Yanni's philanthropic activities are expressed in many ways.
"My older brother has opened a school in Dire Dawa, donated a lot of money for the construction of churches, helped a lot of people in despair and, as witnessed on the funeral day, educated and made self-sufficient a lot of students who have poor families," he remarked.
Moplaco Trading has been awarded a number of prizes. Among them are: for good performance from the Ethiopian Export Promotion Agency for the 2001/02 fiscal year and for an excellent performance in the 1995/96 and 1993/94 fiscal year from the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MoTI).
Yanni was married to his first wife and mother of two in 1971 with whom he stayed untill her death. Then he married Stella and has been living a very successful and happy life.
Many also remember his active membership in the Rotary Club, Addis Abeba, Entoto, where he has been pursuing his philanthropic activities.
"He was a very generous and wise man that the employees he has had in his company for a long time respect and are very thankful for his incredible activities," Desalegn added.
Last year's event organised by the late businessman in the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the Sheraton Hotel has brought together many coffee buyers, sellers, coffer washing, roasting and grinding machine providers from all over the world.
"This is just one instance where he has demonstrated that he was an ambassador for Ethiopian coffee," his wife told Fortune.
Yanni has no particular illness at his death but was reportedly having some complications from smoking and working for several hours non-stop.
This great personality, an example of courage and entrepreneurship, has left a legacy of an unprecedented image building for the country. His campaign for a long time to promote Ethiopian coffee abroad and his success story should be a stepping stone for many ambitious and young professionals.
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thank you for your article and i hope Ethiopia will not forgot my Uncle.
thank you Georgalis Panayiotis