Cornerstone laid for Toppan Gravity’s $55M secure document printing facility at Bole Lemi IP

Addis Ababa, May 8, 2024 (FBC) – A groundbreaking ceremony was held today at the Bole Lemi Industrial Park for a new $55 million manufacturing facility by Toppan Gravity, a leading provider of secure payment and identity solutions.

Toppan Gravity is a renowned global company that specializes in the production of high-security documents, including passports, national ID cards, ATM cards, and Mastercard products with embedded microchips. The new facility in Ethiopia will leverage Toppan’s expertise in these areas to support the country’s growing demand for secure identification and payment solutions.

The cornerstone was laid by senior government officials and industry leaders, including the Minister of Finance Mr. Ahmed Shide, the Governor of the National Bank of Ethiopia Mr. Mamo Mehretu, the Minister of Education Prof. Berhanu Nega, the CEO of Ethiopian Investment Holding Mr. Abdurahman Eid, the CEO of the Industrial Parks Development Corporation Mr. Aklilu Taddese, the Director of the Immigration and Citizenship Service Ms. Selamawit Dawit, and the Ambassador of Japan to Ethiopia Shibata Hironori.

The project is a joint venture between Japanese and Ethiopian partners and will be implemented in three phases.

The new manufacturing facility is expected to create job opportunities for Ethiopian citizens and help address the recent shortage of passports in the country. It will also contribute to the realization of Ethiopia’s digital transformation agenda by providing advanced secure document printing capabilities.

Toppan Gravity’s investment in this new facility underscores its commitment to supporting Ethiopia’s economic development and strengthening the country’s capabilities in the production of high-security documents.

The company’s expertise in secure payment and identity solutions will be a valuable asset as Ethiopia continues to modernize its infrastructure and services.