135 Years. 20+ Companies. 10,000+ Employees. One Family Legacy.
East African Holding has been honored with the Family Business Award at the Africa CEO Forum Awards 2026, recognizing more than a century of industrial leadership, resilience, and multigenerational stewardship.
The award was accepted on behalf of East African Holding by Michael B. T. Bizenu, representing the fourth generation of leadership within the family business.
Founded in 1891, East African Holding’s journey has evolved from early commodity trading into one of Ethiopia’s leading industrial groups, with investments spanning cement manufacturing, industrial parks, transport and logistics, agriculture, consumer products, energy, and mining.
The recognition also reflects the visionary leadership of Buzuayehu Tadele Bizenu, whose stewardship has guided the Group through a transformative era of industrial expansion and nation-building. Under his leadership, East African Holding has continued to pioneer large-scale industrial developments that contribute to Ethiopia’s economic growth, employment creation, and long-term industrialization agenda.
Over the decades, the Group has played a pioneering role in Ethiopia’s private sector development. Its milestones include establishing Ethiopia’s first private tea estate, developing the country’s first industrial park, and advancing transformational industrial projects such as National Cement at Lemi, recognized as Africa’s largest single-line cement plant.
The recognition comes at a significant moment in the company’s history as East African Holding transitions into its fourth generation of leadership. For the Group, the award reflects not only longevity, but also the continuity of values, vision, and responsibility carried across generations.
With more than 10,000 employees across its subsidiaries, East African Holding emphasized its enduring responsibility toward its workforce, communities, and Ethiopia’s economic future.
The company expressed gratitude to the Africa CEO Forum for the recognition and acknowledged the contribution of its employees, partners, and stakeholders whose commitment continues to shape the Group’s journey.
As it looks toward the future, East African Holding reaffirmed its commitment to building industries that create lasting value for Ethiopia and Africa under its longstanding vision: “Creating Wealth Through Industries.”
