Selecta relocates Ethiopian URC production to Kenya and Uganda

At the end of the current B&B season, the Selecta Group will relocate URC production from its Kunzila site in northern Ethiopia to its main locations in Kenya and Uganda. The unstable political situation and uncertain military environment were the primary reasons for this decision.

All customers will continue to be supplied seamlessly without any interruptions. Production capacities have been expanded accordingly at the well-established locations in Kenya and Uganda. The farms are fully prepared to ensure the availability of goods and maintain full delivery capability, particularly during the current Poinsettia sales season. The Pelargoniums and Mandevilla previously produced in Ethiopia will be grown in additional areas in Kenya on Lake Naivasha for the next season. Selecta has extensive, long-standing experience with both crops at this location.

The closure of the site in Ethiopia has been carefully considered and is ultimately necessary, as the major logistical challenges of the past two years could not be permanently resolved under the current conditions, even with the greatest efforts. Most importantly, the safety of employees could not be guaranteed to the required extent.



A painful step
"We have to take a painful step: after only a few years of intensive development work, we are forced to close our production site in Kunzila, Ethiopia," comments Per Ansgar Klemm, CEO of Selecta One on LinkedIn. "Years in which we, together with a dedicated team on the ground, have invested countless hours, built up know-how and, after the end of the civil war in November 2022, firmly hoped for a better future. Despite all the difficulties we encountered on a daily basis, we were able to see how much our joint work could create prospects for the people and their families, who gave their best every day."

"However, the political instability and the tense military environment represent an insurmountable hurdle," he explains. "The safety of our employees on the ground cannot be guaranteed under the current conditions. This development pains us deeply, because we know what hopes and dreams were tied to these jobs. For many people from Kunzila and the surrounding area, our young company was an opportunity for economic prospects. As a result, more than 1,000 employees will lose their jobs, and around 10,000 people in the area will be affected directly and indirectly."

Read Per Ansgar Klemm's full LinkedIn post here